Hamachi is a hosted virtual private network service from LogMeIn that links computers and distributed teams into secure, LAN-like private networks over the internet, so users can share files, reach internal resources, and run remote sessions without dedicated networking hardware.
Hamachi is a hosted VPN service that builds secure, LAN-like networks between computers anywhere on the internet, so remote workers, distributed teams, and gamers can connect as if they shared the same physical office. After installing the client and joining a network, each machine receives a virtual IP address and appears alongside the other members in a simple peer list. Connections are established peer to peer through Hamachi's mediation servers, which means NAT routers and firewalls usually need no configuration. Administrators create networks in a web dashboard, invite or remove members, and monitor which clients are online. The practical result is fast, low-maintenance remote access to file shares, internal applications, and remote desktop sessions without hardware or complex setup.
Hamachi fits situations where a handful of machines or a whole office needs private connectivity without hardware VPN appliances. Common uses include giving travelling staff access to a shared file server, linking branch computers to headquarters, letting support teams reach unattended machines, and connecting game servers so friends can play over a virtual LAN. Administrators can also run it as a background service so machines stay reachable when nobody is logged in. Because membership is controlled centrally, access can be tightened or revoked quickly. Teams that mainly need anonymous browsing rather than private peer networking may prefer a consumer VPN such as iTop VPN, while Hamachi is aimed at building a private network between known devices.
The main benefit of Hamachi is that it turns the open internet into something that behaves like a small private LAN, so teams stop wrestling with port forwarding, dynamic DNS, and firewall rules. Devices join a network, appear in one list, and communicate directly, which makes remote access feel local for file sharing, remote desktop, and internal tools. Because connections are encrypted and mediated rather than exposed publicly, machines keep working from home, hotel, or mobile connections without network changes. Setup is quick and administration is centralized: a web dashboard creates and restores networks, invites or removes members, sets client interface modes, and can deploy clients to new computers remotely. Unattended mode keeps servers and workstations reachable as a background service. The result is predictable, low-maintenance connectivity for small businesses and technical users who need private access between specific computers, not a general-purpose browsing VPN.
Hamachi gives every member computer a stable virtual IP address and lists it in a single peer view, so devices on different home, office, or mobile connections behave like machines on one local network. Shared folders, printers, and local applications stay reachable without reworking the underlying network.
Networks can be arranged to suit the job: a mesh lets every machine talk directly to every other, hub-and-spoke restricts access to specific computers, and gateway mode publishes an entire private LAN through one host. That flexibility covers simple file sharing as well as broader remote access.
All traffic between Hamachi clients travels through AES 256-bit encrypted tunnels, whether those machines sit on the same office switch or connect across public Wi-Fi. Encryption is handled by the client itself, so there is no separate appliance to configure or certificate to distribute by hand.
Because the service mediates connections between peers, most home routers and corporate firewalls need no port forwarding, static IP address, or protocol changes. Remote machines establish working tunnels from wherever they are, which removes the main source of friction in setting up small private networks on short notice.
Networks are created, restored, and monitored from a browser instead of on each machine. Administrators can invite or remove members, reset network passwords, lock a network, and check which computers are currently online, keeping day-to-day control in one place even across multiple sites.
Hamachi can run as a service so servers, kiosks, and workstations stay reachable when nobody is signed in. Support teams use this to start remote desktop sessions or pull files at any hour, which is especially useful for headless machines that would otherwise need someone on site.
Default settings can be applied per network or per client, including full, restricted, and minimal interface modes, and client software can be provisioned to new computers without visiting them. That keeps configuration consistent as a network grows and limits what end users are able to change.
Access is governed by network membership and passwords rather than by IP ranges. Administrators approve who joins, revoke access when a device is retired, and keep a clear list of members, which is simpler to reason about than scattered firewall rules and shared credentials.
Hamachi is used to build a private, LAN-like network between computers that are not on the same physical network. Typical uses are remote access to file servers and internal applications, connecting branch offices, supporting unattended machines, and playing LAN games with friends over the internet.
Usually not. The client negotiates connections through LogMeIn's mediation servers, so port forwarding, a static public IP address, and router configuration are generally unnecessary. Some tightly locked corporate networks may still block the outbound traffic the service needs, so checking with IT is worth doing before rollout.
The free tier suits very small networks, while subscription plans raise the per-network member limit for larger deployments and add unattended operation. Accounts can also hold multiple networks at once, which makes it practical to keep separate networks for different clients, sites, or projects.
Yes. Client-to-client traffic travels through AES 256-bit encrypted tunnels, so data crossing public Wi-Fi or the open internet is protected in transit. Encryption keys belong to the network, and access depends on approved membership rather than on trusting the underlying connection or location.
For small and mid-sized needs it can, particularly with gateway mode, which publishes a private LAN through one host machine. It is designed around centrally managed virtual networks rather than dedicated hardware appliances, so it suits teams that want secure access quickly without buying new infrastructure.
Unattended mode runs the client as a background service, keeping servers and workstations reachable when no user is signed in. That mode belongs to the subscription plans rather than the free tier, and it is what most remote support and scheduled file access workflows rely on.
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