CrewAI vs Swarm
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
Python framework for building teams of role-playing AI agents that work together on tasks.
Open source · MIT
Experimental OpenAI library for lightweight multi-agent handoffs; now superseded by the Agents SDK.
The short answer
Choose CrewAI if you need…
- Python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows
- Teams that want role-based agents collaborating on a task
- Developers who want both autonomous agent teams and tighter step-by-step control via Flows
- Builders who want low-level control over prompts and execution logic
Choose Swarm if you need…
- Developers who want to learn how multi-agent handoffs work with a small codebase
- Learners reading example code for function calling and agent routing
- Prototyping a triage or routing flow between a few specialized agents
- Readers comparing older patterns with the newer OpenAI Agents SDK
Side-by-side
| CrewAI | Swarm | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 60.4k | 22.1k |
| 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 | 7 months ago |
What each one is
CrewAI
CrewAI is an open-source Python framework for orchestrating multiple AI agents. You give each agent a role and goal, and they collaborate through what the project calls Crews, while Flows provide event-driven, more precisely controlled workflows. It is aimed at developers building multi-step automations with LLMs.
Swarm
Swarm is a Python library from OpenAI for building systems where several AI agents, each with its own instructions and tools, pass a conversation between them. An agent can hand off to another agent at any point. It is described as an educational project for learning how multi-agent orchestration works, not as a production framework. The README says it is now replaced by the OpenAI Agents SDK and recommends migrating for production use.
Best for
CrewAI
- Python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows
- Teams that want role-based agents collaborating on a task
- Developers who want both autonomous agent teams and tighter step-by-step control via Flows
- Builders who want low-level control over prompts and execution logic
Swarm
- Developers who want to learn how multi-agent handoffs work with a small codebase
- Learners reading example code for function calling and agent routing
- Prototyping a triage or routing flow between a few specialized agents
- Readers comparing older patterns with the newer OpenAI Agents SDK
Strengths
CrewAI
- Open source under the MIT license with an active repository
- Offers both autonomous Crews and deterministic event-driven Flows
- Includes documentation, courses, and an official skills package for coding agents
Swarm
- Small, readable design built on two primitives: Agents and handoffs
- Includes multiple example projects in the repository
- Licensed under MIT
Not ideal for
CrewAI
- Non-programmers, since the project is a Python framework and requires writing code
- Projects needing a fully managed hosted product without setup; the README's commercial AMP Suite is a separate paid offering
- Simple single-prompt tasks that do not need multiple agents or workflow control
Swarm
- Production systems, because the README says the project is replaced by the Agents SDK and recommends migrating
- Projects needing hosted conversation state or memory, because Swarm is stateless between calls and relies on the Chat Completions API
Trade-offs
CrewAI
- The README's performance and 'production-ready' claims are promotional and not backed by benchmarks in the excerpt
- Core concepts (Crews, Flows, Agents) add a learning curve for newcomers
- Some advanced features and a control plane are part of a commercial suite
Swarm
- The README says it is replaced by the OpenAI Agents SDK, so it is not the recommended path for new production work
- Stateless design means the developer must manage conversation history and any memory themselves
- Requires an OpenAI API key and Chat Completions access, implied by its design but the README excerpt does not detail setup beyond install
Getting started
CrewAI
Install CrewAI (from PyPI, per the project's PyPI badge)
pip install crewaiSwarm
Install from GitHub over HTTPS
pip install git+https://github.com/openai/swarm.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between CrewAI and Swarm?
CrewAI: Python framework for building teams of role-playing AI agents that work together on tasks. Swarm: Experimental OpenAI library for lightweight multi-agent handoffs; now superseded by the Agents SDK. CrewAI suits python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows, while Swarm suits developers who want to learn how multi-agent handoffs work with a small codebase.
Are CrewAI and Swarm free?
CrewAI: Free and open source. Swarm: Free and open source.
Is CrewAI or Swarm more popular?
CrewAI has more GitHub stars (60.4k) than Swarm (22.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to CrewAI and Swarm?
Other options people compare them with include LangGraph, LlamaIndex, Semantic Kernel, PageIndex, Stagehand.
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.