MD5 vs SHA-256 — Which Should You Use?

MD5 Hash GeneratorGenerate MD5 checksums (legacy use only).Open tool SHA-256 Hash GeneratorGenerate secure SHA-256 hashes from text or files.Open tool

MD5 and SHA-256 are both one-way hashes, but they live in different eras. MD5 is a legacy 128-bit checksum that has been cryptographically broken since 2004. Collisions are practical, so it can't resist tampering. SHA-256 is a modern 256-bit hash from the SHA-2 family with no known practical collision attacks. If you're starting anything new, SHA-256 is the obvious choice; MD5 survives only in legacy systems and non-security checksums. Both tools run 100% in your browser.

Use MD5 when

  • You must match an existing legacy system, old checksum convention, or database dedup key that hard-codes MD5.
  • Collisions are harmless. The checksum isn't defending anything, it's just a fingerprint.
  • You only need a compact 32-char digest and speed over security.
  • Interoperability with an old spec outweighs the cryptographic weakness.

Use SHA-256 when

  • The checksum protects something: file integrity, downloads, or any data that could be tampered with.
  • You're starting a new project or spec with no legacy constraint.
  • You want collision resistance: no practical way to craft two inputs that hash the same.
  • There's any chance the digest will be used in a security-sensitive decision.

Side by side

MD5 Hash GeneratorSHA-256 Hash Generator
Digest size128 bits256 bits
Hex length32 chars64 chars
Released19922001
Collision resistanceBroken (practical attacks)Strong
StatusLegacyCurrent best practice
Where it runsBrowser, no uploadBrowser, no upload
under the hood

Neither MD5 nor SHA-256 is suitable for password storage. Both are far too fast. For passwords use a slow, salted function like bcrypt. Neither tool uploads your input; both run entirely in the browser.

bottom line

Reach for SHA-256 by default. It's stronger, current, and just as easy to compute. Reserve MD5 for the rare legacy case where you must interoperate with an old system or convention. If a collision would matter (for signatures, passwords, or tamper-prone data). MD5 is simply not an option.

Open MD5 Hash Generator Open SHA-256 Hash Generator
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