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Freenet
Freenet offers peer-to-peer apps that operate without company control or dedicated servers, according to the project site.
About Freenet
Freenet is a peer-to-peer platform for apps that run across a network of users' computers rather than on company-controlled or dedicated servers. The project's homepage presents River, a decentralized group chat app, as the best starting point. The site describes Freenet apps as unable to be taken down and as not tracking users. These are the project's own claims and are not independently verified here.
Users can open River in a web browser or install their own Freenet peer on Windows, macOS or Linux. The browser version runs on a peer operated by the project, so the user's keys are held there rather than on their own machine. Installing a personal peer keeps data on the user's own hardware. The project is built by a small team funded through grants and donations. Pricing is unknown from the source.
Key features
- River, a decentralized group chat app with no central company
- Apps that run in a web browser or on a personal Freenet peer
- Personal peer installation on Windows, macOS or Linux
- Option to keep private data on the user's own hardware
- Developer tooling using Rust and TypeScript for building Freenet apps
- Ghost Key, an anonymous identity that works across Freenet apps, issued with a donation
Best for: People who want decentralized group chat without a central provider, and developers who want to build apps without maintaining servers.
Good for
- River can be tried in a browser before installing a personal peer.
- Running a personal peer keeps data on the user's own hardware.
- Developers can build apps without maintaining servers or cloud accounts, according to the site.
Watch out for
- The browser version of River stores the user's keys with the project's own peer.
- The source lists the project as not open source.
Freenet at a glance
- Website
- freenet.org
- Category
- Privacy & Security › Desktop & OS Privacy
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Freenet FAQ
Where are my keys stored when I use River in the browser?
The browser version runs on a peer the project operates, so your keys live with the project. Installing your own peer keeps your data on your own hardware instead.
What is a Ghost Key?
A Ghost Key is an anonymous identity that works across Freenet apps. The site says donating can issue one.
What tools do developers use to build Freenet apps?
The site says developers can use familiar tools such as Rust and TypeScript.
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