--- title: "agent-framework vs open-multi-agent" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent" tools: ["microsoft-agent-framework", "open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent"] --- # agent-framework vs open-multi-agent *GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 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 open-multi-agent if provides TypeScript-based orchestration for dynamic AI workflows with support for multiple language models including open platforms. [agent-framework](https://aka.ms/agent-framework) reports 14k GitHub stars, 2.3k forks, and 605 open issues, last pushed Sep 18, 2026. [open-multi-agent](https://open-multi-agent.com/go/repo) has 6.9k stars, 2.4k forks, and 4 open issues, last pushed Sep 18, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [agent-framework's repository](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework) and [open-multi-agent's repository](https://github.com/open-multi-agent/open-multi-agent). | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [open-multi-agent](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows | Orchestrates AI agents with dynamic workflows via runtime task planning. | | Stars | 13,573 | 6,943 | | Forks | 2,335 | 2,433 | | Open issues | 605 | 4 | | Language | Python | TypeScript | | Adopt for | The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. | Provides TypeScript-based orchestration for dynamic AI workflows with support for multiple language models including open platforms. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT License | | Categories | AI Agents, Developer Tools | AI Agents, Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [open-multi-agent](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Days since push | 0d | 1d | | Open issues (now) | 605 | 4 | | Stars delta | +855 (30d) | +175 (30d) | | Open issues delta | -80 (30d) | -7 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent/trust.md) | ## 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: open-multi-agent - **Hosting:** self hosted - **Adopt for:** Provides TypeScript-based orchestration for dynamic AI workflows with support for multiple language models including open platforms. - **License detail:** MIT License ## Choose when ### Choose agent-framework if… - agent-framework is primarily Python; open-multi-agent is TypeScript. - 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: agents, orchestration, workflows. - Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### Choose open-multi-agent if… - open-multi-agent is primarily TypeScript; agent-framework is Python. - Tags unique to open-multi-agent: agent-orchestration, ai-agents, anthropic, claude. - - When you need to dynamically plan task DAGs (Directed Acyclic Graphs) at runtime and execute them across different LLMs, such as Claude or ChatGPT. ## 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 open-multi-agent - - Avoid using open-multi-agent if you are looking for a ready-to-use solution for simple scripts or single-model tasks where runtime planning is not required. - - Do not use this framework if your application strictly requires support for proprietary or custom language models not listed as supported options. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between agent-framework and open-multi-agent? agent-framework: Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows. open-multi-agent: Orchestrates AI agents with dynamic workflows via runtime task planning.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose agent-framework over open-multi-agent? Choose agent-framework over open-multi-agent when agent-framework is primarily Python; open-multi-agent is TypeScript; 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: agents, orchestration, workflows; Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### When should I choose open-multi-agent over agent-framework? Choose open-multi-agent over agent-framework when open-multi-agent is primarily TypeScript; agent-framework is Python; Tags unique to open-multi-agent: agent-orchestration, ai-agents, anthropic, claude; - When you need to dynamically plan task DAGs (Directed Acyclic Graphs) at runtime and execute them across different LLMs, such as Claude or ChatGPT. ### 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 open-multi-agent? - Avoid using open-multi-agent if you are looking for a ready-to-use solution for simple scripts or single-model tasks where runtime planning is not required. - Do not use this framework if your application strictly requires support for proprietary or custom language models not listed as supported options. ### Is agent-framework or open-multi-agent more popular on GitHub? agent-framework has more GitHub stars (13,573 vs 6,943). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are agent-framework and open-multi-agent open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-framework: MIT, open-multi-agent: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to agent-framework or open-multi-agent? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [agent-framework alternatives](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives) and [open-multi-agent alternatives](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent/alternatives) ([agent-framework markdown twin](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives.md), [open-multi-agent markdown twin](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent/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-open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, agent-framework or open-multi-agent? agent-framework: Very active. open-multi-agent: 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 agent-framework and open-multi-agent? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [agent-framework trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust); [open-multi-agent trust report](/tools/open-multi-agent-open-multi-agent/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/_