# Good Usenet Reader **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2002, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031 "2002-05-27T10:43:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/1 "2002-05-27T10:43:11Z")
I’m looking for some recomondations for an Usenet newsgroup reader. If possible I would like a good shareware or freeware program (Don’t want to pay 🙂 ). Thank y’all for the help. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/2 "2002-05-27T11:06:35Z")
Forte’s “Free Agent” is quite nice. ([www.forteinc.com](http://www.forteinc.com)). That’s the freeware version of their “Agent” application which has some nice little extras built-in. All in all it’s a fine news-reader app which properly deals with attachments/UUencoded binaries and the like. Max. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/3 "2002-05-27T12:05:52Z")
I agree with **Maxxxie**. Forte Agent (and Free Agent) is the best Usenet newsreader I’ve _ever_ used (and I’ve tried most of 'em for Windows at some time or other). Easy interface, very flexible, excellent program (It’s only weakness is it’s kill-filter, which while workable, could be more robust…but it’s not horrible) Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/4 "2002-05-27T13:22:18Z")
I’ll put in a plug for [XNews](http://cws.internet.com/news-xnews.html). It’s good solid basic functionality, and free. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/5 "2002-05-27T14:05:25Z")
I third the recommendation of Agent. Free Agent is nice, but I’m using the full version of Agent because it adds filters - a very useful and necessary tool for Usenet. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/6 "2002-05-27T14:12:47Z")
I too use Agent. There are others which are more beginner-friendly, but once you get used to Agent (or Free Agent) and customize it to your liking, it’s very powerful and efficient. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/7 "2002-05-27T15:08:46Z")
For the Mac platform, I’ve had good experiences with [MT-Newswatcher](http://www.smfr.org/mtnw/). (or go to [versiontracker.com](http://versiontracker.com) and look up newsgroups) ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/8 "2002-05-27T21:03:28Z")
Ok, most of y’all suggested Forte’s Free Agent, so I’m installing it right now. From what I see of it, looks like it’s what I wanted. Thanks all of you for your help… That’s why I love the Straight Dope.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![white-tigeress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f475e1/32.png) [@white-tigeress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/white-tigeress)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-usenet-reader/111031/9 "2002-05-28T14:43:37Z")
Forte agent not the free edition but the full agent is excellent.