Arweave vs Filecoin
Arweave
arweave.orgFilecoin
filecoin.ioSide by side
| Figure | Arweave | Filecoin |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $2.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 7 |
| Spec score · Decentralized Storage Services | 8.0 (#6) | 8.0 (#9) |
| Integrations | The docs list client integrations for Go, PHP, Scala, Java, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, and NodeJS. | Akave lists Snowflake and Apache Iceberg support, while CIDgravity lists Nextcloud integration. |
| Support | The developer guide recommends Discord and the GitHub Discussions board for mining questions and support. | The Filecoin community hub points users to documentation, guides, APIs, tools, and community channels including Slack and Discord. |
| Use cases | The site says permanent storage can preserve important data and host decentralized web apps. | Filecoin storage is used for Web3 apps, AI datasets, backups, archives, cultural records, and scientific datasets. |
| What it does | Arweave describes its network as permanent information storage and a permanent, decentralized web inside an open ledger. | Filecoin is a decentralized storage network where users can pay independent providers to store and retrieve data. |
Plans
Filecoin
- Filecoin Onchain Cloud$2.50 a month
- Fil One$4.99 a month
- CIDgravity$5 a month
- Lighthouse$12 a month
- Akave CloudPriced on request
- AuroraPriced on request
- RamoPriced on request
In their own words
Arweave
Arweave is a decentralized network for permanent information storage in an open ledger, with a permanent web built on that storage. Its stated uses include preserving important data and hosting decentralized web apps; people can upload files or create a homepage on the permaweb. Transaction fees are set dynamically by the network, and the documentation recommends checking the price endpoint close to submission. The HTTP-based protocol works with existing clients such as Axios, Fetch, and Guzzle. Listed client integrations cover Go, PHP, Scala, Java, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, and NodeJS. Node software can be installed from pre-built binaries or built from source; documented roles include solo, coordinated, and pool mining, VDF server, and validator. Arweave describes content as timestamped and tamper-proof through the blockweave, with data integrity checks using transaction data in block hashes and recall blocks. Once one or more miners store data, there is no guaranteed way to delete it, and the policy advises against storing cleartext personal or confidential information. Wallets store private keys; lost key files cannot be recovered by wallet providers.
Filecoin
Filecoin is a decentralized storage network where users pay independent providers to store data and retrieve it later. Proof of Replication verifies that a provider holds a distinct copy, while Proof of Spacetime verifies storage over time. Listed uses include Web3 apps, AI datasets, backups, archives, cultural records, and scientific datasets. The Filecoin Virtual Machine adds smart contracts for logic, automation, and applications built around storage. Filecoin Onchain Cloud lists verifiable storage and retrieval, programmable payments, and a Synapse TypeScript SDK. Integrations listed through other services include Snowflake and Apache Iceberg via Akave, and Nextcloud via CIDgravity. Plans vary: Filecoin Onchain Cloud is $2.50 a month, billed from $2.50 / TB / month with a two-copy minimum; Fil One is $4.99 a month, billed from $4.99 / TB / month. CIDgravity is $5 a month, billed from $5 / TB / month, with the first 2 GiB free. Lighthouse is $12 a month, billed from $12 / 500 GB / month, with the first 5 GB free. Fil One has a free trial. Lotus node installation supports Linux and macOS; Windows is not supported for that installation.