crypto is a built-in Node.js module that provides cryptographic functionality, including a set of wrappers for OpenSSL's hash, HMAC, cipher, decipher, sign, and verify functions. It is widely used for secure data encryption, hashing, and generating cryptographic signatures, making it an essential tool for developers who need to implement security features in their applications. While the crypto module offers robust capabilities, there are several alternatives that provide additional features or simplify certain tasks. Here are a few notable alternatives:

• bcrypt is a library specifically designed for hashing passwords. It implements the bcrypt hashing algorithm, which is known for its strength and resistance to brute-force attacks. bcrypt is widely used for securely storing user passwords in databases, as it automatically handles salting and provides a configurable cost factor to increase hashing complexity. If your primary need is to securely hash passwords, bcrypt is a reliable choice.
• crypto-js is a JavaScript library that provides standard and secure cryptographic algorithms. It is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, making it versatile for various applications. crypto-js supports a wide range of hashing algorithms, encryption methods, and encoding formats. If you need a comprehensive library for cryptographic operations that can run in the browser, crypto-js is a great option.
• node-forge is another powerful library that provides a wide range of cryptographic tools, including support for various encryption algorithms, hashing functions, and certificate generation. It is designed to be lightweight and can be used in both Node.js and browser environments. node-forge is particularly useful for applications that require advanced cryptographic features, such as public key infrastructure (PKI) or secure communication protocols.
• sjcl (Stanford Javascript Crypto Library) is a library that focuses on providing a simple and efficient way to perform cryptographic operations in JavaScript. It includes support for encryption, decryption, hashing, and more, while emphasizing performance and security. sjcl is suitable for developers looking for a straightforward library to implement cryptographic functions without the overhead of more extensive libraries.

To see how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing bcrypt vs crypto vs crypto-js vs node-forge vs sjcl.