The foundation of the internet lies in peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, but modern internet use has become almost exclusively centralized. With the Pipes platform, we aim to facilitate the creation of and widespread use of P2P applications, a shift back toward our common P2P roots and toward a better future for collaborative software.

Why P2P?

• Data Ownership and Privacy: Store data where you wish: in the cloud, shared over a VPN, on-premise, or just on a few laptops. Use nodes anywhere to route data, but exchange encrypted content only with the people/devices you choose.
• Anti-scaling: Centralized services have to scale up to support massive user-bases, which creates serious technical challenges; P2P services need only scale to the size of your network, which translates directly to improvements in service quality.
• Security: P2P networks are inherently more robust than their centralized counterparts as there is no single point of attack or failure. Attacks on market-favorite tools such as Zoom and Squarespace left millions vulnerable; with P2P you get better security with simpler/cheaper technologies.
• Self-reliance: For many individuals and organizations, it is a great benefit to be able to manage your technology stack completely. P2P design allows you take ownership of your tech.
• Ecosystem Diversity: A P2P mindset encourages the development of niche applications to better serve smaller, more specialized market segments.

For more details, see our overview document.