langchain vs langgraph

Common questions

When should I choose LangChain over LangGraph?

Choose LangChain if you need a framework that simplifies chaining together interoperable components and third-party integrations for AI application development. LangChain is also a good choice if you are looking to build agents that can plan, use subagents, and leverage file systems for complex tasks.

When should I choose LangGraph over LangChain?

LangGraph is more appropriate if your project requires long-running, stateful workflows with durable execution, human-in-the-loop oversight, and comprehensive memory management. It is designed for Python environments and provides deep visibility into complex agent behavior.

Are there scenarios where neither LangChain nor LangGraph would be suitable?

Yes, if your project does not require the specific features offered by LangChain or LangGraph, such as detailed agent orchestration or long-running stateful workflows, a simpler framework might be more appropriate. Additionally, if your project is primarily focused on JavaScript or TypeScript, LangGraph.js might be a better fit as LangGraph is primarily designed for Python environments.

What is the difference between langchain and langgraph?

langchain: The agent engineering platform.. langgraph: Low-level orchestration framework for building stateful agents. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.

When should I avoid langchain?

If you prefer a framework that does not offer built-in capabilities for common usage patterns such as planning and subagents, as LangChain's Deep Agents provide these features. When you need a higher-level abstraction that does not require detailed agent orchestration, as LangChain's LangGraph is designed for low-level control over agent workflows.

When should I avoid langgraph?

If you are looking for a higher-level package that simplifies the process of building agents with planning and subagent capabilities, consider Deep Agents instead. For projects that do not require long-running, stateful workflows, LangGraph's features may be overkill and a simpler framework might be more appropriate. If your project is primarily focused on JavaScript or TypeScript, LangGraph.js might be a better fit, as LangGraph is primarily designed for Python environments.

Is langchain or langgraph more popular on GitHub?

langchain has more GitHub stars (146,576 vs 41,866). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.

Are langchain and langgraph open source?

Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (langchain: MIT, langgraph: MIT).

Where can I find alternatives to langchain or langgraph?

GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at langchain alternatives and langgraph alternatives (langchain markdown twin, langgraph 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, langchain or langgraph?

langchain: Very active. langgraph: Very 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 langgraph?

GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: langchain trust report; langgraph trust report.