--- title: "langchain vs lagent" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/brainlid-langchain-vs-internlm-lagent" tools: ["brainlid-langchain", "internlm-lagent"] --- # langchain vs lagent *GraphCanon updated Aug 16, 2026* ## Verdict Pick langchain if langChain framework tailored for Elixir projects; pick lagent if lagent is a Python framework aimed at streamlining the creation of lightweight Large Language Model (LLM) agents. [langchain](https://hexdocs.pm/langchain/) reports 1.2k GitHub stars, 212 forks, and 30 open issues, last pushed Aug 6, 2026. [lagent](https://github.com/InternLM/lagent) has 2.3k stars, 238 forks, and 24 open issues, last pushed Aug 3, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [langchain's repository](https://github.com/brainlid/langchain) and [lagent's repository](https://github.com/InternLM/lagent). | | [langchain](/tools/brainlid-langchain.md) | [lagent](/tools/internlm-lagent.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Elixir implementation of a LangChain style framework for integrating with and leveraging LLMs. | A lightweight framework for building LLM-based agents | | Stars | 1,192 | 2,276 | | Forks | 212 | 238 | | Open issues | 30 | 24 | | Language | Elixir | Python | | Adopt for | LangChain framework tailored for Elixir projects | lagent is a Python framework aimed at streamlining the creation of lightweight Large Language Model (LLM) agents. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Other | lagent is open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, allowing for broad use and modification with attribution. | | Categories | LLM Frameworks | AI Agents, LLM Frameworks | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [langchain](/tools/brainlid-langchain.md) | [lagent](/tools/internlm-lagent.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Active (82%) | | Days since push | 1d | 12d | | Open issues (now) | 30 | 24 | | Stars delta | Unknown | +8 (30d) | | Open issues delta | Unknown | +1 (30d) | | Owner type | User | Organization | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/brainlid-langchain/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/internlm-lagent/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: langchain - **Requirements:** Requires at least Elixir 1.17; Add `langchain` to dep list in `mix.exs` for installation - **Adopt for:** LangChain framework tailored for Elixir projects ## Decision facts: lagent - **Pricing:** freemium - Available freely due to its open-source nature, but customization or enterprise support might involve additional costs. - **Adopt for:** lagent is a Python framework aimed at streamlining the creation of lightweight Large Language Model (LLM) agents. - **License detail:** lagent is open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, allowing for broad use and modification with attribution. ## Choose when ### Choose langchain if… - langchain is primarily Elixir; lagent is Python. - License: langchain is Other, lagent is Apache-2.0. - Requirements: Requires at least Elixir 1.17; Add `langchain` to dep list in `mix.exs` for installation. - Tags unique to langchain: ai, anthropic, bumblebee, chatgpt. - You are working on an Elixir project and want to integrate advanced Language Model capabilities. ### Choose lagent if… - lagent is primarily Python; langchain is Elixir. - License: lagent is Apache-2.0, langchain is Other. - Pricing: Available freely due to its open-source nature, but customization or enterprise support might involve additional costs.. - Tags unique to lagent: agent, gpt, transformers. - Also covers AI Agents. - When you need a streamlined approach to develop LLM-based agents with minimal overhead, lagent can be particularly advantageous due to its lightweight design. ## When NOT to use langchain - Your project is not written in Elixir, as this framework does not offer official support for other programming languages. - If your requirements mandate a non-Elixir environment or dependency ecosystem, such as Python which has more mature LLM frameworks. ## When NOT to use lagent - Avoid using lagent if your project necessitates integration with a broader set of tools that are not natively supported by this framework, as it offers limited out-of-the-box extensibility. - Steer clear if you need robust scalability features right from the start. While lightweight, lagent may require additional custom work to handle more demanding scaling requirements. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between langchain and lagent? langchain: Elixir implementation of a LangChain style framework for integrating with and leveraging LLMs.. lagent: A lightweight framework for building LLM-based agents. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose langchain over lagent? Choose langchain over lagent when langchain is primarily Elixir; lagent is Python; License: langchain is Other, lagent is Apache-2.0; Requirements: Requires at least Elixir 1.17; Add `langchain` to dep list in `mix.exs` for installation; Tags unique to langchain: ai, anthropic, bumblebee, chatgpt; You are working on an Elixir project and want to integrate advanced Language Model capabilities. ### When should I choose lagent over langchain? Choose lagent over langchain when lagent is primarily Python; langchain is Elixir; License: lagent is Apache-2.0, langchain is Other; Pricing: Available freely due to its open-source nature, but customization or enterprise support might involve additional costs.; Tags unique to lagent: agent, gpt, transformers; Also covers AI Agents; When you need a streamlined approach to develop LLM-based agents with minimal overhead, lagent can be particularly advantageous due to its lightweight design. ### When should I avoid langchain? Your project is not written in Elixir, as this framework does not offer official support for other programming languages. If your requirements mandate a non-Elixir environment or dependency ecosystem, such as Python which has more mature LLM frameworks. ### When should I avoid lagent? Avoid using lagent if your project necessitates integration with a broader set of tools that are not natively supported by this framework, as it offers limited out-of-the-box extensibility. Steer clear if you need robust scalability features right from the start. While lightweight, lagent may require additional custom work to handle more demanding scaling requirements. ### Is langchain or lagent more popular on GitHub? lagent has more GitHub stars (2,276 vs 1,192). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are langchain and lagent open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (langchain: Other, lagent: Apache-2.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to langchain or lagent? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [langchain alternatives](/tools/brainlid-langchain/alternatives) and [lagent alternatives](/tools/internlm-lagent/alternatives) ([langchain markdown twin](/tools/brainlid-langchain/alternatives.md), [lagent markdown twin](/tools/internlm-lagent/alternatives.md)), 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](/compare/brainlid-langchain-vs-internlm-lagent.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, langchain or lagent? langchain: Very active. lagent: Active. 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 langchain and lagent? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [langchain trust report](/tools/brainlid-langchain/trust); [lagent trust report](/tools/internlm-lagent/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=brainlid-langchain`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=brainlid-langchain) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_