What Is SABnzbd?
SABnzbd is a free, open-source binary newsreader that runs a web-based interface in your browser. You hand it an NZB file and it handles everything else: downloading articles from your Usenet provider, verifying file integrity with PAR2, repairing missing segments, and extracting the final files from RAR or ZIP archives. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
It is the most popular Usenet download manager in active use. If you use automation tools like Sonarr, Radarr, or Prowlarr, SABnzbd is what they talk to behind the scenes. You can download SABnzbd from sabnzbd.org.
Setting Up SABnzbd with NewsDemon
Install SABnzbd
Download from sabnzbd.org and run the installer. On first launch, SABnzbd opens a setup wizard in your browser. If you have already installed it, go to Config > Servers.
Add NewsDemon as Your Server
In the server configuration, enter the following:
Host: news.newsdemon.com
Port: 563
SSL: Enabled (checked)
Username: Your NewsDemon username (from your membership email)
Password: Your NewsDemon password
Connections: Start with 30, increase up to 50 if needed
Test the Connection
Click "Test Server" in SABnzbd. You should see a success message within a few seconds. If it fails, double-check that SSL is enabled and the port is 563. If your ISP blocks port 563, try port 443 instead.
Configure Categories (Optional)
Under Config > Categories, you can set up automatic sorting. Create categories that save to specific folders. Automation tools like Sonarr and Radarr use these categories to route completed downloads to the right location.
Add an NZB File
Drag an NZB file onto the SABnzbd web interface, or paste an NZB URL. SABnzbd will start downloading immediately. You can also set up SABnzbd to watch a folder for new NZB files, or let automation tools send NZBs to it via API.
Recommended Settings
Connections
NewsDemon allows up to 50 connections on every plan. Start with 30 and increase if you are not saturating your internet connection. More connections help on fast internet (100Mbps+). On slower connections, 15-20 may be enough.
Download Speed
SABnzbd does not limit your speed by default. If you want to cap it (for example, to leave bandwidth for other activities), go to Config > General and set a speed limit. NewsDemon does not throttle your connection on any plan.
Post-Processing
Under Config > Switches, make sure "Post-Process Only Verified Jobs" is enabled. This tells SABnzbd to only extract files after PAR2 verification passes, which prevents you from getting corrupted output. Also enable "Pause on Post-Processing" if you want to reduce CPU load during extraction.
Incomplete vs Complete Folders
SABnzbd uses two folders: "incomplete" for in-progress downloads and "complete" for finished ones. Set these to locations with enough disk space. If you are using automation tools, point them at the "complete" folder.
Troubleshooting
Slow speeds
Increase your connection count (up to 50). Make sure SSL is enabled on port 563, as some ISPs throttle unencrypted Usenet traffic on port 119. Check that no speed limit is set in SABnzbd itself. If you are on Wi-Fi, try a wired connection.
"Too many connections" error
This means some connections from a previous session are stuck open. Reduce your connection count to 20 temporarily, wait 30 minutes (NewsDemon resets hung connections every 30 minutes), then increase back to your normal count.
PAR2 repair failures
If downloads frequently fail PAR2 verification, your connection may be dropping segments. Try reducing connections slightly (sometimes 40 is more stable than 50 on certain networks). Also check that your NewsDemon retention covers the age of the articles you are downloading.
Cannot connect at all
Verify your username and password from your membership email. Make sure SSL is enabled and the port is 563. If port 563 is blocked by your ISP or firewall, try port 443. Check the server status page for any ongoing maintenance.
Using SABnzbd with Automation Tools
SABnzbd has a built-in API that automation tools use to send downloads. Under Config > General, you will find your API key. Copy this and paste it into your automation tool (Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, etc.) when configuring the download client.
The typical automation workflow is: Prowlarr (indexer manager) finds NZBs, passes them to Sonarr/Radarr (download managers), which send them to SABnzbd (download client), which downloads, verifies, repairs, and extracts. Our automation guide walks through the full setup.
50 Connections on Every Plan
NewsDemon includes 50 SSL connections, full retention, free VPN, and free posting on every plan. Plans from $3/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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