Hamachi is a hosted virtual private network service from LogMeIn that builds encrypted, LAN-like networks between computers over the internet, letting remote teams, gamers, and administrators reach files, services, and machines as if everyone shared one office network.
Hamachi is a hosted VPN service that connects computers into a private, encrypted virtual network no matter where they are physically located. You install the client on each machine, join a network, and each device receives a stable virtual IP address, so shared folders, remote desktops, and internal services behave as if the machines were plugged into the same switch. Behind the scenes the client keeps a control connection to LogMeIn's servers, which detect NAT and firewall conditions and then broker direct peer-to-peer tunnels using server-assisted NAT traversal. That combination removes router configuration, port forwarding, and dedicated hardware from the setup, which is why small teams, gamers, and IT administrators use it daily.
The Hamachi client stays deliberately lightweight while remaining flexible in how networks are shaped. A mesh network lets every member talk directly to every other member, a hub-and-spoke layout funnels traffic through one designated host, and a gateway network bridges remote users into an entire physical LAN through a single machine. Administrators manage membership, passwords, and client interface modes from a web dashboard, and clients can run in the background for unattended access. Anyone comparing options should weigh those controls against a lighter alternative such as Radmin VPN, which targets a similar peer-to-peer use case with a different management model.
The main benefit of Hamachi is that it turns the public internet into a private, addressable network in minutes, without touching firewall rules or buying extra hardware. Because each member gets a persistent virtual IP tied to its identity, you can bookmark a remote machine once and keep reaching it, whether it is a colleague's laptop, a home media server, or a lab workstation. Traffic between peers is encrypted, so file sharing, remote desktop sessions, and internal web applications travel safely over untrusted networks, while centralized access controls let an administrator revoke membership or lock a network instantly. Running the client as a background service keeps unattended machines reachable for support and backup work, and the hosted relays help connections succeed even when both sides sit behind restrictive NAT devices. For gaming, LAN-only titles treat the virtual network as a real local segment, which is why the tool has stayed popular with small groups for two decades.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Join a network and each computer receives a persistent virtual IP address, creating one shared broadcast domain across the internet. Shared folders, printers, and internal services respond exactly as they would on a physical office LAN, so applications that expect local discovery keep working without any code changes.
The client detects NAT and firewall conditions on your route and then brokers direct peer-to-peer tunnels, using relay servers only as a fallback when a direct path cannot be negotiated. That means most sessions connect without port forwarding, router changes, or a static public IP address.
Choose mesh for direct machine-to-machine links, hub-and-spoke when a central host should control traffic, or gateway mode to expose an entire physical LAN through one bridged machine. Switching layouts lets the same client serve a two-person gaming session or a distributed support team.
Traffic between Hamachi peers is protected with AES 256-bit encryption over public and private networks, so file transfers, remote desktop sessions, and internal web tools stay private even on untrusted Wi-Fi or shared broadband. Encryption is handled by the client, requiring no configuration from end users.
Create, restore, and delete virtual networks from a browser, and manage passwords, membership requests, and network locking without visiting each machine. Centralized administration keeps control in one place, which matters when laptops are scattered across home offices and branch locations.
Run the client as a service so machines stay reachable even when nobody is signed in at the console. Support technicians can reach workstations for maintenance, backup jobs can pull files on schedule, and remote sensors or kiosks remain addressable for the life of the deployment.
Deploy clients in full, restricted, or minimal interface modes depending on how much control each user should have. Administrators can lock down settings for managed endpoints while still giving power users the diagnostics, peer lists, and connection preferences they need.
Provision the virtual network client to new computers remotely instead of visiting each site, then attach them to the correct network automatically. This shortens onboarding for new hires and lets administrators rebuild or replace machines without walking anyone through a manual installation.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
No old versions have been added yet.
Common questions about Hamachi.
People use it to build a private network between computers that sit on different internet connections. Typical jobs include sharing folders with a teammate, reaching a home or office machine for remote support, hosting a LAN-only multiplayer game, and giving a small team access to internal services without a site-to-site hardware tunnel.
No. The client detects NAT and firewall conditions and negotiates tunnels with the help of LogMeIn's servers, so in most cases you do not configure port forwarding, DMZ rules, or a static public IP. Very restrictive corporate networks may still block the traffic, and relay servers are available when a direct peer path cannot be established.
Yes. Communications between peers are encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption, and the client handles key exchange and authentication. The traffic is protected as it crosses public networks, so the virtual network behaves like a private link rather than an open internet connection.
Hamachi is free of charge for networks of up to five computers, which covers many home and small-team scenarios. Larger networks fall under paid subscriptions, and those paid plans are also the route to running the client as an unattended background service on managed machines.
Yes. Gateway networks bridge a virtual network to a real LAN through one computer acting as the gateway, so remote members see the office subnet and its resources rather than a single machine. Hub-and-spoke networks are the middle ground when you want to expose only specific computers instead of the whole segment.
Yes, that is the normal case. Each client maintains a control connection to the hosted server cluster, which coordinates tunnel setup between peers, and server-assisted NAT traversal lets the two machines connect directly whenever their routers allow it. When a direct path is impossible, traffic falls back to relayed connections.
No. It is built for private network access between known machines, not for hiding your identity or changing your apparent location, and it does not mask your public IP address from the wider internet. If anonymous browsing is the goal, a consumer privacy VPN is the appropriate category of tool.
Hamachi is a hosted virtual private network service from LogMeIn that builds encrypted, LAN-like networks between computers over the internet, letting remote teams, gamers, and administrators reach files, services, and machines as if everyone shared one office network.
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