Start hereDelivery network
Gateways
Independent operators run servers that deliver permanent data to browsers and apps, so nothing depends on one company's servers. Each server can check a file before it sends it.
About ar.io
Keeping permanent data within reach.
ar.io is an open network of independent servers that finds, checks, and delivers data stored permanently on Arweave. Institutions, platforms, and developers use it so their files, sites, and apps stay reachable.
Why it exists
The web is good at publishing. It is not designed to remember.
Links break, platforms disappear, and access changes with business models or infrastructure failures. Permanent storage solves the first half of that problem by preserving the data itself.
ar.io is the network that solves the second half. Independent operators run the servers, so no single company decides whether a record stays reachable, and a domain gives that record a name that survives the infrastructure serving it.
The network
What ar.io does
Five parts work together to deliver permanent data to people and apps, and to prove it has not changed.
Domains
ArNS
Readable names, like web domains, for permanent files, sites, and apps. A name can point to a newer version while every earlier version stays reachable. You can lease a name or buy it outright.
Proof it's the original
Verification
Anyone can check that a file they received is exactly what was stored, without having to trust the server that sent it.
The network token
ARIO
Used to buy domains and to back the servers that run the network. Servers that do their job well earn ARIO as a reward.
Smart routing
Wayfinder
Tools that let an app pick a working server automatically and check what comes back, so the app never depends on a single server.
Why it's different
What makes ar.io different
An open network, not one company
Anyone can run a server on the network. With a single-vendor cloud or CDN, such as AWS S3 or Cloudflare, one company controls the infrastructure.
Checked, not taken on trust
You can confirm a file is exactly what was stored, instead of trusting whoever sent it to you.
No single point of failure
No one company decides which servers exist or what they deliver. Apps can use many independent servers, so one going offline does not take your data with it.
Pay once, no storage bill
Data stored on Arweave is paid for once. A cloud storage account charges you for as long as the data exists.
Open source
The software that runs the network is open source. Anyone can read it, run it, or contribute to it.
Works with the web you already use
Data is served over ordinary web links and readable domains, so it opens in any browser. No wallet, plugin, or special software is needed to view it.
Who it's for
Who uses ar.io
Institutions and archives
Libraries, archives, publishers, and research groups keeping records they cannot afford to lose, in a form anyone can check.
Learn moreNFT, gaming, and content platforms
Projects whose images and records have to stay online, even if the platform behind them changes or shuts down.
Learn moreDevelopers building apps
Teams whose apps save and load permanent data using the ar.io tools and docs.
Learn moreWebsite and app publishers
Teams that publish websites and web apps permanently, with a readable domain that always points to the latest version.
Learn more
See how some of these teams use the network in case studies.
Who's behind it
Who stands behind ar.io
Built by two organizations. Run by independent operators. Anyone can join.
Non-profit
AR.IO Foundation
Supports the long-term health of the network through development, grants, education, and outreach.
Original developer
Permanent Data Solutions
Permanent Data Solutions built the ar.io network and ArDrive, the permanent storage app. It also runs Turbo, a service for uploading and accessing data, and Permaweb Services, which runs private gateways for organizations.
Visit ArDriveRuns the network
Gateway operators
Independent operators run the servers that deliver and check data, and earn ARIO for doing it well. Anyone can join by running the open-source gateway software.
Run a gatewaySelf-service
How to get started
Use an app, build your own, or help run the network.
Help run the network
Run the open-source gateway software and join as an independent operator.
Run a gatewayTry the console
Upload files, deploy apps, and register ArNS names in one app.
Try the appBuild an app
Read the docs and add permanent data to your own app.
Read docsJoin the community
Ask questions and follow network development on Discord.
Join DiscordReference
Key facts
The basics, at a glance.
| Name | ar.io |
|---|---|
| Type | Open network |
| Supported by | AR.IO Foundation |
| Website | ar.io |
| App | console.ar.io, for uploading files, deploying sites and apps, and registering domains. |
| Core offering | A network that finds, checks, and delivers data stored permanently on Arweave. See how it works. |
| Components | Gateways (delivery), ArNS (domains), Wayfinder (routing), and the ARIO token. See products and tools. |
| Token | ARIO |
| Pricing model | Storage on Arweave is paid once, with no recurring bill. Domains can be leased or bought outright. |
| Payment options | Pay in the ar.io console with a credit or debit card, stablecoins (USDC), or cryptocurrency. |
| Open source | github.com/ar-io |
| Documentation | docs.ar.io |
| Community and social | XLinkedInGitHubDiscord |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is ar.io a company?
No. ar.io is an open network. The AR.IO Foundation supports it, Permanent Data Solutions built it, and independent operators run its servers.
Who runs the servers?
Independent operators, each running the open-source gateway software. No single company owns or controls them, and apps can use many at once instead of relying on one.
How is ar.io related to Arweave?
Arweave stores data permanently. ar.io is how that data reaches people: its servers find, check, and deliver what Arweave stores, and connect domains to it.
What is ArNS?
ArNS is the domain system for permanent data. You give a file, site, or app a readable name, and the name can point to newer versions while older ones stay reachable. Names can be leased or bought outright.
Do I need the ARIO token to use ar.io?
No. Viewing and downloading permanent data does not require ARIO. The token is used to buy domains and to back the servers that run the network.
How do I know a file is the original?
Every file on Arweave has a fingerprint that is part of its permanent record. Tools such as Wayfinder recompute that fingerprint from what you received, so you do not have to trust the server that sent it.
Can I run my own gateway?
Yes. The gateway software is open source and anyone can run it. Operators who join the network put up ARIO as a stake and can earn rewards.
What happens if a server goes offline?
Apps switch to another server. The data itself stays on Arweave and can be delivered by any other server on the network.