--- title: "agent-framework vs refly" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-refly-ai-refly" tools: ["microsoft-agent-framework", "refly-ai-refly"] --- # agent-framework vs refly *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 refly if refly is an open-source agent skills builder ecosystem targeting automation through platforms like Slack and Lark/Feishu with capabilities for running on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex among others. [agent-framework](https://aka.ms/agent-framework) reports 14k GitHub stars, 2.3k forks, and 605 open issues, last pushed Sep 18, 2026. [refly](https://refly.ai) has 7.5k stars, 725 forks, and 104 open issues, last pushed Jul 29, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [agent-framework's repository](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework) and [refly's repository](https://github.com/refly-ai/refly). | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [refly](/tools/refly-ai-refly.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows | The first open-source agent skills builder for creating bots and workflows | | Stars | 13,573 | 7,517 | | Forks | 2,335 | 725 | | Open issues | 605 | 104 | | 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. | refly is an open-source agent skills builder ecosystem targeting automation through platforms like Slack and Lark/Feishu with capabilities for running on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex among others. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | Other | | 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) | [refly](/tools/refly-ai-refly.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Steady (60%) | | Days since push | 0d | 48d | | Open issues (now) | 605 | 104 | | Stars delta | +855 (30d) | +44 (30d) | | Open issues delta | -80 (30d) | +9 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/refly-ai-refly/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: refly - **Adopt for:** refly is an open-source agent skills builder ecosystem targeting automation through platforms like Slack and Lark/Feishu with capabilities for running on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex among others. ## Choose when ### Choose agent-framework if… - agent-framework is primarily Python; refly is TypeScript. - License: agent-framework is MIT, refly is Other. - 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 refly if… - refly is primarily TypeScript; agent-framework is Python. - License: refly is Other, agent-framework is MIT. - Tags unique to refly: agent-skills, automation, claude, codex. - When you want to define and automate skills across multiple platforms including Slack and Lark/Feishu using an open-source platform. ## 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 refly - Avoid if project requirements do not align with the limitations set forth by the ReflyAI Open Source License, distinguishing it from more permissive licenses found in competitors. - Not ideal if direct integration and optimization with other AI frameworks outside of the supported range like Claude Code or Cursor are mission-critical. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between agent-framework and refly? agent-framework: Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows. refly: The first open-source agent skills builder for creating bots and workflows. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose agent-framework over refly? Choose agent-framework over refly when agent-framework is primarily Python; refly is TypeScript; License: agent-framework is MIT, refly is Other; 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 refly over agent-framework? Choose refly over agent-framework when refly is primarily TypeScript; agent-framework is Python; License: refly is Other, agent-framework is MIT; Tags unique to refly: agent-skills, automation, claude, codex; When you want to define and automate skills across multiple platforms including Slack and Lark/Feishu using an open-source platform. ### 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 refly? Avoid if project requirements do not align with the limitations set forth by the ReflyAI Open Source License, distinguishing it from more permissive licenses found in competitors. Not ideal if direct integration and optimization with other AI frameworks outside of the supported range like Claude Code or Cursor are mission-critical. ### Is agent-framework or refly more popular on GitHub? agent-framework has more GitHub stars (13,573 vs 7,517). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are agent-framework and refly open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-framework: MIT, refly: Other). ### Where can I find alternatives to agent-framework or refly? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [agent-framework alternatives](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives) and [refly alternatives](/tools/refly-ai-refly/alternatives) ([agent-framework markdown twin](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives.md), [refly markdown twin](/tools/refly-ai-refly/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-refly-ai-refly.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, agent-framework or refly? agent-framework: Very active. refly: Steady. 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 refly? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [agent-framework trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust); [refly trust report](/tools/refly-ai-refly/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/_