Table of Contents
Protocol Labs is the research and development group behind IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System, and Filecoin. This is not a normal web host where you buy a plan and upload a site. It is a different way of storing and serving files, spread across many computers rather than one company’s server. If you are curious about decentralized storage or building a web3 project, this review explains what IPFS does, how Filecoin fits and where it makes sense.
What IPFS actually is
IPFS stores files based on their content rather than their location. Instead of asking a single server for a file at an address, you ask the network for a file with a specific fingerprint, and any computer holding a copy can serve it. This is called content addressing. The benefit is that files are not tied to one machine, so they can stay available even if one node goes offline, as long as someone on the network keeps a copy. It is a foundational piece of the decentralized web.
Where Filecoin comes in
IPFS by itself does not guarantee that anyone will keep your file around. Filecoin adds an incentive layer. It is a network where people rent out spare storage and get paid to reliably hold data over time. So IPFS handles the addressing and sharing, and Filecoin gives storage providers a reason to keep your data online. Together they aim to make decentralized storage both usable and durable, without depending on one big cloud company.
Realistic use cases
This stack fits web3 apps, non fungible token metadata, decentralized websites, archival projects and anyone who wants files that do not live on a single provider. Developers often use pinning services that keep their content available on IPFS without running their own node. It is not the right choice for a typical business website that needs a database, email and a simple dashboard, since those are better served by a standard host. Think of IPFS as a complement for specific decentralized needs.
Things to understand first
Decentralized storage has a learning curve. You need to grasp content addressing, pinning and gateways before it clicks. Speed can vary since files come from wherever a copy lives. This is a maturing space, so treat it as powerful for the right project rather than a drop in replacement for regular hosting. For most people it will sit alongside a normal web host, handling the decentralized parts while conventional hosting runs everything else.
For more background, see Wikipedia, and browse other options in our hosting reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IPFS a web host?
Not in the usual sense. IPFS is a decentralized storage and file sharing network. It stores files across many computers rather than one server. For a standard website with a database you would still use a regular web host.
What is the difference between IPFS and Filecoin?
IPFS handles addressing and sharing files by their content fingerprint. Filecoin is the incentive layer that pays storage providers to keep data reliably online over time. They are designed to work together for durable decentralized storage.
Who should use IPFS?
Web3 developers, NFT projects, decentralized apps and archival efforts that want files not tied to one provider. It suits those needs well, but a typical business site with email and a dashboard is better on a normal host.
Do I need to run my own node?
No. Many people use pinning services that keep content available on IPFS for you, so you do not have to run and maintain your own node. That lowers the barrier for developers who just want their files hosted on the network.