agent-framework
★ 14.3k
vs
CrewAI
★ 60.0k
agent-framework vs CrewAI
agent-framework: Microsoft Agent Framework is a comprehensive multi-language framework for building, orchestrating, and deploying AI agents. It supports both .NET and Python, offering features from simple chat agents to complex multi-agent workflows with graph-based orchestration.; CrewAI: CrewAI is a lean, lightning-fast Python framework designed for multi-agent automation, independent of other agent frameworks. It empowers developers to build autonomous AI agents with both high-level simplicity and precise low-level control for various scenarios.
01
TL;DR
agent-frameworkMulti-Agent · ★ 14.3k
When to choose:
- You are starting a new Microsoft-ecosystem agent project in Python or .NET and want the official successor to AutoGen.
- You need built-in workflow checkpointing, middleware, OpenTelemetry tracing, declarative YAML agents, and a DevUI under MIT.
When to skip:
- You only need a small, single-file Python agent without a multi-package framework; Pydantic AI is lighter.
- You rely on Chinese LLM providers and realtime voice pipelines out of the box; AgentScope has dedicated support for those.
CrewAIMulti-Agent · ★ 60.0k
When to choose:
- You want a Python framework that combines autonomous role-based agent teams (Crews) with deterministic event-driven workflows (Flows).
- You need built-in checkpointing, structured outputs, human-in-the-loop input, and MCP/A2A support under an MIT license.
When to skip:
- Your stack is .NET or multi-language; Microsoft Agent Framework or Google ADK cover non-Python runtimes.
- You want a lightweight, single-agent loop focused purely on strict Pydantic type validation; Pydantic AI is simpler for that.
02
Side-by-Side Comparison
Field
agent-frameworkCrewAICategory
Multi-Agent
Multi-Agent
Stars
★ 14.3k
★ 60.0k
License
MIT
MIT
Install Command
pip install agent-framework
uv tool install crewai
Updated
2d ago
2d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
AI Agents, Multi-agent systems, Workflow orchestration
Multi-Agent Systems, AI Automation, Python
03
Features
agent-framework01Graph-based Workflows with streaming, checkpointing, human-in-the-loop, and time-travel capabilities.
02AF Labs for experimental features including benchmarking, reinforcement learning, and research initiatives.
03Interactive DevUI for agent development, testing, and debugging workflows.
04Full framework support for both Python and C#/.NET with consistent APIs.
05Built-in OpenTelemetry integration for distributed tracing, monitoring, and debugging.
CrewAI01Standalone & Lean
02Flexible & Precise
03Seamless Integration
04Deep Customization
05Reliable Performance
04
Use Cases
agent-framework↳Developing simple chat agents.
↳Building complex multi-agent workflows.
↳Orchestrating AI agents using graph-based methodologies.
CrewAI↳Write Job Descriptions
↳Trip Planner
↳Stock Analysis
05
Best For
agent-frameworkMost PopularEssentialTrending
CrewAIMost PopularEssentialTrending
FAQ
FAQ
What is the difference between agent-framework and CrewAI?
Both agent-framework and CrewAI are in the Multi-Agent category. agent-framework has 14.3k stars, while CrewAI has 60.0k stars.
Which is better, agent-framework or CrewAI?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose agent-framework if Developing simple chat agents., and CrewAI if Write Job Descriptions.
Is agent-framework free or open source?
Yes, agent-framework is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is CrewAI free or open source?
Yes, CrewAI is open source on GitHub (MIT).
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