Agent Frameworks · Head-to-head
autogen vs langchain
autogen and langchain are both agent frameworks. autogen is A programming framework for agentic AI; upstream is in maintenance mode, while langchain is the agent engineering platform. Here's an independent, side-by-side look at how they compare — and which fits.
autogen and langchain are both open-source agent frameworks you can self-host for free. langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 147k stars vs 61k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.
Side by side
| Spec | autogen | langchain |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Model | Open source | Open source |
| Pricing | Open source | Open source |
| GitHub stars | 61,203 | 147,201 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| License | CC-BY-4.0 | MIT |
| Last activity | Apr 2026 | Sep 2026 |
Key differences
- langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 147k stars vs 61k.
- Licensing differs: autogen is CC-BY-4.0, langchain is MIT.
Research-grade multi-agent conversation patterns backed by Microsoft.
Builders who want composable primitives and the broadest ecosystem of integrations for LLM applications.
About autogen
AutoGen is a framework for building multi-agent applications. Its README carries a maintenance notice: the project is in maintenance mode, will not receive new features or enhancements, and is community managed going forward, with new users directed to Microsoft Agent Framework and a published migration guide. The repository is not archived and its last commit was 2026-04-15.
Full autogen profile →Frequently asked
- What's the main difference between autogen and langchain?
- langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 147k stars vs 61k.
- Is autogen or langchain better?
- Neither is universally better. autogen is the stronger fit for Research-grade multi-agent conversation patterns backed by Microsoft; langchain for Builders who want composable primitives and the broadest ecosystem of integrations for LLM applications. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.
- Is autogen or langchain free?
- autogen is free to run and self-host; langchain is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.
- Which is more popular, autogen or langchain?
- By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — langchain is ahead (147k vs 61k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.
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