Comparison
langchain vs refly
Verdict
Pick langchain when langchain is primarily Python; refly is TypeScript; pick refly when refly is primarily TypeScript; langchain is Python.
Markdown twin · langchain alternatives · refly alternatives
GraphCanon updated today
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | langchain | refly |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Slowing (111d since push) As of today · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of today · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 4d · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of today · 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
- langchain
- The agent engineering platform.
- refly
- The first open-source agent skills builder. Define skills by vibe workflow, run on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex & more. Build Clawdbot 🦞· APIs for Lovable · Bots for Slack & Lark/Feishu · Skills are in
Stars
- langchain
- 142k
- refly
- 7.4k
Forks
- langchain
- 24k
- refly
- 720
Open issues
- langchain
- 419
- refly
- 93
Language
- langchain
- Python
- refly
- TypeScript
Adopt for
- langchain
- LangChain is an open-source platform designed specifically for building agents and applications that leverage large language models (LLMs). It provides a standard framework to develop interoperable components and connect
- refly
- -
Persona
- langchain
- -
- refly
- -
Runtime
- langchain
- -
- refly
- -
License
- langchain
- MIT License, allowing free use for both personal and commercial purposes under its stipulated terms.
- refly
- Other
Last pushed
- langchain
- Jul 14, 2026
- refly
- Mar 25, 2026
Categories
- langchain
- AI Agents, LLM Frameworks
- refly
- AI Agents, LLM Frameworks
Trust and health
Maintenance
- langchain
- Very active (96%)
- refly
- Slowing (36%)
Days since push
- langchain
- 0d
- refly
- 111d
Open issues (now)
- langchain
- 419
- refly
- 93
Full report
- langchain
- Trust report
- refly
- Trust report
Choose langchain if…
- langchain is primarily Python; refly is TypeScript.
- License: langchain is MIT, refly is Other.
- Pricing: LangChain itself is open-source and free to use. However, it might rely on paid services or premium models from external platforms like OpenAI..
- Tags unique to langchain: agents, ai-agents, anthropic, chatgpt.
- * When aiming to build complex AI-powered agents or applications requiring high-level capabilities like planning, subagent interaction, and file system operations.
When NOT to use langchain
- * When working on smaller, less complex projects where full-scale integration with sophisticated components is not necessary as LangChain's extensive features might introduce unnecessary complexity.
- * If you are primarily focused on JavaScript or TypeScript development as the primary focus of LangChain is Python. Although there is a JS/TS equivalent (LangChain.js), it may not offer the same depth
- * For projects requiring heavy customization at lower levels, where a more granular control over individual components is required rather than working with an integrated framework.
Choose refly if…
- refly is primarily TypeScript; langchain is Python.
- License: refly is Other, langchain is MIT.
- Tags unique to refly: agent, agent-skills, automation, claude.
When NOT to use refly
- Last GitHub push was 112 days ago (slowing maintenance, Mar 25, 2026). Validate activity before betting a new project on refly.
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.
- LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (langchain-ai/langchain) · observed Jul 14, 2026
- GitHub forks (langchain-ai/langchain) · observed Jul 14, 2026
- Last push (langchain-ai/langchain) · observed Jul 14, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Jul 14, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (refly-ai/refly) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub forks (refly-ai/refly) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- Last push (refly-ai/refly) · observed Mar 25, 2026
- License file (Other) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: langchain 142k · refly 7.4k (synced Jul 14, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between langchain and refly?
- langchain: The agent engineering platform.. refly: The first open-source agent skills builder. Define skills by vibe workflow, run on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex & more. Build Clawdbot 🦞· APIs for Lovable · Bots for Slack & Lark/Feishu · Skills are in. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose langchain over refly?
- Choose langchain over refly when langchain is primarily Python; refly is TypeScript; License: langchain is MIT, refly is Other; Pricing: LangChain itself is open-source and free to use. However, it might rely on paid services or premium models from external platforms like OpenAI.; Tags unique to langchain: agents, ai-agents, anthropic, chatgpt; * When aiming to build complex AI-powered agents or applications requiring high-level capabilities like planning, subagent interaction, and file system operations.
- When should I choose refly over langchain?
- Choose refly over langchain when refly is primarily TypeScript; langchain is Python; License: refly is Other, langchain is MIT; Tags unique to refly: agent, agent-skills, automation, claude.
- When should I avoid langchain?
- * When working on smaller, less complex projects where full-scale integration with sophisticated components is not necessary as LangChain's extensive features might introduce unnecessary complexity. * If you are primarily focused on JavaScript or TypeScript development as the primary focus of LangChain is Python. Although there is a JS/TS equivalent (LangChain.js), it may not offer the same depth * For projects requiring heavy customization at lower levels, where a more granular control over individual components is required rather than working with an integrated framework.
- When should I avoid refly?
- Last GitHub push was 112 days ago (slowing maintenance, Mar 25, 2026). Validate activity before betting a new project on refly. AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism. LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves.
- Is langchain or refly more popular on GitHub?
- langchain has more GitHub stars (141,713 vs 7,435). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are langchain and refly open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (langchain: MIT, refly: Other).
- Where can I find alternatives to langchain or refly?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at langchain alternatives and refly alternatives (langchain markdown twin, refly 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 refly?
- langchain: Very active. refly: Slowing. 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 refly?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: langchain trust report; refly trust report.