--- title: "mcp-agent vs agentflow" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent-vs-simonmesmith-agentflow" tools: ["lastmile-ai-mcp-agent", "simonmesmith-agentflow"] --- # mcp-agent vs agentflow *GraphCanon updated Aug 26, 2026* ## Verdict Pick mcp-agent if allows creation of efficient AI agents via Model Context Protocol with workflow patterns; pick agentflow if agentflow simplifies the creation of complex workflows for large language models through simple JSON configurations. [mcp-agent](https://github.com/lastmile-ai/mcp-agent) reports 8.5k GitHub stars, 879 forks, and 134 open issues, last pushed Jan 25, 2026. [agentflow](https://github.com/simonmesmith/agentflow) has 320 stars, 27 forks, and 13 open issues, last pushed Aug 11, 2023. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [mcp-agent's repository](https://github.com/lastmile-ai/mcp-agent) and [agentflow's repository](https://github.com/simonmesmith/agentflow). | | [mcp-agent](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent.md) | [agentflow](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Build effective AI agents with Model Context Protocol. | Complex LLM Workflows from Simple JSON | | Stars | 8,518 | 320 | | Forks | 879 | 27 | | Open issues | 134 | 13 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | Allows creation of efficient AI agents via Model Context Protocol with workflow patterns | Agentflow simplifies the creation of complex workflows for large language models through simple JSON configurations. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Apache-2.0 | MIT | | Categories | AI Agents | AI Agents, LLM Frameworks | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [mcp-agent](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent.md) | [agentflow](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Slowing (36%) | Dormant (18%) | | Days since push | 212d | 1100d | | Open issues (now) | 134 | 13 | | Stars delta | +40 (30d) | -1 (30d) | | Open issues delta | -6 (30d) | 0 (30d) | | Owner type | Organization | User | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow/trust.md) | ## Shared compatibility - **Python**: [mcp-agent](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent.md) - Python runtime; [agentflow](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow.md) - Python runtime ## Decision facts: mcp-agent - **Adopt for:** Allows creation of efficient AI agents via Model Context Protocol with workflow patterns ## Decision facts: agentflow - **Adopt for:** Agentflow simplifies the creation of complex workflows for large language models through simple JSON configurations. ## Choose when ### Choose mcp-agent if… - License: mcp-agent is Apache-2.0, agentflow is MIT. - Tags unique to mcp-agent: agents, ai-agents, llm, mcp. - Need to implement the Model Context Protocol specifically in your agent development ### Choose agentflow if… - License: agentflow is MIT, mcp-agent is Apache-2.0. - Tags unique to agentflow: json, large language models, workflow-management. - Also covers LLM Frameworks. - When you need to rapidly prototype LLM workflows with minimal coding via JSON configs ## When NOT to use mcp-agent - Require a more customizable approach beyond pre-defined protocol and workflows - Project demands specific AI frameworks unsupported by Model Context Protocol directly ## When NOT to use agentflow - Avoid if requiring advanced customization that goes beyond basic JSON configurations - Not suitable for scenarios needing real-time dynamic changes in workflow setup during execution ## Common questions ### What is the difference between mcp-agent and agentflow? mcp-agent: Build effective AI agents with Model Context Protocol.. agentflow: Complex LLM Workflows from Simple JSON. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose mcp-agent over agentflow? Choose mcp-agent over agentflow when License: mcp-agent is Apache-2.0, agentflow is MIT; Tags unique to mcp-agent: agents, ai-agents, llm, mcp; Need to implement the Model Context Protocol specifically in your agent development. ### When should I choose agentflow over mcp-agent? Choose agentflow over mcp-agent when License: agentflow is MIT, mcp-agent is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to agentflow: json, large language models, workflow-management; Also covers LLM Frameworks; When you need to rapidly prototype LLM workflows with minimal coding via JSON configs. ### When should I avoid mcp-agent? Require a more customizable approach beyond pre-defined protocol and workflows Project demands specific AI frameworks unsupported by Model Context Protocol directly ### When should I avoid agentflow? Avoid if requiring advanced customization that goes beyond basic JSON configurations Not suitable for scenarios needing real-time dynamic changes in workflow setup during execution ### Is mcp-agent or agentflow more popular on GitHub? mcp-agent has more GitHub stars (8,518 vs 320). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are mcp-agent and agentflow open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (mcp-agent: Apache-2.0, agentflow: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to mcp-agent or agentflow? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [mcp-agent alternatives](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent/alternatives) and [agentflow alternatives](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow/alternatives) ([mcp-agent markdown twin](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent/alternatives.md), [agentflow markdown twin](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow/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/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent-vs-simonmesmith-agentflow.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, mcp-agent or agentflow? mcp-agent: Slowing. agentflow: Dormant. 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 mcp-agent and agentflow? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [mcp-agent trust report](/tools/lastmile-ai-mcp-agent/trust); [agentflow trust report](/tools/simonmesmith-agentflow/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=lastmile-ai-mcp-agent`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=lastmile-ai-mcp-agent) - 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/_