--- title: "adk-python vs autogen" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/google-adk-python-vs-microsoft-autogen" tools: ["google-adk-python", "microsoft-autogen"] --- # adk-python vs autogen Neutral, constraint-first comparison with live GitHub stats. | | [adk-python](/tools/google-adk-python.md) | [autogen](/tools/microsoft-autogen.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | An open-source, code-first Python toolkit for building, evaluating, and deploying sophisticated AI agents with flexibility and control. | A framework for creating multi-agent AI applications | | Stars | 20,517 | 59,573 | | Forks | 3,664 | 8,967 | | Open issues | 697 | 930 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | adk-python offers a code-first Python framework with advanced workflow capabilities and task delegation mechanisms, making it suitable for developers looking to create complex AI agent systems. | AutoGen is a framework for developing multi-agent AI applications that can act autonomously or alongside humans. It's currently in maintenance mode with no additional features planned and users are encouraged to migrate. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Apache-2.0 | CC-BY-4.0 | | Categories | AI Agents | AI Agents, LLM Frameworks | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [adk-python](/tools/google-adk-python.md) | [autogen](/tools/microsoft-autogen.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Steady (60%) | | Days since push | 0d | 83d | | Open issues (now) | 697 | 930 | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/google-adk-python/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-autogen/trust.md) | **Typed relationship:** adk-python _(alternative)_ autogen Autogen is another multi-agent AI application creation framework like ADK. Both tackle the design, operation and integration of multiple agents in an intelligent system. ## Shared compatibility - **Python**: [adk-python](/tools/google-adk-python.md) - Python runtime; [autogen](/tools/microsoft-autogen.md) - Python runtime ## Decision facts: adk-python - **Adopt for:** adk-python offers a code-first Python framework with advanced workflow capabilities and task delegation mechanisms, making it suitable for developers looking to create complex AI agent systems. ## Decision facts: autogen - **Requirements:** AutoGen requires Python 3.10 or later. - **Adopt for:** AutoGen is a framework for developing multi-agent AI applications that can act autonomously or alongside humans. It's currently in maintenance mode with no additional features planned and users are encouraged to migrate. ## Choose when ### Choose adk-python if… - License: adk-python is Apache-2.0, autogen is CC-BY-4.0. - Autogen is another multi-agent AI application creation framework like ADK. Both tackle the design, operation and integration of multiple agents in an intelligent system. - Tags unique to adk-python: agentic-ai, agent, ai-agents. - - When you need a toolkit that supports deterministic workflows with features like routing, fan-out/fan-in, loops, retries, state management, dynamic nodes, and human-in-the-loop interfaces. ### Choose autogen if… - License: autogen is CC-BY-4.0, adk-python is Apache-2.0. - Requirements: AutoGen requires Python 3.10 or later.. - Autogen is another multi-agent AI application creation framework like ADK. Both tackle the design, operation and integration of multiple agents in an intelligent system. - Tags unique to autogen: autogen, agents, ai, agentic. - Also covers LLM Frameworks. - You should use AutoGen if you have an existing project built on it and desire to maintain its current functionality without introducing advanced enterprise features or extensive new capabilities. ## When NOT to use adk-python - - If your application does not require the level of detailed workflow control or task delegation features ADK offers. Simpler projects might suffer from over-engineering. - - When your project is already invested in another framework that provides similar functionality and switching would introduce unnecessary complexity or migration cost. ## When NOT to use autogen - Do not use AutoGen if you are planning to build a production-ready application that requires long-term support, enterprise-grade orchestration features, or multi-provider model support. - Avoid using this tool if your project needs future-proof development with new and continuous enhancements as the framework is in maintenance mode. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between adk-python and autogen? adk-python: An open-source, code-first Python toolkit for building, evaluating, and deploying sophisticated AI agents with flexibility and control.. autogen: A framework for creating multi-agent AI applications. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose adk-python over autogen? Choose adk-python over autogen when License: adk-python is Apache-2.0, autogen is CC-BY-4.0; Autogen is another multi-agent AI application creation framework like ADK. Both tackle the design, operation and integration of multiple agents in an intelligent system; Tags unique to adk-python: agentic-ai, agent, ai-agents; - When you need a toolkit that supports deterministic workflows with features like routing, fan-out/fan-in, loops, retries, state management, dynamic nodes, and human-in-the-loop interfaces. ### When should I choose autogen over adk-python? Choose autogen over adk-python when License: autogen is CC-BY-4.0, adk-python is Apache-2.0; Requirements: AutoGen requires Python 3.10 or later.; Autogen is another multi-agent AI application creation framework like ADK. Both tackle the design, operation and integration of multiple agents in an intelligent system; Tags unique to autogen: autogen, agents, ai, agentic; Also covers LLM Frameworks; You should use AutoGen if you have an existing project built on it and desire to maintain its current functionality without introducing advanced enterprise features or extensive new capabilities. ### When should I avoid adk-python? - If your application does not require the level of detailed workflow control or task delegation features ADK offers. Simpler projects might suffer from over-engineering. - When your project is already invested in another framework that provides similar functionality and switching would introduce unnecessary complexity or migration cost. ### When should I avoid autogen? Do not use AutoGen if you are planning to build a production-ready application that requires long-term support, enterprise-grade orchestration features, or multi-provider model support. Avoid using this tool if your project needs future-proof development with new and continuous enhancements as the framework is in maintenance mode. ### Is adk-python or autogen more popular on GitHub? autogen has more GitHub stars (59,573 vs 20,517). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are adk-python and autogen open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (adk-python: Apache-2.0, autogen: CC-BY-4.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to adk-python or autogen? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at /tools/google-adk-python/alternatives and /tools/microsoft-autogen/alternatives (/tools/google-adk-python/alternatives.md, /tools/microsoft-autogen/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 /compare/google-adk-python-vs-microsoft-autogen.md mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, adk-python or autogen? adk-python: Very active. autogen: 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 adk-python and autogen? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: adk-python: /tools/google-adk-python/trust; autogen: /tools/microsoft-autogen/trust. --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=google-adk-python`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=google-adk-python) - 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/_