XLned offers Usenet plans from €2.24 to €7.49.
Impressive 4100-day retention, SSL encryption, and support in English and Dutch.
Beware of potential price hikes after ‘lifetime discounts’.
Packages with Speed and Price
XLned’s Usenet packages claim to balance speed and price, but let’s cut through the marketing fluff and examine the cold, hard facts. The XL Lite plan, priced at €2.24/month, offers a paltry 2.5 Mbit/s with just two connections. Is this a joke? You’d be better off using carrier pigeons for file transfers.
Moving up the ladder, we find the XL Basic plan at €4.49/month, boasting 10 Mbit/s and six connections. It’s like upgrading from a snail to a tortoise – marginally faster, but still painfully slow in today’s high speed internet era. Are they stuck in the 90s?
The XL Gold plan, their so-called premium offering, comes in at €7.49/month with 120 Mbit/s and twelve connections. While this might seem impressive at first glance, it’s worth asking: is it really worth the price hike? How does it stack up against competitors?
Before you jump on the XLned bandwagon, consider this: Are these speeds consistent? What about retention rates and completion?
XLned Plans:
| Plan | Price per Month | Speed | Simultaneous Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| XL Lite | €2.24 | 2.5 Mbit/s | 2 |
| XL Basic | €4.49 | 10 Mbit/s | 4 |
| XL Gold | €7.49 | 120 Mbit/s | 12 |
Want more speed? Check out the SnelNL reviews.
Features and Retention
As I explore XLned’s features and retention, I find it offers an impressive 4,100 days of binary retention across over 110,000+ newsgroups.
You can access these newsgroups via port 563 for SSL connections or port 119 for standard connections.
Their service is available 24/7 without time restrictions, and they offer a separate upload server for simultaneous reading and posting of messages.
Each XLned package includes:
- Binary retention up to 4100 days
- SSL encryption
- From 2 to 12 connections
- Speeds ranging from 2.5 Mbit to 120 Mbit
Similar features you’ll find in the ExtremeUsenet reviews, if you’re looking for an alternative.
NNTP Servers and Ports Configuration
XLned’s TCP ports 563, 443, and 119 are the usual suspects for Usenet connections.
- NNTP SERVER ADDRESS: NEWS.XLNED.COM
- Multiple ports:
- SSL ports: 563 and 443
- Unencrypted ports: 80 and 119
Backbone and Company Details
XLned’s backbone isn’t just any old network – it’s the digital equivalent of a superhighway built on HW Media’s infrastructure. While this setup promises blazing speeds and rock-solid stability, we’ve got to ask: does it really deliver?
The provider, Lakahraun EHF, hails from Reykjavik, Iceland – a country known for its privacy laws. But are they truly safeguarding your data, or is it just another marketing ploy?
Provider data
| Name | Lakahraun EHF (XLned) |
| Address | Sudurlandsbraut 18, Reykjavik, Iceland |
| E-mail support | https://helpdesk.xlned.com/new |
Payment methods
- Credit Cards – MasterCard, Visa
- Payment Systems – PaySafeCard, iDeal, SOFORT
- Coin Payments – Bitcoin
User Experiences and Feedback
In my experience with XLned, I’ve noticed that opinions are mixed.
Some users on Trustpilot praise their flexibility and reliable service, while others are upset about recent price hikes and limited connections.
But why the love-hate relationship?
Pros XLned:
- 4100 days retention (still less than top providers, but OK)
- SSL encryption
- Bitcoin payment option
- Compatible with Usenet Automation apps
- 99+% completion rate
Cons XLned:
- Limited number of connections
- No free trial period
- Low speeds
- No US servers
- Recent price increases
Competitor Alternatives
Eweka and Easynews offer compelling alternatives to XLned, often surpassing it in key areas like price and speed.
With recent price hikes and no trial option, XLned mightn’t be the best fit for freedom-seekers.
Not impressed? Compare the leading 7 Usenet servers.
