- Light & fast
- Free & No registration required
- Basic & Advanced search bars
- Advertisements
- Unreliable API
Binsearch Overview
With so many articles to be found on Usenet (up to 21 petabytes on some providers), it can be difficult to find the exact one that you’re looking for. That is why it’s crucial to use a good indexer.
Binsearch is a popular binary Usenet search engine. Its developers first created this platform for personal use, but soon released it for public access.
One of the ways it distinguishes itself is that it’s entirely free for the basic search. If you want to use some of the quirkier features, you will need to register. However, anyone is welcome to utilize the basic search and browse.
For a free service, we are very impressed with the light and fast solution Binsearch has provided the Usenet community.
Binsearch: The Things We Like
What immediately strikes us when browsing their website is the simple, clean, bright interface. Binsearch doesn’t use any fancy graphics, instead focusing on a pleasing, minimalist look. Its attention is focused entirely on providing users with a fast interface to search and browse Usenet.
The basic search bar allows users to search content by select keywords, number of results per page, and maximum age of posts. The result is automatically sorted with the most recent posts.
The advanced search bar allows for a more sophisticated search. On top of the selections of the basic search bar, you can indicate a specific Newsgroup, the sorting method, and much more.
Binsearch uses a stemming algorithm to branch your search queries into all keyword variations. For example, if you search “cat”, you will see search results with strings such as cat, cats, catlike, and catty.
Alternately, you can also simply browse newgroups and see what catches your eye.
Binsearch is currently affiliated with around 3100 newsgroups. Each newsgroup has its own retention period of anywhere between 100 and 4000 days. To see where your favorite newsgroup stands, check out their table here.
Another benefit of Binsearch is its high-level security protocol. Their search is SSL encrypted, which ensures that your search remains private and protected.
What We Like Less About Binsearch
Binsearch is a popular choice, but like all free indexers, it has its limitations.
A basic search will return parts of files. This can be confusing and cumbersome since users will need to check all single files before selecting “Create NZB.” Take the time to try out some of the advanced search features to improve your results.
While the basic search is free, the site does rely on advertisements to operate, which can be irritating. We appreciate that the owners redirect site donations to charitable causes, but it remains a bit of drawback having to deal with targeted ads when you search.
Binsearch also doesn’t integrate well with third-party apps and their API isn’t very reliable. If this is a concern for you, we would suggest looking into a Newznab-based indexing option.
Bottom Line
With its fast interface, sophisticated filters, and high-security protocol, we think Binsearch is a great indexer choice. There’s a reason it’s been popular for many years and is a great place to start if you’re new to Usenet.
Since it is a free service, you will find a couple of limitations. As you become more adept with Usenet, we suggest looking into some of the features offered by the paid indexers, but for now, it’s a good jumping off place.
How to Get Started with Binsearch
Registering with Binsearch is completely optional, so just head to their website and start browsing!
