D-LAN is a free open-source decentralized file sharing app for local networks. See features, setup, pros and cons, and how it compares to alternatives.
D-LAN is a decentralized, peer-to-peer file sharing client purpose-built for local area networks rather than the open internet. It was created to solve a specific problem: quickly and reliably moving large files, such as game installs, mods, or media collections, between many computers on the same LAN, such as at a LAN party, in a classroom, or across an office network, without needing internet access or a central file server.
Because there is no central server, every D-LAN installation acts as both a client and a peer. When you launch D-LAN on a network where other peers are running, it automatically finds them, indexes what they are sharing, and makes those files instantly searchable and browsable from your own client.
D-LAN uses SHA-1 file hashing to identify and verify shared content and Protocol Buffers to serialize data exchanged between peers, which keeps the underlying network protocol compact and efficient for LAN speeds. Transfers are distributed, meaning a single file can be downloaded in pieces from several peers who hold it at once, similar in spirit to a torrent, but scoped entirely to the local network.
In addition to file transfer, D-LAN bundles a persistent chat feature with channel support, letting a group on the same network coordinate downloads, ask questions, or just talk while files move in the background. A headless mode with remote control support also lets technically inclined users run D-LAN on a dedicated always-on machine as a lightweight LAN file server.
D-LAN is released under the GPL-3.0 open-source license, so the full source code is available on GitHub for inspection, modification, and redistribution. Official builds target Windows and Linux (Ubuntu), and the client is built with C++ and the Qt 4 toolkit.
Because D-LAN is a community-maintained project with no company behind it, there is no paid tier, subscription, or formal support contract. Anyone evaluating it for use today should check the GitHub repository for the latest release and open issues, since update cadence depends entirely on volunteer maintainers.
Yes. D-LAN is completely free and released under the GPL-3.0 open-source license, with no paid tiers or subscriptions.
No. D-LAN is built specifically for local area networks. It is not designed to share files between peers on different networks over the public internet.
Official D-LAN builds are available for Windows and Linux, including Ubuntu. There is no official macOS build.
D-LAN was created by developer Greg Burri, with Herve Martinet maintaining the Linux build and other community contributors adding to the project over time.
No. D-LAN is fully decentralized and peer-to-peer, each installation discovers and connects directly to other peers on the LAN.
Yes. D-LAN supports a headless mode intended for a dedicated always-on machine, which can then be controlled remotely from another D-LAN client.
D-LAN remains available as an open-source project on GitHub, but like many long-running volunteer LAN utilities, its release cadence has slowed, so it is worth checking the repository directly for the latest build status.
It is most commonly used at LAN parties, gaming events, offices, schools, and dorms to quickly move large files between many local computers without internet bandwidth or a dedicated file server.