RetroShare

A decentralized, encrypted friend-to-friend network for chat, mail, forums, channels and file sharing.

FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid
Official websiteretroshare.ccDownload pageretroshare.ccDocumentationgithub.com

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About RetroShare

RetroShare creates encrypted connections between you and your friends and builds a network of computers with no central server. On top of it run chat rooms similar to IRC, encrypted mail stored on friends' nodes for offline delivery, forums you can read and write offline, channels and file sharing.

File transfers use BitTorrent-like swarming, and anonymous tunnels protect your identity beyond direct friends. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, with no ads and no terms of service.

Strengths

  • Fully decentralized with no central server
  • Chat, mail, forums, channels and file sharing in one app
  • Anonymous tunnels hide you beyond direct friends
  • Swarming transfers for large files

Limitations

  • Useful only once you have friends on the network
  • Releases are infrequent; the current version is 0.6.7a

Details

Pricing
FreeFree and open source with no hidden costs or ads.
License
Open source, license not stated
Developer
The RetroShare contributors
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
How it runs
Downloadable app
Best suited for
Groups who want private chat, forums and file sharing without a central server
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to RetroShare

Compare all

Software that can replace RetroShare for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • Quiet

    A peer-to-peer team chat app that syncs messages between members' devices over Tor, with no server.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    Quiet syncs team chat between members' devices over Tor with no server, but it is unaudited beta software missing features such as DMs.

  • Jami

    A fully peer-to-peer communication platform with no servers relaying your data and no personal information needed to sign up.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Jami is a peer-to-peer GNU platform focused on messaging, calls and video conferences rather than forums, channels and file swarming.

  • Briar

    Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxAndroid

    Briar offers peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor without internet, but is in maintenance mode and runs on Linux and Android.

  • Cwtch

    Metadata-resistant messaging over Tor with no central servers.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    Cwtch is a metadata-resistant Tor messenger with no central servers, focused on chat with a smaller feature set than RetroShare.

  • Keet

    A peer-to-peer chat app for encrypted messages, audio and video calls, and file transfers.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Keet provides peer-to-peer encrypted chat, calls and file transfers with iOS support, but it is not open source.

  • qTox

    A desktop client for the encrypted peer-to-peer Tox protocol with chat, calls and file transfer.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    qTox is a desktop Tox client with peer-to-peer encrypted chat, voice, video and file transfer, but no forums or channels.

RetroShare as an alternative

Listings that name RetroShare as an alternative.

  • GNUnet

    A GNU network protocol stack for building secure, decentralised and privacy-preserving peer-to-peer applications.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    RetroShare is a friend-to-friend network with chat, forums and file sharing in one desktop and Android app, rather than a protocol stack.

  • Hyphanet

    A peer-to-peer network for censorship-resistant, anonymous publishing and communication, formerly known as Freenet.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    RetroShare offers friend-to-friend chat, forums, channels and file sharing with an Android app, but it is useful only once friends join.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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