Last updated: April 22, 2026
bcrypt vs Argon2: Which Password Hashing Algorithm in 2026?
Quick Answer
bcrypt has been the standard for password hashing for 25+ years with a proven track record. Argon2 won the 2015 Password Hashing Competition and is resistant to GPU/ASIC attacks via memory-hardness. Argon2id is the modern recommendation; bcrypt remains secure.
bcrypt vs Argon2 — Side by Side
| Feature | bcrypt | Argon2 |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 1999: 25+ years proven | 2015: PHC competition winner |
| Memory Hardness | No: CPU-hard only | Yes: configurable memory requirement |
| GPU Resistance | Moderate: some GPU attacks exist | High: memory-hard thwarts GPU/ASIC |
| Configuration | Cost factor (rounds) | Memory, time, parallelism parameters |
| Max Input | 72 bytes (truncates longer passwords) | No practical limit |
| Variants | One: bcrypt | Argon2d, Argon2i, Argon2id |
| OWASP Recommendation | Acceptable | Preferred (Argon2id) |
Verdict
For new projects, use Argon2id: it is the modern standard recommended by OWASP and NIST. bcrypt is still secure and acceptable. Do not switch from bcrypt unless you have a specific reason: both protect passwords well.
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