# crewAI vs langchain
_Agent Frameworks · independent comparison_

> crewAI and langchain are both open-source agent frameworks you can self-host for free. langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 143k stars vs 57k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**crewAI**
- Open source · Framework · 57k★ · Python · MIT · active today
- Best for: Orchestrating role-based multi-agent crews in Python with an approachable API.
- Avoid if: You need fine-grained low-level control of agent state machines.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/crewai) · [official](https://crewai.com)

**langchain**
- Open source · Framework · 143k★ · Python · MIT · active 1 day ago
- Best for: Builders who want composable primitives and the broadest ecosystem of integrations for LLM applications.
- Avoid if: You want a ready-made autonomous agent out of the box — this is a framework, not an agent.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/langchain) · [official](https://docs.langchain.com/langchain/)

## Key differences

- langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 143k stars vs 57k.

## Which to choose

**Choose crewAI if:** Orchestrating role-based multi-agent crews in Python with an approachable API.

**Choose langchain if:** Builders who want composable primitives and the broadest ecosystem of integrations for LLM applications.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between crewAI and langchain?**
langchain has wider GitHub adoption — 143k stars vs 57k.

**Is crewAI or langchain better?**
Neither is universally better. crewAI is the stronger fit for Orchestrating role-based multi-agent crews in Python with an approachable API; 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 crewAI or langchain free?**
crewAI 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, crewAI or langchain?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — langchain is ahead (143k vs 57k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/crewai-vs-langchain