Usenet is a worldwide, distributed discussion system that uses the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP). Programs called newsreaders are used to read and post messages (called articles or posts, and collectively termed news) to one or more newsgroups. Users must have access to a news server to use a newsreader. This is a list of such newsreaders.

Types of clients

• Text newsreader – designed primarily for reading/posting text posts; unable to download binary attachments
• Traditional newsreader – a newsreader with text support that can also handle binary attachments, though sometimes less efficiently than more specialized clients
• Binary grabber/plucker – designed specifically for easy and efficient downloading of multi-part binary post attachments; limited or nonexistent reading/posting ability. These generally offer multi-server and multi-connection support. Most now support NZBs, and several either support or plan to support automatic Par2 processing. Some additionally support video and audio streaming.
• NZB downloader – binary grabber client without header support – cannot browse groups or read/post text messages; can only load 3rd-party NZBs to download binary post attachments. Some incorporate an interface for accessing selected NZB search websites.
• Binary posting client – designed specifically and exclusively for posting multi-part binary files
• Combination client – Jack-of-all-trades supporting text reading/posting, as well as multi-segment binary downloading and automatic Par2 processing
• Web-Based Client - Client designed for access through a web browser and does not require any additional software to access Usenet.

Active

Commercial software

• BinTube
• Forté Agent
• NewsBin
• NewsLeecher
• Novell GroupWise
• Postbox
• Turnpike
• Usenet Explorer

Freeware

• GrabIt

Free/Open-source software

• Claws Mail is a GTK+-based email and news client for Linux, BSD, Solaris, and Windows.
• GNOME Evolution
• Gnus, is an email and news client, and feed reader for GNU Emacs.
• Mozilla Thunderbird is a free and open-source^[1] cross-platform email client, news client, RSS and chat client developed by the Mozilla Foundation.
• Pan a full-featured text and binary NNTP and Usenet client for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, OpenSolaris, and Windows.
• SeaMonkey Mail & Newsgroups
• Sylpheed
• X Python Newsreader

Text-based

• Alpine
• Gnus (Emacs based)
• Line Mode Browser
• Lynx (has limited Usenet support)
• Mutt (3rd party patches)
• rn
• Slrn
• tin

Web-based

• Easynews
• Google Groups - to be discontinued 22 Feb 2024.

Discontinued

Commercial software

• Lotus Notes
• Netscape Communicator (superseded by Mozilla)
• Windows Mail – replaced Outlook Express for Windows Vista – terminated by Windows 7
• Windows Live Mail – replaced Outlook Express for Windows XP; optional for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7

Freeware

• Opera Mail
• Xnews – MS Windows
• MT NewsWatcher – Mac OS X Universal Binary

Free/Open Source

• Arachne (with aranews.apm package)
• Arena
• Argo (discontinued)
• Beonex Communicator
• KNode (may be embedded in Kontact) ^[2]
• Mozilla Mail & Newsgroups (renamed to SeaMonkey)
• Spotnet

Shareware

• Unison – Mac OS X

Text-based

• Agora (email server)
• Pine