diff --git a/creed/file_hash.py b/creed/file_hash.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..504d474b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/creed/file_hash.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# adapted from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3431825/generating-an-md5-checksum-of-a-file
+import hashlib
+import os
+from ark.utils import io_utils, misc_utils
+
+import warnings
+
+
+def get_hash(filepath):
+    """Computes the hash of the specified file to verify file integrity
+
+    Args:
+        filepath (str | PathLike): full path to file
+
+    Returns:
+        string: the hash of the file"""
+
+    with open(filepath, "rb") as f:
+        file_hash = hashlib.blake2b()
+        while chunk := f.read(8192):
+            file_hash.update(chunk)
+    return file_hash.hexdigest()
+
+
+def compare_directories(dir_1, dir_2):
+    """Compares two directories to ensure all files are present in both with the same hashes
+
+    Args:
+        dir_1: first directory to compare
+        dir_2: second directory to compare
+
+    Returns:
+        list: a list of files with different hashes between the two directories"""
+
+    dir_1_folders = io_utils.list_folders(dir_1)
+    dir_2_folders = io_utils.list_folders(dir_2)
+
+    if len(dir_1_folders) > 0:
+        warnings.warn("The following subfolders were found in the first directory. Sub-folder "
+                      "contents will not be compared for accuracy, if you want to ensure "
+                      "successful copying please run this function on those subdirectories. "
+                      "{}".format(dir_1_folders))
+
+    if len(dir_2_folders) > 0:
+        warnings.warn("The following subfolders were found in the second directory. Sub-folder "
+                      "contents will not be compared for accuracy, if you want to ensure "
+                      "successful copying please run this function on those subdirectories. "
+                      "{}".format(dir_2_folders))
+
+    dir_1_files = io_utils.list_files(dir_1)
+    dir_2_files = io_utils.list_files(dir_2)
+
+    misc_utils.verify_same_elements(directory_1=dir_1_files, directory_2=dir_2_files)
+
+    bad_files = []
+    for file in dir_1_files:
+        hash1 = get_hash(os.path.join(dir_1, file))
+        hash2 = get_hash(os.path.join(dir_2, file))
+
+        if hash1 != hash2:
+            print("Found a file with differing hashes: {}".format(file))
+            bad_files.append(file)
+
+    return bad_files
diff --git a/creed/file_hash_test.py b/creed/file_hash_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5a5e8409
--- /dev/null
+++ b/creed/file_hash_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+import pytest
+
+import skimage.io as io
+import numpy as np
+
+from creed import file_hash
+
+
+def test_get_hash():
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+
+        for img in range(2):
+            array = np.random.rand(36).reshape((6, 6))
+            temp_file_path = os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_{}.tiff'.format(img))
+            io.imsave(temp_file_path, array)
+
+        shutil.copy(os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_0.tiff'),
+                    os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_0_copy.tiff'))
+
+        hash1 = file_hash.get_hash(os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_0.tiff'))
+        hash1_copy = file_hash.get_hash(os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_0_copy.tiff'))
+        hash2 = file_hash.get_hash(os.path.join(temp_dir, 'test_file_1.tiff'))
+
+        assert hash1 != hash2
+        assert hash1 == hash1_copy
+
+
+def test_compare_directories():
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as top_level_dir:
+        dir_1 = os.path.join(top_level_dir, 'dir_1')
+        os.makedirs(dir_1)
+
+        # make fake data for testing
+        for img in range(5):
+            array = np.random.rand(36).reshape((6, 6))
+            temp_file_path = os.path.join(dir_1, 'test_file_{}.tiff'.format(img))
+            io.imsave(temp_file_path, array)
+
+        # copy same data into second directory
+        dir_2 = os.path.join(top_level_dir, 'dir_2')
+        shutil.copytree(dir_1, dir_2)
+
+        file_hash.compare_directories(dir_1, dir_2)
+
+        # check that warning is raised when sub-folder is present in first directory
+        sub_folder_1 = os.path.join(dir_1, 'sub_folder')
+        os.makedirs(sub_folder_1)
+
+        with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match='first directory'):
+            file_hash.compare_directories(dir_1, dir_2)
+
+        # check that warning is raised when sub-folder is present in second directory
+        shutil.rmtree(sub_folder_1)
+        sub_folder_2 = os.path.join(dir_2, 'sub_folder')
+        os.makedirs(sub_folder_2)
+
+        with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match='second directory'):
+            file_hash.compare_directories(dir_1, dir_2)