Comparison
hive vs agency
Verdict
Pick hive if hive is a multi-agent framework designed specifically for production-level AI applications, emphasizing agent automation and self-improvement through a Python-based environment; pick agency if agency is a fast and minimal Python-based framework for developing agentic systems that excels in its streamlined approach to creating autonomous agents.
Markdown twin · hive alternatives · agency alternatives
GraphCanon updated today
Trust & integrity
| Signal | hive | agency |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of 2d · github_public_v1 | Steady (71d since push) As of today · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 2d · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of today · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No published findings from this source as of 2026-07-11 As of 1mo · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- hive
- Multi-Agent Harness for Production AI
- agency
- A fast and minimal framework for building agentic systems
Stars
- hive
- 11k
- agency
- 489
Forks
- hive
- 5.7k
- agency
- 28
Open issues
- hive
- 1.3k
- agency
- 19
Language
- hive
- Python
- agency
- Python
Adopt for
- hive
- Hive is a multi-agent framework designed specifically for production-level AI applications, emphasizing agent automation and self-improvement through a Python-based environment.
- agency
- Agency is a fast and minimal Python-based framework for developing agentic systems that excels in its streamlined approach to creating autonomous agents.
Persona
- hive
- -
- agency
- -
Runtime
- hive
- -
- agency
- -
License
- hive
- Apache-2.0
- agency
- MIT
Last pushed
- hive
- Aug 19, 2026
- agency
- Jun 10, 2026
Categories
- hive
- AI Agents
- agency
- AI Agents
Trust and health
Maintenance
- hive
- Very active (96%)
- agency
- Steady (60%)
Days since push
- hive
- 0d
- agency
- 71d
Open issues (now)
- hive
- 1.3k
- agency
- 19
Stars delta
- hive
- +192 (30d)
- agency
- +2 (30d)
Open issues delta
- hive
- +25 (30d)
- agency
- 0 (30d)
Owner type
- hive
- Organization
- agency
- User
OSV dependency advisories
- hive
- No published findings from this source as of 2026-07-11
- agency
- No lockfile (source not queried)
Full report
- hive
- Trust report
- agency
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · hive: Python runtime · agency: Python runtime
Choose hive if…
- License: hive is Apache-2.0, agency is MIT.
- Requirements: Hive cannot be installed using 'pip install'. Instead, users must follow specific setup instructions including the quickstart script provided in the README.; The framework requires use of a `uv` workspace layout for correct functionality..
- Tags unique to hive: automation, openai, self-hosted.
- Use Hive when you need an advanced multi-agent system designed to support autonomous operation and continuous improvement in production environments.
When NOT to use hive
- Avoid using Hive if you prefer lightweight, easy-to-install tools since it does not support installation via pip and has specific setup requirements.
- Do not use if the requirement is for a tool that can be immediately deployed without setting up a uv workspace layout environment as specified by the Hive documentation.
Choose agency if…
- License: agency is MIT, hive is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to agency: actor-model, autonomous-agents.
- When you prefer a lightweight solution for building autonomous agent systems without the need for extensive configuration or complex dependencies.
When NOT to use agency
- If your development requires deeply integrated functionalities that would necessitate a heavier, more feature-rich framework.
- In scenarios where you need robust tooling for large-scale deployment and management as Agency does not offer extensive LLMOps (LLM Operations) capabilities beyond its minimalistic design.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (aden-hive/hive) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- GitHub forks (aden-hive/hive) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- Last push (aden-hive/hive) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (operand/agency) · observed Aug 21, 2026
- GitHub forks (operand/agency) · observed Aug 21, 2026
- Last push (operand/agency) · observed Jun 10, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Aug 21, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 12, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: hive 11k · agency 489 (synced Aug 19, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between hive and agency?
- hive: Multi-Agent Harness for Production AI. agency: A fast and minimal framework for building agentic systems. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose hive over agency?
- Choose hive over agency when License: hive is Apache-2.0, agency is MIT; Requirements: Hive cannot be installed using 'pip install'. Instead, users must follow specific setup instructions including the quickstart script provided in the README.; The framework requires use of a
uvworkspace layout for correct functionality.; Tags unique to hive: automation, openai, self-hosted; Use Hive when you need an advanced multi-agent system designed to support autonomous operation and continuous improvement in production environments. - When should I choose agency over hive?
- Choose agency over hive when License: agency is MIT, hive is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to agency: actor-model, autonomous-agents; When you prefer a lightweight solution for building autonomous agent systems without the need for extensive configuration or complex dependencies.
- When should I avoid hive?
- Avoid using Hive if you prefer lightweight, easy-to-install tools since it does not support installation via pip and has specific setup requirements. Do not use if the requirement is for a tool that can be immediately deployed without setting up a uv workspace layout environment as specified by the Hive documentation.
- When should I avoid agency?
- If your development requires deeply integrated functionalities that would necessitate a heavier, more feature-rich framework. In scenarios where you need robust tooling for large-scale deployment and management as Agency does not offer extensive LLMOps (LLM Operations) capabilities beyond its minimalistic design.
- Is hive or agency more popular on GitHub?
- hive has more GitHub stars (10,926 vs 489). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are hive and agency open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (hive: Apache-2.0, agency: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to hive or agency?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at hive alternatives and agency alternatives (hive markdown twin, agency markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, hive or agency?
- hive: Very active. agency: Steady. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for hive and agency?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: hive trust report; agency trust report.