Bee is a free, open-source decentralized storage node for Windows, written in Go, built for developers and node operators who want to join the Ethereum Swarm network. If you would rather run your own node than depend on a single cloud provider, this is the kind of software to look at first.
A Windows build or installer is available, so you do not need to compile anything to try it. The project is still at a release candidate stage: the current version is v2.9.0-rc1, and its code has been updated recently. Treat it as pre-release software, expect changes between versions, and read the rest of this page before installing it.
What Is Ethereum Swarm and Where Bee Fits
Decentralized storage spreads data across many independent computers instead of one company's servers. Each machine running node software like Bee is called a node, and nodes connect to one another as peers. The network depends on enough operators keeping their nodes online, which is why the design includes an incentive structure rather than relying on goodwill alone.
Ethereum Swarm is the network Bee belongs to, and it is connected to the Ethereum ecosystem. Bee is the software that lets a Windows machine act as one of those nodes. It is not a browser, a wallet or a cloud sync folder. It runs in the background and communicates with other peers.
Understanding the role of a node helps set realistic expectations. Your machine contributes its resources and bandwidth, and the system's usefulness grows with the number of participants who keep their nodes online and connected.
Real-World Scenarios for Running a Swarm Node
Developers building applications that need decentralized storage often run a node to see how the network behaves from the inside. Testing retrieval, availability and failure cases on a local machine tells you more than reading documentation alone.
Researchers studying peer-to-peer systems can use a live node as a reference point. Watching how a node connects, what it logs and how it responds to upgrades gives concrete material for analysis.
Hobbyists who enjoy running infrastructure at home may like keeping a node online on a spare PC. A node is only useful to others when it stays connected, so a laptop that sleeps every night is a poor host.
How Bee Release Numbers Work
Bee does not follow strict Semantic Versioning, so the usual meaning of a version number does not apply. The major number is reserved for significant changes to Swarm's incentive structure, and it can also change when breaking changes reach the peer-to-peer protocol implementations that Bee hosts.
The minor number is where you should expect breaking changes. Moving from one minor version to the next may require adjustments on your side, so do not treat it as a safe drop-in update. The patch number carries backward-compatible features and bug fixes, which makes patch updates the least disruptive.
A practical habit is to note your current version, read the release notes on GitHub before upgrading, and test the new build on a non-critical machine first. This matters even more while the current build is a release candidate.
Key features
Ethereum Swarm node
Open-source Go codebase
Peer-to-peer protocol support
Windows build or installer
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Ethereum (ETH) as the asset associated with Bee. Because Bee runs a node for the Ethereum Swarm network, Ethereum is the chain most closely tied to the software.
How to install BEE on Windows
- 1
Get the official build
Open the official project page or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/ethersphere/bee. Download the Windows build or installer from there, and download only from the official website or GitHub Releases.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the download with the value published on the release page, or check the signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source.
-
Install and launch
Run the installer, or extract the build to a folder you control, then start Bee. Review any firewall prompt before allowing access, since a node that accepts connections is reachable from the network.
How to use BEE
Once Bee is installed, using it is mostly about letting it start, connect and stay online. The steps below describe the general flow. Check the release notes for the exact options in the version you downloaded.
- Launch Bee from its installed location and let it finish the first startup.
- Confirm that the node reaches the network and connects to peers. Early connections can take a while.
- Review the output or log files for errors about ports, configuration or version mismatches.
- Keep the node running for long stretches if you want it to be useful to other participants.
- Note the version you are running, and read the release notes for that version before each upgrade.
- Stop the node cleanly before updating or moving files, so the process does not leave partial data behind.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code published on GitHub
- Written in Go, so the code can be read and reviewed by anyone
- Windows build or installer available
- Versioning rules are documented, so upgrade risk is easier to judge
- Recently updated codebase
- The current version is a release candidate, so it is pre-release software
- Minor version bumps can contain breaking changes
- Aimed at technical users rather than casual file storage
- Focused on Ethereum Swarm rather than general-purpose storage
Is BEE safe?
Download Bee only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/ethersphere/bee. Repackaged installers on third-party sites can contain modified code. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. If your antivirus flags it, check the alert and the file's source before deciding anything, and keep your protection turned on. The current build is a release candidate, so check the official website for the latest version before installing on a machine you rely on. Bee is a node, not a wallet, but never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ethersphere/bee. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Bee is tied to Ethereum Swarm, while most tools in this list are built around IPFS. Kubo serves as the reference IPFS node, and IPFS Desktop offers a tray-based way to run one. Storj is a decentralized cloud storage network with its own storage nodes, and Peergos focuses on end-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing. ZeroNet targets decentralized websites, and Ipfs Chat is a terminal tool for encrypted messaging. If your goal is to run a Swarm node, Bee is the direct option. For IPFS, pick Kubo or IPFS Desktop. For encrypted sharing, look at Peergos.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v2.9.0-rc1
- Last update
- 28 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ethersphere/bee
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Bee is free and open source, and its code is published on GitHub. You do not need to buy a license to download and run it. Your only costs are the computer and internet connection you choose to run it on.
It can be, as long as you get the file from the official website or GitHub Releases and check it. Compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature, avoid repackaged installers from unknown sites, and keep your antivirus active. Bee is a node rather than a wallet, but never share a seed phrase or private key with anyone.
Yes. Bee is offered as a Windows build or installer, so you can run it without setting up a development environment. If you prefer, you can also build it from the Go source code on GitHub, though most people will use the ready-made file.
No. Bee is a node for Ethereum Swarm, a separate decentralized storage network. IPFS is a different peer-to-peer system with its own nodes and tools, such as Kubo. Both aim to distribute data across many machines, but they do not run on the same network.
Bee does not follow strict Semantic Versioning. Minor version bumps can introduce breaking changes, patch bumps add backward-compatible features and fixes, and major bumps are reserved for significant changes to Swarm's incentive structure. Read the release notes before upgrading any running node.
Bee's documentation mentions Ethereum (ETH), and Swarm is connected to the Ethereum ecosystem. Running a node is about storage and networking rather than trading. Check the official documentation before connecting Bee to any service that involves ETH.
Verdict
Bee suits developers, researchers and technically minded users who want to run a node on Ethereum Swarm from Windows. It is free, open source and available as a Windows build or installer. The current version is a release candidate, and minor releases can include breaking changes, so it is not a click-and-go app. If you need simple encrypted file sharing, Peergos is a better fit. If you want to experiment with a decentralized storage node and can read changelogs, test it on a secondary machine first.