path: root/website/content/en/where.adoc

---
title: "Get FreeBSD"
sidenav: download
---

:url-rel: https://download.FreeBSD.org/releases
:url-snapshot: https://download.freebsd.org/snapshots

include::shared/releases.adoc[]
include::shared/en/urls.adoc[]

= Get FreeBSD

For general information about past, present and future releases, see link:../releases/[Release Information].

[[choose-version]]
[[choose-arch]]
== Choosing an Architecture

Most users of FreeBSD will have hardware for **amd64** or **aarch64**. These architectures are well-supported.

Most modern PCs, including those with Intel(R) processors, use **amd64**.

Embedded devices and single-board computers (SBCs) such as the Raspberry Pi 3 and 4, ESPRESSObin, as well as many Allwinner and Rockchip boards, use **aarch64**.

For all other architectures, please see the link:../platforms/#_supported_platforms[table of supported platforms].

[[choose-image]]
== Choosing an Image

For the FreeBSD installer: formats include DVD (disc1, dvd1), and network install (bootonly) sized ISO, plus regular and mini USB memory sticks.

For virtual machines: virtual disk images have FreeBSD preinstalled.

For embedded platforms: SD card images are available.

[[download]]
== Production Quality

`RELEASE` versions of FreeBSD are the end result of _release engineering_ and are recommended for most users.

[[download-rel143]]
=== FreeBSD {rel143-current}-RELEASE

[.tblbasic]
[.tblDownload]
[width="100%",cols="25%,25%,25%,25%",options="header",]
|===
|Installer |VM |SD Card |Documentation
a|
* link:{url-rel}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[armv7]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc64]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc64le]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpcspe]
* link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[riscv64]

a|
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/README.txt[README]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/i386/Latest/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64]
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64] (BASIC-CI)
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64] (BASIC-CI)

a|
* aarch64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[PINE64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[PINE64-LTS]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[ROCK64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[ROCKPRO64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[RPI] (3/4)
* armv7
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[GENERICSD]
* riscv64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[GENERICSD]

a|
* {blank}
* link:../releases/#current[Released]: {rel143-current-date}
* link:{u-rel143-notes}[Release Notes]
* link:{u-rel143-readme}[Readme]
* link:{u-rel143-hardware}[Hardware Compatibility List]
* link:{u-rel143-installation}[Installation Instructions]
* link:{u-rel143-errata}[Errata]
* link:{u-rel143-signatures}[Signed Checksums]

|===

== Production Quality (legacy)

Some FreeBSD `RELEASEs` are supported but are older or built from older `STABLE` branches; these are considered "legacy" and are probably only of interest to people maintaining existing systems on FreeBSD.

[[download-rel135]]
=== FreeBSD {rel135-current}-RELEASE
[.tblbasic]
[.tblDownload]
[width="100%",cols="25%,25%,25%,25%",options="header",]
|===
|Installer |VM |SD Card |Documentation
a|
* link:{url-rel}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc64]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc64le]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpcspe]
* link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[riscv64]

a|
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/README.txt[README]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/i386/Latest/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64]
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64] (BASIC-CI)
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64] (BASIC-CI)

a|
* aarch64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[PINE64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[PINE64-LTS]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[PINEBOOK]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[ROCK64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[ROCKPRO64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[RPI] (3/4)
* armv6/armv7
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[GENERICSD]
** link:{url-rel}/arm/armv6/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[RPI-B]
* riscv64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[GENERICSD]

a|
* link:../releases/#current[Released]: {rel135-current-date}
* link:{u-rel135-notes}[Release Notes]
* link:{u-rel135-readme}[Readme]
* link:{u-rel135-hardware}[Hardware Compatibility List]
* link:{u-rel135-installation}[Installation Instructions]
* link:{u-rel135-errata}[Errata]
* link:{u-rel135-signatures}[Signed Checksums]
|===

[[helptest]]
== Development and Testing

Pre-`RELEASE` versions of FreeBSD, not intended for use in production environments:

* `CURRENT` – the main branch, the core of development
* `STABLE` – branched from `CURRENT`, long-term preparations for release engineering
* release engineering – `ALPHA`, `BETA`, release candidates (`RC`) – branched from `STABLE`.

Uppercase has special meaning. For example:

* a first _beta release_ is not a (production) `RELEASE`.

The word `CURRENT` is sometimes a source of confusion:

* if you are looking for the _current version_ of FreeBSD, you most likely want a `RELEASE` version (see above) – **not** `CURRENT` – `CURRENT` has special meaning in the development process.

[[download-snapshots]]
== Development Snapshots

See link:../snapshots/[FreeBSD Snapshot Releases].

=== FreeBSD {rel-head}-ALPHA

Installer and SD card images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[powerpc64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[powerpc64le], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[armv7], link:{url-snapshot}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel-head}/[riscv64].

VM images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel-head}-CURRENT/amd64/Latest/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel-head}-CURRENT/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel-head}-CURRENT/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64].

=== FreeBSD {rel143-current}-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpc64le], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[powerpcspe], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[armv7], link:{url-snapshot}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel143-current}/[riscv64].

VM images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-STABLE/amd64/Latest/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-STABLE/i386/Latest/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-STABLE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel143-current}-STABLE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64].

=== FreeBSD {rel135-current}-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpc64le], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[powerpcspe], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv6/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[armv6], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[armv7], link:{url-snapshot}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel135-current}/[riscv64].

VM images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-STABLE/amd64/Latest/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-STABLE/i386/Latest/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-STABLE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel135-current}-STABLE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64].

[[install]]
== Installation

Options include:

* images
* direct download (anonymous FTP, and HTTPS).

Before downloading an entire distribution, please read the link:{handbook}bsdinstall/[installation guide].

If you plan to get FreeBSD via FTP or HTTPS, check the FreeBSD Handbook for link:{handbook}mirrors/#mirrors[suitable mirrors] for your region.

[[distribution]]
== Purchase FreeBSD Media

FreeBSD can be acquired on DVD from https://www.freebsdmall.com/[FreeBSD Mall], and other link:{handbook}mirrors/#mirrors-disc[DVD publishers].

[[apps]]
== Applications and Utility Software

=== The Ports Collection

A diverse collection of utility and application software that has been _ported_ to FreeBSD.

* link:../ports/[About FreeBSD Ports]
* https://www.freshports.org/[FreshPorts - a more advanced web interface to the Collection]
* link:{handbook}ports/[Installing Applications: Packages and Ports] in the FreeBSD Handbook
* Browse the Collection: https://cgit.freebsd.org/ports/tree/[FreeBSD ports Git repository] | https://download.freebsd.org/ports/[web].

For information about how _you_ can contribute _your_ favorite piece of software to the Collection, have a look at _link:{porters-handbook}[The Porter's Handbook]_ and _link:{contributing}[Contributing to FreeBSD]_.

[[derived]]
== FreeBSD-derived Operating System Distributions

FreeBSD is widely used as a building block for other commercial and open-source operating systems.
The projects below are of particular interest.

* https://www.truenas.com/[TrueNAS] is network attached storage (NAS) software that shares and protects data from modern-day threats like ransomware and malware. TrueNAS makes it easy for users and client devices to access shared data through virtually any sharing protocol.
* https://www.ghostbsd.org[GhostBSD] is derived from FreeBSD, and uses the GTK environment to provide a beautiful look and a comfortable experience on a modern BSD platform offering a natural and native UNIX(R)-like work environment.
* https://www.midnightbsd.org[MidnightBSD] was forked from FreeBSD 6.1 beta, and continues to use parts of more recent FreeBSD code bases. Developed with desktop users in mind, MidnightBSD includes everything that you would expect for your daily tasks: mail, web browsing, word processing, gaming, and much more.
* https://www.nomadbsd.org[NomadBSD] is a persistent live system for USB flash drives, based on FreeBSD. Together with automatic hardware detection and setup, it is configured to be used as a desktop system that works out of the box, but can also be used for data recovery, for educational purposes, or to test FreeBSD hardware compatibility.
* https://www.pfsense.org/[pfSense] is a FreeBSD-based customized distribution tailored for use as a firewall and router.

[[past]]
== Archives

http://ftp-archive.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD-Archive/old-releases/[Past releases] of FreeBSD.

[[fastly]]
== Fastly CDN

The FreeBSD project gratefully acknowledges the support of https://www.fastly.com[Fastly], providing CDN acceleration, caching, and bandwidth to bring FreeBSD images and packages to our globally distributed community.

image::../gifs/fastlyLogo-red-SVG.svg[Fastly Logo,120]

See also the link:{handbook}mirrors[FreeBSD project mirrors].