# LangGraph vs pydantic-ai
_Agent Frameworks · independent comparison_

> LangGraph and pydantic-ai take different routes to the same job: one is a commercial product, the other open-source and self-hostable. Choose based on whether you want a managed experience or full control.

## Side by side

**LangGraph**
- Freemium · Framework
- Best for: Production agents that need controllable, stateful, graph-based orchestration.
- Avoid if: You want a quick no-code start — expect real engineering investment.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/langgraph-platform) · [official](https://langchain.com/langgraph)

**pydantic-ai**
- Open source · Framework · 19k★ · Python · MIT · active 2 days ago
- Best for: Python teams that want type-safe agent development with the Pydantic philosophy.
- Avoid if: You are not working in Python.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/pydantic-ai) · [official](https://pydantic.dev/pydantic-ai)

## Key differences

- LangGraph is a commercial product; pydantic-ai is open-source and self-hostable.
- Pricing model differs — LangGraph is freemium, pydantic-ai is open source.

## Which to choose

**Choose LangGraph if:** Production agents that need controllable, stateful, graph-based orchestration.

**Choose pydantic-ai if:** Python teams that want type-safe agent development with the Pydantic philosophy.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between LangGraph and pydantic-ai?**
LangGraph is a commercial product; pydantic-ai is open-source and self-hostable.

**Is LangGraph or pydantic-ai better?**
Neither is universally better. LangGraph is the stronger fit for Production agents that need controllable, stateful, graph-based orchestration; pydantic-ai for Python teams that want type-safe agent development with the Pydantic philosophy. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is LangGraph or pydantic-ai free?**
LangGraph is free to start (freemium), with paid tiers; pydantic-ai is free to run and self-host.

**Which is more popular, LangGraph or pydantic-ai?**
We rank open-source projects by GitHub adoption, but at least one of these is a commercial product and stars don't measure commercial adoption — so compare them on capabilities and pricing instead.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/langgraph-platform-vs-pydantic-ai