diff --git a/build.go b/build.go
index c4ea6f0..113684c 100644
--- a/build.go
+++ b/build.go
@@ -609,11 +609,21 @@ func getSources(ctx context.Context, srcdir string, bv *BuildVars) error {
 		}
 
 		if !strings.EqualFold(bv.Checksums[i], "SKIP") {
-			checksum, err := hex.DecodeString(bv.Checksums[i])
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
+			algo, hashData, ok := strings.Cut(bv.Checksums[i], ":")
+			if ok {
+				checksum, err := hex.DecodeString(hashData)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				opts.Hash = checksum
+				opts.HashAlgorithm = algo
+			} else {
+				checksum, err := hex.DecodeString(bv.Checksums[i])
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				opts.Hash = checksum
 			}
-			opts.SHA256 = checksum
 		}
 
 		err := dl.Download(ctx, opts)
diff --git a/docs/packages/build-scripts.md b/docs/packages/build-scripts.md
index 856c2cf..a345ab2 100644
--- a/docs/packages/build-scripts.md
+++ b/docs/packages/build-scripts.md
@@ -199,7 +199,9 @@ git+https://gitea.arsenm.dev/Arsen6331/lure?~rev=v0.0.1&~recursive=true
 
 ### checksums
 
-The `checksums` array must be the same length as the `sources` array. It contains sha256 checksums for the source files. The files are checked against the checksums and the build fails if they don't match.
+The `checksums` array must be the same length as the `sources` array. It contains checksums for the source files. The files are checked against the checksums and the build fails if they don't match.
+
+By default, checksums are expected to be sha256. To change the algorithm, add it before the hash with a colon in between. For example, `md5:bc0c6f5dcd06bddbca9a0163e4c9f2e1`. The following algorithms are currently supported: `sha256`, `sha224`, `sha512`, `sha384`, `sha1`, and `md5`.
 
 To skip the check for a particular source, set the corresponding checksum to `SKIP`.
 
diff --git a/internal/dl/dl.go b/internal/dl/dl.go
index 747cd72..624edee 100644
--- a/internal/dl/dl.go
+++ b/internal/dl/dl.go
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@ package dl
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/md5"
+	"crypto/sha1"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"crypto/sha512"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"hash"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -39,7 +45,10 @@ const manifestFileName = ".lure_cache_manifest"
 
 // ErrChecksumMismatch occurs when the checksum of a downloaded file
 // does not match the expected checksum provided in the Options struct.
-var ErrChecksumMismatch = errors.New("dl: checksums did not match")
+var (
+	ErrChecksumMismatch = errors.New("dl: checksums did not match")
+	ErrNoSuchHashAlgo   = errors.New("dl: invalid hashing algorithm")
+)
 
 // Downloaders contains all the downloaders in the order in which
 // they should be checked
@@ -70,7 +79,8 @@ func (t Type) String() string {
 // Options contains the options for downloading
 // files and directories
 type Options struct {
-	SHA256           []byte
+	Hash             []byte
+	HashAlgorithm    string
 	Name             string
 	URL              string
 	Destination      string
@@ -79,6 +89,27 @@ type Options struct {
 	Progress         io.Writer
 }
 
+func (opts Options) NewHash() (hash.Hash, error) {
+	if opts.HashAlgorithm == "" {
+		opts.HashAlgorithm = "sha256"
+	}
+	switch opts.HashAlgorithm {
+	case "sha256":
+		return sha256.New(), nil
+	case "sha224":
+		return sha256.New224(), nil
+	case "sha512":
+		return sha512.New(), nil
+	case "sha384":
+		return sha512.New384(), nil
+	case "sha1":
+		return sha1.New(), nil
+	case "md5":
+		return md5.New(), nil
+	}
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrNoSuchHashAlgo, opts.HashAlgorithm)
+}
+
 // Manifest holds information about the type and name
 // of a downloaded file or directory. It is stored inside
 // each cache directory for later use.
@@ -144,10 +175,12 @@ func Download(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (err error) {
 			log.Info("Source can be updated, updating if required").Str("source", opts.Name).Str("downloader", d.Name()).Send()
 
 			updated, err = d.Update(Options{
-				Name:        opts.Name,
-				URL:         opts.URL,
-				Destination: cacheDir,
-				Progress:    opts.Progress,
+				Hash:          opts.Hash,
+				HashAlgorithm: opts.HashAlgorithm,
+				Name:          opts.Name,
+				URL:           opts.URL,
+				Destination:   cacheDir,
+				Progress:      opts.Progress,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -189,10 +222,12 @@ func Download(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (err error) {
 	}
 
 	t, name, err := d.Download(Options{
-		Name:        opts.Name,
-		URL:         opts.URL,
-		Destination: cacheDir,
-		Progress:    opts.Progress,
+		Hash:          opts.Hash,
+		HashAlgorithm: opts.HashAlgorithm,
+		Name:          opts.Name,
+		URL:           opts.URL,
+		Destination:   cacheDir,
+		Progress:      opts.Progress,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/internal/dl/file.go b/internal/dl/file.go
index f8dbe47..78d8ed7 100644
--- a/internal/dl/file.go
+++ b/internal/dl/file.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ package dl
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"crypto/sha256"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
@@ -109,10 +108,13 @@ func (FileDownloader) Download(opts Options) (Type, string, error) {
 		bar = shutils.NopRWC{}
 	}
 
-	h := sha256.New()
+	h, err := opts.NewHash()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, "", err
+	}
 
 	var w io.Writer
-	if opts.SHA256 != nil {
+	if opts.Hash != nil {
 		w = io.MultiWriter(fl, h, bar)
 	} else {
 		w = io.MultiWriter(fl, bar)
@@ -124,9 +126,9 @@ func (FileDownloader) Download(opts Options) (Type, string, error) {
 	}
 	res.Body.Close()
 
-	if opts.SHA256 != nil {
+	if opts.Hash != nil {
 		sum := h.Sum(nil)
-		if !bytes.Equal(sum, opts.SHA256) {
+		if !bytes.Equal(sum, opts.Hash) {
 			return 0, "", ErrChecksumMismatch
 		}
 	}