# LlamaIndex vs MetaGPT
_Agent Frameworks · independent comparison_

> LlamaIndex and MetaGPT are both open-source agent frameworks you can self-host for free. They're closely matched, so the choice comes down to language, license, and which approach fits your workflow. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**LlamaIndex**
- Open source · Framework · 52k★ · MIT · active today
- Best for: Retrieval-heavy applications where the hard part is getting your own documents and data into an agent reliably.
- Avoid if: Your agent does not read private data, in which case most of the framework goes unused.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/llamaindex) · [official](https://developers.llamaindex.ai)

**MetaGPT**
- Open source · Framework · 71k★ · Python · MIT · active 8 months ago
- Best for: Experimenting with role-based multi-agent collaboration for software and document generation.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/metagpt) · [official](https://atoms.dev/)

## Which to choose

**Choose LlamaIndex if:** Retrieval-heavy applications where the hard part is getting your own documents and data into an agent reliably.

**Choose MetaGPT if:** Experimenting with role-based multi-agent collaboration for software and document generation.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between LlamaIndex and MetaGPT?**
Both are agent frameworks built for a similar job; the differences are subtle — compare them on adoption, language, and license in the table above.

**Is LlamaIndex or MetaGPT better?**
Neither is universally better. LlamaIndex is the stronger fit for Retrieval-heavy applications where the hard part is getting your own documents and data into an agent reliably; MetaGPT for Experimenting with role-based multi-agent collaboration for software and document generation. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is LlamaIndex or MetaGPT free?**
LlamaIndex is free to run and self-host; MetaGPT 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, LlamaIndex or MetaGPT?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — MetaGPT is ahead (71k vs 52k). 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/llamaindex-vs-metagpt