--- title: "agent-framework vs openrpa" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-open-rpa-openrpa" tools: ["microsoft-agent-framework", "open-rpa-openrpa"] --- # agent-framework vs openrpa *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 openrpa if openRPA is an open-source RPA tool that supports multiple robots using C# and the OpenFlow platform for management. [agent-framework](https://aka.ms/agent-framework) reports 14k GitHub stars, 2.3k forks, and 605 open issues, last pushed Sep 18, 2026. [openrpa](https://app.openiap.io) has 3.1k stars, 659 forks, and 2 open issues, last pushed Apr 15, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [agent-framework's repository](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework) and [openrpa's repository](https://github.com/open-rpa/openrpa). | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [openrpa](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows | Free Open Source Enterprise Grade RPA | | Stars | 13,573 | 3,062 | | Forks | 2,335 | 659 | | Open issues | 605 | 2 | | Language | Python | C# | | Adopt for | The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. | OpenRPA is an open-source RPA tool that supports multiple robots using C# and the OpenFlow platform for management. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MPL-2.0 | | Categories | AI Agents, Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [openrpa](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Slowing (36%) | | Days since push | 0d | 153d | | Open issues (now) | 605 | 2 | | Stars delta | +855 (30d) | +28 (30d) | | Open issues delta | -80 (30d) | 0 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa/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: openrpa - **Adopt for:** OpenRPA is an open-source RPA tool that supports multiple robots using C# and the OpenFlow platform for management. ## Choose when ### Choose agent-framework if… - agent-framework is primarily Python; openrpa is C#. - License: agent-framework is MIT, openrpa is MPL-2.0. - 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 AI Agents. - Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### Choose openrpa if… - openrpa is primarily C#; agent-framework is Python. - License: openrpa is MPL-2.0, agent-framework is MIT. - Tags unique to openrpa: automation, multiple-robots, openflow, rpa. - When you need an open-source solution that can manage multiple robotic tasks simultaneously, without incurring licensing costs typical of proprietary software. ## 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 openrpa - If you require proprietary feature support that is absent from open-source editions, as OpenRPA relies solely on the contributions of its community and backers. - When your project specifically demands a user interface or backend not based on the OpenFlow platform, preferring alternatives like UiPath Orchestrator or Automation anywhere Control Room. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between agent-framework and openrpa? agent-framework: Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows. openrpa: Free Open Source Enterprise Grade RPA. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose agent-framework over openrpa? Choose agent-framework over openrpa when agent-framework is primarily Python; openrpa is C#; License: agent-framework is MIT, openrpa is MPL-2.0; 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 AI Agents; Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### When should I choose openrpa over agent-framework? Choose openrpa over agent-framework when openrpa is primarily C#; agent-framework is Python; License: openrpa is MPL-2.0, agent-framework is MIT; Tags unique to openrpa: automation, multiple-robots, openflow, rpa; When you need an open-source solution that can manage multiple robotic tasks simultaneously, without incurring licensing costs typical of proprietary software. ### 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 openrpa? If you require proprietary feature support that is absent from open-source editions, as OpenRPA relies solely on the contributions of its community and backers. When your project specifically demands a user interface or backend not based on the OpenFlow platform, preferring alternatives like UiPath Orchestrator or Automation anywhere Control Room. ### Is agent-framework or openrpa more popular on GitHub? agent-framework has more GitHub stars (13,573 vs 3,062). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are agent-framework and openrpa open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-framework: MIT, openrpa: MPL-2.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to agent-framework or openrpa? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [agent-framework alternatives](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives) and [openrpa alternatives](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa/alternatives) ([agent-framework markdown twin](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives.md), [openrpa markdown twin](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa/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-rpa-openrpa.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, agent-framework or openrpa? agent-framework: Very active. openrpa: 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 agent-framework and openrpa? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [agent-framework trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust); [openrpa trust report](/tools/open-rpa-openrpa/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/_