Compared · checked 2026-10-24

The best free checksum and file hash tools

A checksum tells you a download is the file that was published and was not changed on the way. These free tools compute the hash on your computer. Here is what each one offers, from its own pages.

We make Checksum, one of the tools on this page. Every fact about the other tools comes from their own pages, linked under each one, as they read on 2026-10-24. Prices and features change: check each site before you choose.

How we compared them

• Free, with no account
• The file is read on your device
• Which algorithms it offers (SHA-256, SHA-512, MD5, CRC32…)
• Ease of use: a window or a command line
• Many files or folders at once

At a glance

1. Checksum (ours)

Best for: Checking one download against a published SHA-256 in the browser, with a clear match or no-match answer.

Good

• Paste the published hash and it says Match or No match, and warns when the length shows the wrong algorithm
• Nothing to install, and the file is read on your device
• Copes with pasted hashes in capitals, with spaces or a "sha256:" prefix
• Works on your phone, tablet and computer in the browser, even offline

Not so good

• One file at a time
• No MD5 or CRC32, which some sites still publish
• Reads the whole file into memory, so very large files need a lot of RAM

Open Checksum

2. PowerShell Get-FileHash

Best for: Windows users happy to type one command, or to hash files in a script.

Good

• SHA256 by default
• Takes several paths at once, and works in scripts
• Microsoft's documentation notes MD5 and SHA1 are no longer considered secure

Not so good

• A command, not a window: you compare the result with the published hash yourself

PowerShell Get-FileHash website · Sources: Get-FileHash (Microsoft Learn)

3. HashMyFiles

Best for: Windows users who want hashes of many files or a folder, from the Explorer right-click menu.

Good

• One or more files, or a folder
• Launches from the Windows Explorer context menu
• Copy the list, or save it as text, HTML or XML

Not so good

• Windows only

HashMyFiles website · Sources: HashMyFiles (NirSoft)

4. QuickHash-GUI

Best for: People who need many algorithms, including BLAKE3 and xxHash, on Linux, Windows or Mac.

Good

• The widest choice of algorithms here
• A graphical tool on all three desktop systems
• Open source

Not so good

• Has to be downloaded and installed
• Its home page lists the algorithms but little about the rest of the features

QuickHash-GUI website · Sources: QuickHash-GUI home page

Which one to choose

Checksum is our pick to check a single download against the SHA-256 on a website: drop the file, paste the hash and read the answer, on any device with a browser, with the file read on your device. It cannot do MD5 or many files at once.

Choose Get-FileHash on Windows if you are comfortable with a command, HashMyFiles for folders and MD5 or CRC32, or QuickHash-GUI for the most algorithms on Linux, Windows and Mac.

Questions

Which hash should I use?

Use the one the publisher lists, usually SHA-256. Microsoft's documentation notes that MD5 and SHA1 are no longer considered secure, so use them only to match an older published hash.

Is my file uploaded to compute the hash?

Not with any of these. Checksum reads the file in your browser with the Web Crypto API; the others are programs on your computer.

What does "No match" mean?

The file differs from the one that was published: download it again from the official site. Check you picked the same algorithm first; Checksum warns when the length does not fit.

Can I check an MD5 hash?

Not in Checksum. Get-FileHash, HashMyFiles and QuickHash-GUI all compute MD5.

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