Microsoft Agent Framework vs LangGraph
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Microsoft framework for building and running AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET.
Open source · MIT
A Python framework for building long-running agents that keep state and can resume after failures.
The short answer
Choose Microsoft Agent Framework if you need…
- Developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production
- Teams that need orchestration beyond a single prompt or stateless chat loop
- Python or C#/.NET developers who want one framework across both languages
- Teams that want to switch model providers without rewriting their architecture
Choose LangGraph if you need…
- Python developers building multi-step AI agents that must survive failures or long waits
- Teams that want fine-grained control over agent state and execution flow
- Projects that need a human to review or edit an agent's state partway through a run
- Developers who want a lower-level base instead of a higher-level agent package
Side-by-side
| Microsoft Agent Framework | LangGraph | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.5k | 44.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Python | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Microsoft Agent Framework
Microsoft Agent Framework is a set of code libraries for building AI agents, which are programs that use language models to carry out tasks, and for connecting several agents into workflows. It supports Python and .NET with similar APIs, and includes features such as orchestration patterns, middleware, OpenTelemetry tracing, and a developer UI. Developers use it to move agent prototypes toward production with an approach that is not tied to a single model provider.
LangGraph
LangGraph is a low-level framework for building workflows and AI agents that keep track of their state over time. It is designed for tasks that run for a long stretch, can pause for human review, and need to pick up where they left off after an interruption. It is produced by LangChain Inc, but the README says it can be used without LangChain.
Best for
Microsoft Agent Framework
- Developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production
- Teams that need orchestration beyond a single prompt or stateless chat loop
- Python or C#/.NET developers who want one framework across both languages
- Teams that want to switch model providers without rewriting their architecture
- Developers who use Microsoft Foundry or Azure OpenAI
LangGraph
- Python developers building multi-step AI agents that must survive failures or long waits
- Teams that want fine-grained control over agent state and execution flow
- Projects that need a human to review or edit an agent's state partway through a run
- Developers who want a lower-level base instead of a higher-level agent package
Strengths
Microsoft Agent Framework
- Supports both Python and .NET with documented samples for each
- Includes built-in OpenTelemetry observability and middleware for custom request handling
- Offers graph-based orchestration patterns and provider flexibility in one framework
LangGraph
- Built-in durable execution that resumes workflows from where they stopped, per the README
- Supports human-in-the-loop checkpoints and both short-term and long-term memory
- Open source under the MIT license with extensive documentation and a free course
Not ideal for
Microsoft Agent Framework
- People who only want a simple chatbot or a single prompt call; the framework is built for multi-step orchestration and may be more than needed
- Non-developers, since setup requires writing code and configuring cloud credentials
- Teams that need Go support from this repo; the README says Go lives in a separate repository, microsoft/agent-framework-go
LangGraph
- Beginners who just want a ready-made agent: the README points to Deep Agents, a higher-level package built on LangGraph, for quicker starts
- Non-programmers, since it is a Python library that requires writing code
- JavaScript/TypeScript-only teams, who are pointed to the separate LangGraph.js project
Trade-offs
Microsoft Agent Framework
- The README is truncated and several features, such as time-travel and the Labs packages, are described only briefly, so details need checking in the docs
- Quickstarts assume Azure and Microsoft Foundry access, which may be a barrier outside that ecosystem
- Some components are marked experimental (AF Labs), so stability varies by package
LangGraph
- It is a low-level framework, so it has a steeper learning curve than higher-level tools
- Several of the most useful features (debugging, deployment) point to LangSmith, a separate product
- The README is truncated and does not show full API details, so the depth of specific features is hard to verify from it alone
Getting started
Microsoft Agent Framework
Install the Python package
pip install agent-frameworkAdd the .NET core package
dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AIFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Microsoft Agent Framework and LangGraph?
Microsoft Agent Framework: A Microsoft framework for building and running AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET. LangGraph: A Python framework for building long-running agents that keep state and can resume after failures. Microsoft Agent Framework suits developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production, while LangGraph suits python developers building multi-step ai agents that must survive failures or long waits.
Are Microsoft Agent Framework and LangGraph free?
Microsoft Agent Framework: Free and open source. LangGraph: Free and open source.
Is Microsoft Agent Framework or LangGraph more popular?
LangGraph has more GitHub stars (44.3k) than Microsoft Agent Framework (14.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Microsoft Agent Framework and LangGraph?
Other options people compare them with include CrewAI, Semantic Kernel, PageIndex, PocketFlow, OpenAI Agents SDK.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.