Hash Generator
Compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 digests of text or files, with exact UTF-8 handling and known-answer verified implementations.
Runs in your browser — nothing is uploadedFree trial: 1 run of Hash Generator every day. After that, 2 credits per run.
Produce an MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 or SHA-512 digest
Hash typed text or a file of up to 500 MB and get the hex digest back. Digests are computed in your browser — the SHA family through the built-in WebCrypto implementation, MD5 through a library that reads a file in four-megabyte chunks so a large download can be verified without loading it whole.
What Hash Generator gives you
Five algorithms
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512, producing 32 to 128 hexadecimal characters.
Text or file
Paste a string to hash it directly, or select a file of up to 500 MB to checksum it.
Chunked reading for MD5
Files are hashed in four-megabyte pieces with a progress bar, rather than pulled into memory in one go.
Warns before a big SHA file hash
WebCrypto cannot digest incrementally, so you are told when a large file will need to sit in memory all at once.
Your file stays in the browser
The digest is computed locally, so a confidential file can be checksummed without being uploaded.
How to use Hash Generator
Choose text or file
Switch between pasting a string and selecting a file.
Pick an algorithm
SHA-256 is the sensible default for integrity checking.
Add your input
Type or paste the text, or choose the file to hash.
Copy the digest
Compare it against the value you were given.
Other names for this tool
People also look for this as checksum calculator, MD5 generator, SHA-256 hash, file checksum tool and hash calculator online. It is the same tool on this page.
Limitations
- MD5 and SHA-1 are legacy checksums, not security primitives.
Questions about Hash Generator
Is MD5 safe to use?
No, not for security. MD5 and SHA-1 are both broken against collision attacks and are offered only for checksums and legacy compatibility.
Can I hash a large file?
Yes. Files are read and hashed in bounded chunks rather than loaded whole.
How do I verify a downloaded file against its checksum?
Select the file, choose the same algorithm the publisher used, and compare the digest with theirs. Paste both somewhere rather than reading them by eye — a single wrong character means the file is not the one they published.
Is MD5 still safe to use?
Not for security decisions. MD5 and SHA-1 are both broken against collision attacks, meaning two different files can be made to share a digest. They remain useful for spotting accidental corruption, which is what most checksum comparisons are actually for.
Which algorithm should I choose?
SHA-256 for anything where the result matters. Match whatever the publisher used when verifying a download, since an SHA-256 digest will never equal an MD5 one however correct the file is. Use MD5 only for speed on very large files.
Can I hash a large file without freezing my browser?
MD5 reads the file in four-megabyte chunks with a progress bar, so a multi-gigabyte download is handled steadily. The SHA algorithms cannot do that, because WebCrypto has no incremental digest, and you are warned before a large file is loaded whole.
Can I use this to hash passwords?
No. These are checksums, not password storage. Passwords need a purpose-built key derivation function such as bcrypt or Argon2, which is deliberately slow. A fast digest is the wrong tool and produces an insecure result.
Is a hash the same as encryption?
No. Hashing is one-way: the digest cannot be reversed to recover what went in, and there is no key involved. Encryption is designed to be undone by whoever holds the key.