---
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-rel150]]
=== FreeBSD {rel150-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/{rel150-current}/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[armv7]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[powerpc64]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[powerpc64le]
* link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[riscv64]

a|
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/README.txt[README]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel150-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel150-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel150-current}-RELEASE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64]
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel150-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64] (BASIC-CI)
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel150-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64] (BASIC-CI)

a|
* aarch64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[PINE64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[PINE64-LTS]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[ROCK64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[ROCKPRO64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[RPI] (3/4)
* armv7
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[GENERICSD]
* riscv64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel150-current}/[GENERICSD]

a|
* {blank}
* link:../releases/#current[Released]: {rel150-current-date}
* link:{u-rel150-notes}[Release Notes]
* link:{u-rel150-readme}[Readme]
* link:{u-rel150-hardware}[Hardware Compatibility List]
* link:{u-rel150-installation}[Installation Instructions]
* link:{u-rel150-errata}[Errata]
* link:{u-rel150-signatures}[Signed Checksums]

|===

[[download-rel144]]
=== FreeBSD {rel144-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/{rel144-current}/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[armv7]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc64]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc64le]
* link:{url-rel}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpcspe]
* link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[riscv64]

a|
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/README.txt[README]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/i386/Latest/[i386]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64]
* link:{url-rel}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64]
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/amd64/Latest/[amd64] (BASIC-CI)
* link:{url-rel}/CI-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-RELEASE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64] (BASIC-CI)

a|
* aarch64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[PINE64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[PINE64-LTS]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[ROCK64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[ROCKPRO64]
** link:{url-rel}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[RPI] (3/4)
* armv7
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[GENERICSD]
* riscv64
* {blank}
** link:{url-rel}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[GENERICSD]

a|
* {blank}
* link:../releases/#current[Released]: {rel144-current-date}
* link:{u-rel144-notes}[Release Notes]
* link:{u-rel144-readme}[Readme]
* link:{u-rel144-hardware}[Hardware Compatibility List]
* link:{u-rel144-installation}[Installation Instructions]
* link:{u-rel144-errata}[Errata]
* link:{u-rel144-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-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]

|===

[[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}-CURRENT

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 {rel151-current}-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[powerpc64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[powerpc64le], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[armv7], link:{url-snapshot}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel151-current}/[riscv64].

VM images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel151-current}-STABLE/amd64/Latest/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel151-current}-STABLE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel151-current}-STABLE/riscv64/Latest/[riscv64].

=== FreeBSD {rel144-current}-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/i386/i386/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc64], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpc64le/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpc64le], link:{url-snapshot}/powerpc/powerpcspe/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[powerpcspe], link:{url-snapshot}/arm/armv7/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[armv7], link:{url-snapshot}/arm64/aarch64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/riscv/riscv64/ISO-IMAGES/{rel144-current}/[riscv64].

VM images are available for link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-STABLE/amd64/Latest/[amd64], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-STABLE/i386/Latest/[i386], link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-current}-STABLE/aarch64/Latest/[aarch64], and link:{url-snapshot}/VM-IMAGES/{rel144-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.

[[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]_.

[[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].
