What Is Usenet Automation?
Usenet automation means using software to handle the repetitive parts of working with NZB files: searching indexers, sending NZBs to your download client, verifying and extracting results, and organizing the output into folders. Instead of doing each step manually, you configure a chain of tools that handle it for you.
These tools are all open-source, free, and widely used in the Usenet community. They connect to your Usenet provider (NewsDemon) through your download client (SABnzbd or NZBGet) using the same server settings as any manual download.
The Automation Tools
Prowlarr — Indexer Manager
Prowlarr manages your NZB indexer connections in one place. Instead of configuring indexer credentials separately in each tool, you set them up once in Prowlarr and it syncs to everything else. It supports dozens of public and private indexers. Free, open-source, runs on all platforms.
Sonarr and Radarr — Download Managers
Sonarr and Radarr are download management tools that monitor NZB indexers for items matching your criteria. When a match is found, the tool sends the NZB to your download client automatically. After the download completes, the tool renames and sorts the output files into your chosen folder structure. Both are free, open-source, and widely documented.
Lidarr and Readarr
Lidarr and Readarr follow the same architecture as Sonarr and Radarr but are designed for different NZB categories. Same workflow: define what you are looking for, and the tool handles the indexer search, NZB handoff, and file organization.
SABnzbd or NZBGet — Download Client
This is where NewsDemon connects. Your download client receives NZB files from the tools above, connects to NewsDemon servers using your credentials, downloads the articles, verifies with PAR2, repairs if needed, and extracts the final files. Our SABnzbd guide and NZBGet guide cover the setup.
How the Tools Connect
The data flow is: Prowlarr (manages indexer connections) → Sonarr/Radarr (searches indexers, selects NZBs) → SABnzbd/NZBGet (connects to NewsDemon, downloads, verifies, extracts) → Output folder (organized files).
You configure each tool once. After that, the chain runs on its own. The automation tools check indexers on a schedule, and when they find a match for your criteria, the download happens automatically.
Getting Started
Set Up Your Download Client First
Install SABnzbd or NZBGet and configure it with your NewsDemon credentials. Test that it can connect and download. The SABnzbd setup guide walks through every step.
Install Prowlarr
Download from prowlarr.com. Add your NZB indexer accounts under Settings > Indexers. Then add your Sonarr/Radarr instances under Settings > Apps so Prowlarr can sync indexers to them automatically.
Install Sonarr and/or Radarr
Download from sonarr.tv or radarr.video. Under Settings > Download Clients, add your SABnzbd or NZBGet instance (you will need the API key from your download client). Under Settings > Indexers, the indexers from Prowlarr should sync automatically.
Configure Your Preferences
Each tool lets you define criteria for what it should look for on indexers, including size limits, quality preferences, and naming rules for output files. Configure these to match your needs.
Why NewsDemon for Automation
Automation tools run around the clock. They check indexers on schedules and start downloads immediately when they find a match. This means your Usenet provider needs to be reliable 24/7 and fast enough to keep up with the queue.
50 connections on every plan means your download client can pull multiple articles simultaneously, clearing queues faster.
No throttling means your automation queue clears as fast as your internet allows. Some providers slow you down during peak hours. We do not.
99%+ completion means fewer PAR2 repair cycles. Automation tools handle repair automatically, but high completion means faster throughput and less wasted bandwidth on repair data.
5,695+ days retention means older NZBs are more likely to still have all their articles available on our servers.
Built for Automation
50 connections, no throttling, 99%+ completion, and retention going back over 15 years. Every plan includes everything automation tools need. From $3/month.
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