diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/caddyauth.go b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/caddyauth.go
index 69db62a5c..792c198ee 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/caddyauth.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/caddyauth.go
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ func (Authentication) CaddyModule() caddy.ModuleInfo {
 	}
 }
 
-// Provision sets up a.
+// Provision sets up an Authentication module by initializing its logger,
+// loading and registering all configured authentication providers.
 func (a *Authentication) Provision(ctx caddy.Context) error {
 	a.logger = ctx.Logger()
 	a.Providers = make(map[string]Authenticator)
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/command.go b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/command.go
index c9f440060..07489397a 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/command.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/command.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 func init() {
 	caddycmd.RegisterCommand(caddycmd.Command{
 		Name:  "hash-password",
-		Usage: "[--plaintext <password>] [--algorithm <name>]",
+		Usage: "[--plaintext <password>] [--algorithm <name>] [--cost <difficulty>]",
 		Short: "Hashes a password and writes base64",
 		Long: `
 Convenient way to hash a plaintext password. The resulting
@@ -43,10 +43,17 @@ Caddy is attached to a controlling tty, the plaintext will
 not be echoed.
 
 --algorithm currently only supports 'bcrypt', and is the default.
+
+--cost sets the bcrypt hashing difficulty.
+Higher values increase security by making the hash computation slower and more CPU-intensive.
+If the provided cost is not within the valid range [bcrypt.MinCost, bcrypt.MaxCost],
+the default value (defaultBcryptCost) will be used instead.
+Note: Higher cost values can significantly degrade performance on slower systems.
 `,
 		CobraFunc: func(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 			cmd.Flags().StringP("plaintext", "p", "", "The plaintext password")
 			cmd.Flags().StringP("algorithm", "a", "bcrypt", "Name of the hash algorithm")
+			cmd.Flags().Int("bcrypt-cost", defaultBcryptCost, "Bcrypt hashing cost (only used with 'bcrypt' algorithm)")
 			cmd.RunE = caddycmd.WrapCommandFuncForCobra(cmdHashPassword)
 		},
 	})
@@ -57,6 +64,7 @@ func cmdHashPassword(fs caddycmd.Flags) (int, error) {
 
 	algorithm := fs.String("algorithm")
 	plaintext := []byte(fs.String("plaintext"))
+	bcryptCost := fs.Int("bcrypt-cost")
 
 	if len(plaintext) == 0 {
 		fd := int(os.Stdin.Fd())
@@ -108,7 +116,7 @@ func cmdHashPassword(fs caddycmd.Flags) (int, error) {
 	var hashString string
 	switch algorithm {
 	case "bcrypt":
-		hash, err = BcryptHash{}.Hash(plaintext)
+		hash, err = BcryptHash{cost: bcryptCost}.Hash(plaintext)
 		hashString = string(hash)
 	default:
 		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup, fmt.Errorf("unrecognized hash algorithm: %s", algorithm)
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/hashes.go b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/hashes.go
index ce3df901e..ea91f24e2 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/hashes.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/caddyauth/hashes.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 package caddyauth
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 
 	"github.com/caddyserver/caddy/v2"
@@ -24,8 +26,15 @@ func init() {
 	caddy.RegisterModule(BcryptHash{})
 }
 
+// defaultBcryptCost cost 14 strikes a solid balance between security, usability, and hardware performance
+const defaultBcryptCost = 14
+
 // BcryptHash implements the bcrypt hash.
-type BcryptHash struct{}
+type BcryptHash struct {
+	// cost is the bcrypt hashing difficulty factor (work factor).
+	// Higher values increase computation time and security.
+	cost int
+}
 
 // CaddyModule returns the Caddy module information.
 func (BcryptHash) CaddyModule() caddy.ModuleInfo {
@@ -38,7 +47,7 @@ func (BcryptHash) CaddyModule() caddy.ModuleInfo {
 // Compare compares passwords.
 func (BcryptHash) Compare(hashed, plaintext []byte) (bool, error) {
 	err := bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword(hashed, plaintext)
-	if err == bcrypt.ErrMismatchedHashAndPassword {
+	if errors.Is(err, bcrypt.ErrMismatchedHashAndPassword) {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
@@ -48,8 +57,13 @@ func (BcryptHash) Compare(hashed, plaintext []byte) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // Hash hashes plaintext using a random salt.
-func (BcryptHash) Hash(plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	return bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword(plaintext, 14)
+func (b BcryptHash) Hash(plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	cost := b.cost
+	if cost < bcrypt.MinCost || cost > bcrypt.MaxCost {
+		cost = defaultBcryptCost
+	}
+
+	return bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword(plaintext, cost)
 }
 
 // FakeHash returns a fake hash.
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/encode/encode_test.go b/modules/caddyhttp/encode/encode_test.go
index d84c76d14..90be1e932 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/encode/encode_test.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/encode/encode_test.go
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ func TestPreferOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-
 func TestValidate(t *testing.T) {
 	type testCase struct {
 		name    string