Get FreeBSD
For general information about past, present and future releases, see Release Information.
Considerations Before Downloading
Version & Branch
You likely want the latest production RELEASE of FreeBSD. Other branches like CURRENT and STABLE are developer-focused and require expertise to use successfully.
Architecture
Most users of FreeBSD will have hardware for amd64 or aarch64. If you're uncertain which to use, check the manufactuer's documentation for your CPU.
Image Type
For most cases, use bootonly if you have a network connection, dvd1 if you don't. Some embedded platforms have their own images, e.g., Raspberry Pi. See release announcements and handbook for details.
Combined, these three attributes make up the download file name which looks like:
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FreeBSD-VERSION-BRANCH-ARCHITECTURE-IMAGETYPE.format
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Example: FreeBSD-14.2-RELEASE-amd64-bootonly.iso
Latest Releases
FreeBSD provides support for the latest major version ("production") and the previous major version ("legacy"). See supported FreeBSD releases for complete lifecycle details. If installing new, use the latest production release.
FreeBSD 14.2-RELEASE
| Installer | VM | SD Card |
|---|---|---|
Released: December 3, 2024 Release Notes Readme Hardware Compatibility List Installation Instructions Errata Signed Checksums |
||
FreeBSD 13.5-RELEASE
| Installer | VM | SD Card |
|---|---|---|
Released: March 11, 2025 Release Notes Readme Hardware Compatibility List Installation Instructions Errata Signed Checksums |
||
FreeBSD 13.4-RELEASE
| Installer | VM | SD Card |
|---|---|---|
Released: September 17, 2024 Release Notes Readme Hardware Compatibility List Installation Instructions Errata Signed Checksums |
||
Development Snapshots
Prior to RELEASE there are a series of branches that represent various phases in development and release engineering.
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RELEASE - FreeBSD as it inteded to be used. This is what most people will want.
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Receives support and patches
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Well documented
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Detailed release communication
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Pre-RELEASE - intended for development and testing. Not for everyday use.
GIT SRC REPO REVISION= BRANCH= main 15.0 CURRENT │ ├─stable/14 14.3 STABLE │ │ │ ├─releng/14.3 14.3 STABLE │ │ 14.3 ALPHA1 │ │ 14.3 BETA1 │ │ 14.3 RC1 │ │ 14.3 RELEASE │ │ 14.3 RELEASE-p1 │ │ │ ├─releng/14.4 14.4 STABLE ┊ ┊ … …
15.0-CURRENT
Installer and SD card images are available for amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64.
14.2-STABLE
Installer and SD card images are available for amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64.
Installation
Options include:
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images
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direct download (anonymous FTP, and HTTPS).
Before downloading an entire distribution, please read the installation guide.
If you plan to get FreeBSD via FTP or HTTPS, check the FreeBSD Handbook for suitable mirrors for your region.
Purchase FreeBSD Media
FreeBSD can be acquired on DVD from FreeBSD Mall, and other DVD publishers.
Applications and Utility Software
The Ports Collection
A diverse collection of utility and application software that has been ported to FreeBSD.
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FreshPorts - a more advanced web interface to the Collection
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Installing Applications: Packages and Ports in the FreeBSD Handbook
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Browse the Collection: FreeBSD ports Git repository | web.
For information about how you can contribute your favorite piece of software to the Collection, have a look at The Porter’s Handbook and Contributing to FreeBSD.
Archives
Past releases of FreeBSD.