NZBGet on a Seedbox: Light, Fast Usenet Downloader

What NZBGet Is

NZBGet is a Usenet binary downloader. Same job as SABnzbd: feed it an NZB, it grabs the binaries, repairs missing parts, unpacks the archive, and gives you the file. Difference: NZBGet is written in C++ instead of Python, which makes it noticeably lighter on CPU and RAM.

For most seedbox use the resource difference doesn't matter. NZBGet's appeal is mostly the clean, no-nonsense web UI and the stability that comes with a small codebase.

Why Pick NZBGet on a Seedbox?

Two reasons people pick NZBGet over SABnzbd:

• Resource use. Lighter. Useful if you're seeding heavy and don't want the Usenet client competing for CPU.
• Speed on weak hardware. PAR2 repair and unpack are noticeably faster on NZBGet than the older SABnzbd builds.

If you're already happy with SABnzbd, no need to switch. If you're starting fresh and want the lightest option, NZBGet.

Installing NZBGet

Open the Bytesized Panel, find NZBGet in the app catalog, click install. The panel handles the binary, the reverse proxy, and the HTTPS URL.

Click "Open" to load the web UI.

First-Run Setup

NZBGet's UI is more bare-bones than SABnzbd's, which is part of the appeal. The setup steps:

1. Add a Usenet server. Settings > NEWS-SERVERS. Plug in your provider's host, port, login, and connection limit.
2. Set categories. Settings > CATEGORIES. The defaults work; Sonarr will use tv and Radarr will use movies.
3. Set the download path. Settings > PATHS. ~/files/incomplete for staging, ~/files/complete for finished files. Standard Bytesized layout.

Hit Save and reload. Drop a test NZB to confirm it's working.

Sonarr / Radarr Integration

In Sonarr's Settings > Download Clients > Add > NZBGet:

• Host: internal URL from the panel
• Port: the NZBGet port (in the app settings)
• Username and Password: NZBGet's web UI credentials
• Category: tv (or whatever you've named it in NZBGet)

Same setup in Radarr with movies as the category. Test connection; green = done.

Post-Processing

NZBGet has a scripts directory you can drop scripts into for custom post-processing. The bundled VideoSort script tidies up files and folders after download; that's enough for most use cases.

If you've got Sonarr and Radarr handling import, leave NZBGet's post-processing minimal. Let the *arr apps move and rename the files; NZBGet just delivers the unpacked file.

Common Gotchas

No connection to provider. Check your provider's connection limit; NZBGet defaults to high concurrency. If the provider rejects, lower the connection count under NEWS-SERVERS.

Sonarr fails to connect. Use the internal URL from the panel for Host. The public HTTPS URL works but is slower and runs through extra hops.

PAR2 repair fails. The bundled multipar PAR2 implementation handles most things. If a specific release keeps failing repair, the provider is missing parts; add a backup provider and NZBGet will pull from it automatically.

Web UI dark theme. Settings > MAIN > MainUITheme. Switch to dark for desktop comfort.

NZBGet vs SABnzbd

Honest version:

• NZBGet. Faster repair and unpack, cleaner UI, written in C++.
• SABnzbd. More features (Direct Unpack, more elaborate scripts), bigger community, written in Python.

If you don't have a strong preference, NZBGet is fine. If you want plugin/script depth, SABnzbd. For the topical comparison see the Usenet guide.

FAQ

Is NZBGet free? Yes. Free and open source.

Does Bytesized include a Usenet provider? No. Bring your own provider account. Plans typically run EUR 5 to EUR 15 per month.

Will it work with Prowlarr? Prowlarr is for indexers, not downloaders. You connect Prowlarr to your indexers, point Sonarr and Radarr at NZBGet for the actual downloads.

Can I run NZBGet alongside SABnzbd? Yes. Different ports. Most people pick one to keep things simple.

Will torrents and Usenet share categories? No. Sonarr and Radarr know which client is for which kind of release. Torrent and NZB downloads route to the right client.

Ready to Set It Up?

Browse Appbox plans, install NZBGet from the panel, and you're downloading in five minutes flat.