Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

IPFS VS I2P

Compare IPFS VS I2P and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

IPFS logo IPFS

IPFS is the permanent web. A new peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol.

I2P logo I2P

The I2P network provides strong privacy protections for communication over the Internet.
  • IPFS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-06-25
  • I2P Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-14

IPFS features and specs

  • Decentralization
    IPFS operates on a peer-to-peer network, reducing dependency on central servers and improving resilience and fault tolerance.
  • Content Addressing
    Resources in IPFS are accessed through content hashes, ensuring data integrity and authenticity by directly referencing content, not its location.
  • Improved Load Distribution
    By distributing data across multiple nodes, IPFS can balance load, which can improve availability and access speed.
  • Offline Access
    Data stored in IPFS can be accessed offline if the content is already cached locally, enabling persistent availability.
  • Resistance to Censorship
    Decentralization makes it harder to censor content since there is no single point of failure that can be targeted.
  • Reduced Bandwidth Usage
    IPFS can save bandwidth by referencing previously downloaded content from local networks or peers rather than fetching it from remote servers.
  • Historical Versioning
    IPFS can keep track of historical versions of content, allowing for content versioning and retrieval of past data states.

Possible disadvantages of IPFS

  • Complexity
    Implementing and managing an IPFS network can be complex, requiring understanding of peer-to-peer networking and content addressing.
  • Initial Content Distribution
    Uploading content to IPFS and ensuring it gets distributed across the network can require significant initial effort and time.
  • Storage Redundancy
    Data is stored redundantly across multiple nodes, which can lead to increased storage requirements compared to traditional centralized storage.
  • Persistence
    Unless explicitly pinned, content might not persist indefinitely on IPFS, potentially leading to loss of data that's not sufficiently replicated.
  • Scalability of Pinning Services
    To ensure data persistence and availability, pinning services might be required, which can incur additional costs and complexity as the network scales.
  • Legal and Compliance Issues
    Decentralized storage can complicate legal compliance and content moderation, as it's harder to control and regulate distributed data.
  • Performance Variability
    Access speeds can vary based on the availability and performance of peers in the network, leading to inconsistent user experiences.
  • Energy Consumption
    Maintaining a large, distributed network of nodes can lead to higher energy consumption compared to centralized infrastructure.

I2P features and specs

  • Anonymity
    I2P is designed to provide significant anonymity for users by routing communications through a volunteer-run network of globally distributed routers.
  • Peer-to-Peer Architecture
    I2P doesn't rely on centralized servers, reducing single points of failure and enhancing its resilience to attacks and censorship.
  • Layered Encryption
    Messages sent through I2P are encrypted in multiple layers (using garlic routing), which enhances security and makes tracking the data source harder.
  • Uncensorable
    Due to its decentralized and anonymous nature, I2P can be used to bypass censorship and provide access to information in restrictive environments.
  • Versatile Applications
    Supports a variety of applications such as anonymous web browsing, chatting, file-sharing, and email, making it a versatile tool for privacy-focused users.

Possible disadvantages of I2P

  • Performance
    The anonymization and encryption processes in I2P can lead to slower connections and higher latency compared to traditional internet connections.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Setting up and using I2P can be complex for new users, requiring some technical knowledge to configure effectively.
  • Limited User Base
    I2P has a smaller user base compared to other anonymous networks like Tor, which might affect the overall speed and availability of content.
  • Maintenance and Reliability
    As a volunteer-run network, the reliability of routers can vary, potentially causing inconsistency in service quality and availability.
  • Content Accessibility
    Content on I2P is isolated within its network and not directly accessible from the regular internet, which can be limiting for users looking for a broader range of content.

IPFS videos

Why IPFS? - Juan Benet

More videos:

  • Review - Ether-1 Project Review - Decentralized Web Hosting - IPFS Protocol - DAPPS
  • Review - Best Decentralised Storage Systems : ARWEAVE vs IPFS FILECOIN
  • Review - Why IPFS Is SO Important! (Simple Explanation)

I2P videos

Question: Is I2P Better than TOR?

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to IPFS and I2P)
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
VPN
0 0%
100% 100
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0
Security
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare IPFS and I2P

IPFS Reviews

We have no reviews of IPFS yet.
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I2P Reviews

Best Tor Browser Alternative for Risk-Free Web Surfing
I2P is an anonymous networking layer that provides strong privacy protections for communication over the internet. Though not a web browser per se, I2P can be integrated with web browsers to create a highly secure environment.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, IPFS should be more popular than I2P. It has been mentiond 289 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

IPFS mentions (289)

  • Showcase Your Achievements Securely with CertiFolio 🚀
    IPFS (optional: if you want to run your own IPFS node). - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Decentralized media Made easy
    When I click on https://synapsemedia.io/ I get redirected to a link like https://ipfs.io/ipns/synapsemedia.io (to use ipfs.io instead of my local node). Source: about 2 years ago
  • 4EVERLAND’s IPFS Pinning Service: 4EVER Pin
    You may already be aware that the Interplanetary File System or IPFS is a distributed storage network where computers from all over the world form nodes to share data. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to host an encrypted page
    In case of you don't trust them, it gets harder. Especially if you need to have it hosted without any trace to yourself. I'd probably pay a service to store my data on ipfs. You can pay with crypto. But I'm this case there's the question, how will you be able to access it. My thought would be to have a [tails][tails] USB with the necessary software. Source: about 2 years ago
  • anti-discord rule
    Https://ipfs.io is the only acceptable file host. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

I2P mentions (48)

  • SSL certificate expired
    The SSL certificate of https://download.i2p2.no expired on 29.08.2023. Therefore no downloads from the official https://geti2p.net site are available over https. Is this problem known? Source: over 1 year ago
  • RARBG is down and out!?
    They probably got harassed and don't have the man power to act. Great moment to give I2P https://geti2p.net/en/ a look as a viable alternative for torrents. Some clients already support both systems. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What Are Alternatives to the Internet?
    There's a few abstractions of the web you can use today. https://freenetproject.org/ https://geti2p.net/en/ https://www.gnunet.org/en/ https://www.ipfs.tech/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • YOUR OPSEC SUCKS | UHQ SCHIZOID OPSEC GUIDE | BECOME BULLETPROOF
    Aside from being very secure, it will also be much faster than Tor overall. The best way to explain I2P is as a internet within an internet. One thing to mention is I2P does not hide the fact you are using the service at all. If you don't like Tor for some reason, this is another option to check out. I2P Link: https://geti2p.net/en/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Reddit tells court: Film studios spewed “nonsense” in demand for users’ names
    If you really want to go down that route, I2P is probably your best bet these days. https://geti2p.net/en/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing IPFS and I2P, you can also consider the following products

FileCoin - Filecoin is a data storage network and electronic currency based on Bitcoin.

Freenet - Mae-enjoy mo na ang LIBRENG INTERNET ACCESS mula sa freenet! Ang libreng net na bet! freenet is an app where you can access the internet for free. Get 24/7 free access to our partner apps and sites. FREE INTERNET!

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

Tor Browser - Tor is free software for enabling anonymous communication.

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN