The web of tomorrow needs IPFS today

IPFS aims to surpass HTTP in order to build a better web for all of us.
Today's web is inefficient and expensive

HTTP downloads files from one computer at a time instead of getting pieces from multiple computers simultaneously. Peer-to-peer IPFS saves big on bandwidth — up to 60% for video — making it possible to efficiently distribute high volumes of data without duplication.

Today's web can't preserve humanity's history

The average lifespan of a web page is 100 days before it's gone forever. It's not good enough for the primary medium of our era to be this fragile. IPFS keeps every version of your files and makes it simple to set up resilient networks for mirroring data.

Today's web is centralized, limiting opportunity

The Internet has turbocharged innovation by being one of the great equalizers in human history — but increasing consolidation of control threatens that progress. IPFS stays true to the original vision of an open, flat web by delivering technology to make that vision a reality.

Today's web is addicted to the backbone

IPFS powers the creation of diversely resilient networks that enable persistent availability — with or without Internet backbone connectivity. This means better connectivity for the developing world, during natural disasters, or just when you're on flaky coffee shop wi-fi.

Install IPFS

Join the future of the web right now — just choose the option that's right for you.

Store and share files

IPFS Desktop

IPFS for everyone

The desktop app offers menubar/tray shortcuts and an easy interface for adding, pinning, and sharing files — plus a full IPFS node ready for heavy-duty hosting and development too. A great choice for devs and non-devs alike.

Command-line install

All IPFS, no frills

Just want IPFS in your terminal? Get step-by-step instructions for getting up and running on the command line using the Go implementation of IPFS. Includes directions for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

IPFS Companion

Add IPFS to your browser

Get ipfs:// URL support and much more in your web browser with this extension.

IPFS Cluster

For servers or big data

Automatically allocate, replicate, and track your data as pinsets across multiple IPFS nodes.

Build with IPFS

Go implementation

The original IPFS, with core implementation, daemon server, CLI tooling, and more.

JS implementation

Written entirely in JavaScript for a world of possibilities in browser implementations.

Here's how IPFS works

Take a look at what happens when you add a file to IPFS.
Your file, and all of the blocks within it, is given a unique fingerprint called a cryptographic hash.
IPFS removes duplications across the network.
Each network node stores only content it is interested in, plus some indexing information that helps figure out which node is storing what.
When you look up a file to view or download, you're asking the network to find the nodes that are storing the content behind that file's hash.
You don't need to remember the hash, though — every file can be found by human-readable names using a decentralized naming system called IPNS.

Take a closer look

Want to dig in?
Check out the docs
Hands-on learner?
Explore ProtoSchool
Curious where it all began?
Read the whitepaper

IPFS can help here and now

No matter what you do with the web, IPFS helps make it better today.
Archivists

IPFS provides deduplication, high performance, and clustered persistence — empowering you to store the world's information for future generations.

Service providers

Providing large amounts of data to users? IPFS offers secure, peer-to-peer content delivery — an approach that could save you millions in bandwidth costs.

Researchers

If you're working with or distributing large data sets, IPFS can help provide fast performance and decentralized archiving.

Developing world

High-latency networks are a big barrier for those with poor internet infrastructure. IPFS provides resilient access to data independent of latency or backbone connectivity.

Blockchains

With IPFS, you can address large amounts of data and put immutable, permanent links in transactions — timestamping and securing content without having to put the data itself on-chain.

Content creators

IPFS brings the freedom and independent spirit of the web in full force — and can help you deliver your content at a much lower cost.

Who's already using IPFS?

Companies and organizations worldwide are already building amazing things on IPFS.
See the list

News and more

IPFS blog
  1. 26 February 2021 IPFS at ETHDenver
  2. 24 February 2021 Welcome to IPFS Weekly 124
  3. 19 February 2021 go-ipfs 0.8.0, and Remote Pinning, is here!
  4. 17 February 2021 Welcome to IPFS Weekly 123

Stay on top of the latest

Sign up for the IPFS Weekly newsletter to get project updates, community news, event details, and more. In your inbox, each Tuesday.
Subscribe