Both bcrypt and SHA-256 are secure algorithms for password encoding. However, when it comes to choosing which one is better, the answer depends on a few factors. Bcrypt is generally considered more secure than SHA-256 due to its salted hashing approach and the fact that it takes longer to compute. On the other hand, SHA-256 has a fixed length output, making it easier to store in databases. Ultimately, the decision of which one to use will depend on your individual requirements and security needs.