Get FreeBSD

For general information about past, present and future releases, see Release Information.

Choose 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® 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 table of supported platforms.

Choose an Image Type

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.

Choose RELEASE

RELEASE versions of FreeBSD are suitable for broad use. Prior to RELEASE there are a series of branches that represent various phases in development and release engineering.

  • RELEASE - this is FreeBSD as it inteded to be used. This is what most people will want.

    • Receives support and patches

    • Well documented

    • Detailed release communication

  • Pre-RELEASE - intended for development and testing. Not for everyday use.

    • CURRENT – main development branch

    • STABLE – for release engineering

    • ALPHA, BETA, RC (release candidates) – increasing quality milestones within release engineering that lead up to the final release

The Path To A FreeBSD RELEASE
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
┊ ┊               …           …

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.

Download Development Snapshots

15.0-CURRENT

Installer and SD card images are available for amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64.

VM images are available for amd64, i386, aarch64, and riscv64.

14.2-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64.

VM images are available for amd64, i386, aarch64, and riscv64.

13.5-STABLE

Installer and SD card images are available for amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv6, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64.

VM images are available for amd64, i386, aarch64, and riscv64.

Installation

Options include:

  • images

  • 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.

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.