Argon2 vs Bcrypt

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

argon2

Popular

Version 0.44.0

65
Good

An Argon2 library for Node

Weekly Downloads
810.4K
Bundle (gzip)
302.8 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
90
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

bcrypt

Very Popular

Version 6.0.0

73
Good

A bcrypt library for NodeJS.

Weekly Downloads
3.9M
↑25%
Bundle (gzip)
324.2 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
60
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Argon2 and Bcrypt? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Bcrypt leads with 3.9M weekly downloads — roughly 4.8x more. Argon2 has 810.4K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Argon2 has the smallest gzipped bundle at 302.8 KB. Bcrypt comes in at 324.2 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Bcrypt has an overall health score of 73/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Argon2 has an overall health score of 65/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Argon2 if you value strong security track record. Choose Bcrypt if you value large community support, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Argon2 and Bcrypt are solid choices for JavaScript development. Bcrypt has the edge in overall health score (73/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is argon2 better than bcrypt?
It depends on your needs. Argon2 has a health score of 65/100 while Bcrypt scores 73/100. Bcrypt has more weekly downloads (3.9M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, argon2 or bcrypt?
Argon2 has the smaller gzipped bundle at 302.8 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use argon2 vs bcrypt?
Based on npm download statistics, Argon2 has approximately 810.4K weekly downloads and Bcrypt has approximately 3.9M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, argon2 or bcrypt?
Bcrypt currently has the higher overall health score at 73/100. Argon2 has a maintenance score of 40/100 and Bcrypt scores 60/100 on maintenance.