# nanobot vs ragflow
_Autonomous Agents · independent comparison_

> nanobot and ragflow are both open-source autonomous agents you can self-host for free. ragflow has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 48k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**nanobot**
- Open source · Agent · 48k★ · Python · MIT · active 2 days ago
- Best for: A small, readable self-hosted agent framework with memory and MCP built in.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/nanobot) · [official](https://nanobot.wiki)

**ragflow**
- Open source · Platform · 91k★ · Go · Apache-2.0 · active 2 days ago
- Best for: Production RAG over complex documents with agent capabilities, self-hosted.
- Avoid if: You need a lightweight embedded library rather than a full platform.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/ragflow) · [official](https://ragflow.io)

## Key differences

- ragflow has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 48k.
- nanobot is written primarily in Python; ragflow in Go.
- Licensing differs: nanobot is MIT, ragflow is Apache-2.0.

## Which to choose

**Choose nanobot if:** A small, readable self-hosted agent framework with memory and MCP built in.

**Choose ragflow if:** Production RAG over complex documents with agent capabilities, self-hosted.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between nanobot and ragflow?**
ragflow has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 48k.

**Is nanobot or ragflow better?**
Neither is universally better. nanobot is the stronger fit for A small, readable self-hosted agent framework with memory and MCP built in; ragflow for Production RAG over complex documents with agent capabilities, self-hosted. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is nanobot or ragflow free?**
nanobot is free to run and self-host; ragflow 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, nanobot or ragflow?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — ragflow is ahead (91k vs 48k). 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/nanobot-vs-ragflow