--- title: "agent-framework vs llm_agents" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-mpaepper-llm-agents" tools: ["microsoft-agent-framework", "mpaepper-llm-agents"] --- # agent-framework vs llm_agents *GraphCanon updated Aug 15, 2026* ## Verdict Pick agent-framework if the agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments; pick llm_agents if llm_agents is a Python library enabling users to build simple agents directed by large language models, featuring functions like executing Python code and using Google search. [agent-framework](https://aka.ms/agent-framework) reports 13k GitHub stars, 2.1k forks, and 685 open issues, last pushed Aug 10, 2026. [llm_agents](https://www.paepper.com/blog/posts/intelligent-agents-guided-by-llms/) has 1.1k stars, 85 forks, and 3 open issues, last pushed Jun 23, 2025. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [agent-framework's repository](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework) and [llm_agents's repository](https://github.com/mpaepper/llm_agents). | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [llm_agents](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows | Library to build agents controlled by LLMs | | Stars | 12,718 | 1,053 | | Forks | 2,143 | 85 | | Open issues | 685 | 3 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. | llm_agents is a Python library enabling users to build simple agents directed by large language models, featuring functions like executing Python code and using Google search. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT | | Categories | AI Agents, Developer Tools | AI Agents | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [llm_agents](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Dormant (18%) | | Days since push | 0d | 418d | | Open issues (now) | 685 | 3 | | Stars delta | Unknown | +3 (30d) | | Open issues delta | Unknown | 0 (30d) | | Owner type | Organization | User | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents/trust.md) | ## Shared compatibility - **Python**: [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) - Python runtime; [llm_agents](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents.md) - Python runtime ## Decision facts: agent-framework - **Requirements:** Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages. - **Adopt for:** The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. ## Decision facts: llm_agents - **Requirements:** Min 1 GB RAM; Requires the installation of requirements specified by running `pip install -r requirements.txt` followed by `pip install -e .`.; Dependencies include setting up environment variables for `OPENAI_API_KEY` to use OpenAI API and optionally `SERPAPI_API_KEY` if Google search tool is utilized. - **Adopt for:** llm_agents is a Python library enabling users to build simple agents directed by large language models, featuring functions like executing Python code and using Google search. ## Choose when ### Choose agent-framework if… - Requirements: Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages.. - Tags unique to agent-framework: agent-framework, agentic-ai, agents, multi-agent. - Also covers Developer Tools. - Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### Choose llm_agents if… - Requirements: Min 1 GB RAM; Requires the installation of requirements specified by running `pip install -r requirements.txt` followed by `pip install -e .`.; Dependencies include setting up environment variables for `OPENAI_API_KEY` to use OpenAI API and optionally `SERPAPI_API_KEY` if Google search tool is utilized.. - Tags unique to llm_agents: deep-learning, langchain, llms, machine-learning. - Use llm_agents when you require a lightweight solution for building agents controlled by LLMs with specific tools such as Python REPL execution or Hacker News search. ## When NOT to use agent-framework - Avoid using the agent-framework if your team does not have proficiency in either Python or.NET, as this may cause difficulties in leveraging its features effectively. - Do not opt for agent-framework if you only need lightweight support for AI agents without a comprehensive orchestration and deployment framework. ## When NOT to use llm_agents - Avoid llm_agents if you need a more robust and feature-rich product for complex tasks that require extensive integration capabilities beyond Python REPL, Google search, and Hacker News. - Do not choose it when you are looking for advanced abstraction layers like those found in LangChain, as llm_agents aims to remain simple with fewer files and a straightforward core. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between agent-framework and llm_agents? agent-framework: Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows. llm_agents: Library to build agents controlled by LLMs. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose agent-framework over llm_agents? Choose agent-framework over llm_agents when Requirements: Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages.; Tags unique to agent-framework: agent-framework, agentic-ai, agents, multi-agent; Also covers Developer Tools; Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### When should I choose llm_agents over agent-framework? Choose llm_agents over agent-framework when Requirements: Min 1 GB RAM; Requires the installation of requirements specified by running `pip install -r requirements.txt` followed by `pip install -e .`.; Dependencies include setting up environment variables for `OPENAI_API_KEY` to use OpenAI API and optionally `SERPAPI_API_KEY` if Google search tool is utilized.; Tags unique to llm_agents: deep-learning, langchain, llms, machine-learning; Use llm_agents when you require a lightweight solution for building agents controlled by LLMs with specific tools such as Python REPL execution or Hacker News search. ### When should I avoid agent-framework? Avoid using the agent-framework if your team does not have proficiency in either Python or.NET, as this may cause difficulties in leveraging its features effectively. Do not opt for agent-framework if you only need lightweight support for AI agents without a comprehensive orchestration and deployment framework. ### When should I avoid llm_agents? Avoid llm_agents if you need a more robust and feature-rich product for complex tasks that require extensive integration capabilities beyond Python REPL, Google search, and Hacker News. Do not choose it when you are looking for advanced abstraction layers like those found in LangChain, as llm_agents aims to remain simple with fewer files and a straightforward core. ### Is agent-framework or llm_agents more popular on GitHub? agent-framework has more GitHub stars (12,718 vs 1,053). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are agent-framework and llm_agents open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-framework: MIT, llm_agents: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to agent-framework or llm_agents? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [agent-framework alternatives](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives) and [llm_agents alternatives](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents/alternatives) ([agent-framework markdown twin](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives.md), [llm_agents markdown twin](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents/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/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-mpaepper-llm-agents.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, agent-framework or llm_agents? agent-framework: Very active. llm_agents: 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 agent-framework and llm_agents? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [agent-framework trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust); [llm_agents trust report](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=microsoft-agent-framework`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=microsoft-agent-framework) - 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/_