Scrypt vs Argon2

Developers should learn and use Scrypt when they need to securely hash passwords or derive cryptographic keys in applications where resistance to hardware-accelerated attacks is critical, such as in cryptocurrency mining, password authentication systems, or any scenario requiring strong security against brute-force attempts meets developers should use argon2 when implementing secure password storage in applications, as it provides strong protection against brute-force and side-channel attacks. Here's our take.

Scrypt

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use Scrypt when they need to securely hash passwords or derive cryptographic keys in applications where resistance to hardware-accelerated attacks is critical, such as in cryptocurrency mining, password authentication systems, or any scenario requiring strong security against brute-force attempts

Pros

• It is particularly valuable in environments where attackers might use custom hardware, as its memory-hardness makes such attacks more expensive and less feasible compared to simpler hashing algorithms like SHA-256
• Related to: password-hashing, key-derivation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Argon2

Developers should use Argon2 when implementing secure password storage in applications, as it provides strong protection against brute-force and side-channel attacks

Pros

• It is particularly valuable in web applications, authentication systems, and any scenario where user credentials need long-term protection, such as in databases or authentication servers
• Related to: password-hashing, cryptography

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Scrypt is a concept while Argon2 is a tool. We picked Scrypt based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Scrypt wins

Based on overall popularity. Scrypt is more widely used, but Argon2 excels in its own space.