# SABnzbd vs NZBGet

What Kochab exposes through each Usenet download client, and which one to add.

Canonical: https://kochab.io/docs/sabnzbd-vs-nzbget/

SABnzbd and NZBGet are both Usenet download clients, and Kochab exposes nearly the same control
surface for either. The blended queue, pause/resume/remove, global pause and speed, categories,
priority and reorder, history retry, and Search sends all work identically through both. The
differences are in setup and in a handful of SABnzbd-only extras.

## Quick pick

| Your setup | Add this in Kochab |
|---|---|
| New to Usenet, or you want server stats, warnings, and log tail from Kochab | **SABnzbd** |
| Already running NZBGet | **NZBGet** - fully supported, no need to switch |

Kochab is Usenet-forward; SABnzbd is the primary download client Kochab targets. NZBGet gets the
same core queue control.

## Comparison

| Capability | SABnzbd | NZBGet |
|---|---|---|
| Server stats | Yes | No |
| Warnings, log tail, restart | Yes | No |
| Default port | 8080 | 6789 |
| Auth | API key as a query parameter | HTTP Basic (username + password) |

## SABnzbd

**Best for:** the default choice if you are setting up Usenet for the first time, or if you want
the server stats, warnings, and log tail that only SABnzbd exposes.

**Exposes:** the shared queue control above, plus server stats, warnings, log tail, and a restart
action on the control screen.

**Does not expose:** scheduler rules, folder paths, scripting, or full SABnzbd configuration,
which stay in SABnzbd's web UI. Kochab defaults both SABnzbd and qBittorrent to port 8080, so a
host running both has moved one of them - check SABnzbd's own **Config -> General -> SABnzbd
Host** setting if the default port does not connect.

## NZBGet

**Best for:** stacks that already run NZBGet, which Kochab supports fully.

**Exposes:** the shared queue control above. NZBGet authenticates over HTTP Basic rather than an
API key, so setup needs a **ControlUsername** and **ControlPassword** from NZBGet's security
settings rather than a copied key.

**Does not expose:** server stats, warnings, log tail, or a restart action - those are
SABnzbd-only. Full NZBGet settings and scripting stay in NZBGet's web UI.

Setup steps: [Connect SABnzbd](/docs/services/sabnzbd), [Connect NZBGet](/docs/services/nzbget).
Once connected, [SABnzbd or NZBGet settings for Sonarr and Radarr](/docs/sabnzbd-nzbget-settings-sonarr-radarr)
covers tuning the client for your *arr apps.