Comparison
autogen vs semantic-kernel
Verdict
Deprecated - The repository explicitly states that Semantic Kernel has been superseded by Microsoft Agent Framework, indicating its deprecation.
Markdown twin · autogen alternatives · semantic-kernel alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
17views this month
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | autogen | semantic-kernel |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Slowing (155d since push) As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Sep 18, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Sep 18, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- autogen
- A programming framework for agentic AI
- semantic-kernel
- Integrate cutting-edge LLM technology quickly and easily into your apps
Stars
- autogen
- 61k
- semantic-kernel
- 29k
Forks
- autogen
- 9.2k
- semantic-kernel
- 4.8k
Open issues
- autogen
- 1.1k
- semantic-kernel
- 304
Language
- autogen
- Python
- semantic-kernel
- C#
Adopt for
- autogen
- AutoGen is a Python-based framework for developing agentic AI systems, offering tools for integrating with external models and services, and a no-code GUI for easier interaction.
- semantic-kernel
- Semantic-kernel is a framework for integrating large language models into applications using C#, Python, Java, and .NET, offering flexibility across multiple programming environments.
Persona
- autogen
- -
- semantic-kernel
- -
Runtime
- autogen
- -
- semantic-kernel
- -
License
- autogen
- CC-BY-4.0
- semantic-kernel
- Semantic-kernel is licensed under the MIT license, allowing for free use, modification, and distribution of the software.
Last pushed
- autogen
- Apr 15, 2026
- semantic-kernel
- Sep 18, 2026
Categories
- autogen
- AI Agents, LLM Frameworks
- semantic-kernel
- AI Agents, LLM Frameworks
Trust and health
Maintenance
- autogen
- Slowing (36%)
- semantic-kernel
- Very active (96%)
Days since push
- autogen
- 155d
- semantic-kernel
- 0d
Open issues (now)
- autogen
- 1.1k
- semantic-kernel
- 304
Stars delta
- autogen
- +897 (30d)
- semantic-kernel
- +148 (30d)
Open issues delta
- autogen
- +105 (30d)
- semantic-kernel
- +48 (30d)
Full report
- autogen
- Trust report
- semantic-kernel
- Trust report
Typed relationship
autogen successor semantic-kernelSemantic Kernel is the predecessor to Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), and both Semantic Kernel and autogen were part of Microsoft's efforts in building multi-agent AI applications.Deprecated - The repository explicitly states that Semantic Kernel has been superseded by Microsoft Agent Framework, indicating its deprecation.
Shared compatibility
- Python · autogen: Python runtime · semantic-kernel: Python runtime
Choose autogen if…
- autogen is primarily Python; semantic-kernel is C#.
- License: autogen is CC-BY-4.0, semantic-kernel is MIT.
- Requirements: AutoGen requires Python 3.10 or later.; Installation of AutoGen Studio is optional for no-code GUI interaction.; Ensure trusted MCP servers are used to avoid security risks..
- Semantic Kernel is the predecessor to Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), and both Semantic Kernel and autogen were part of Microsoft's efforts in building multi-agent AI applications.
- Tags unique to autogen: agentic, agentic-agi, agents, autogen.
- When you need a structured approach to create and manage AI agents with Python.
When NOT to use autogen
- If your project requires a version of Python earlier than 3.10, as AutoGen is not compatible.
- When you need a framework that does not rely on potentially untrusted MCP servers for execution.
- If your project does not require or benefit from the no-code GUI provided by AutoGen Studio.
- When you prefer a framework that does not involve the complexity of setting up and managing multiple MCP servers.
Choose semantic-kernel if…
- semantic-kernel is primarily C#; autogen is Python.
- License: semantic-kernel is MIT, autogen is CC-BY-4.0.
- Requirements: System requirements include Python 3.10+, .NET 10.0+, and JDK 17+.; Operating system support includes Windows, macOS, and Linux..
- Semantic Kernel is the predecessor to Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), and both Semantic Kernel and autogen were part of Microsoft's efforts in building multi-agent AI applications.
- Tags unique to semantic-kernel: artificial-intelligence, azure-openai, csharp, llm.
- When you need to integrate large language models into applications using C#, Python, Java, or .NET, as semantic-kernel supports these languages natively.
When NOT to use semantic-kernel
- If your project is strictly limited to a single programming language that is not C#, Python, Java, or.NET, as semantic-kernel does not support other languages.
- When your application must exclusively use a specific AI service provider that is not Azure OpenAI or OpenAI, as semantic-kernel's primary integration is with these services.
- If your development environment is not Windows, macOS, or Linux, as semantic-kernel does not support other operating systems.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (microsoft/autogen) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (microsoft/autogen) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (microsoft/autogen) · observed Apr 15, 2026
- License file (CC-BY-4.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- GitHub stars (microsoft/semantic-kernel) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (microsoft/semantic-kernel) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (microsoft/semantic-kernel) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Sep 18, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: autogen 61k · semantic-kernel 29k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between autogen and semantic-kernel?
- autogen: A programming framework for agentic AI. semantic-kernel: Integrate cutting-edge LLM technology quickly and easily into your apps. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose autogen over semantic-kernel?
- Choose autogen over semantic-kernel when autogen is primarily Python; semantic-kernel is C#; License: autogen is CC-BY-4.0, semantic-kernel is MIT; Requirements: AutoGen requires Python 3.10 or later.; Installation of AutoGen Studio is optional for no-code GUI interaction.; Ensure trusted MCP servers are used to avoid security risks.; Semantic Kernel is the predecessor to Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), and both Semantic Kernel and autogen were part of Microsoft's efforts in building multi-agent AI applications; Tags unique to autogen: agentic, agentic-agi, agents, autogen; When you need a structured approach to create and manage AI agents with Python.
- When should I choose semantic-kernel over autogen?
- Choose semantic-kernel over autogen when semantic-kernel is primarily C#; autogen is Python; License: semantic-kernel is MIT, autogen is CC-BY-4.0; Requirements: System requirements include Python 3.10+, .NET 10.0+, and JDK 17+.; Operating system support includes Windows, macOS, and Linux.; Semantic Kernel is the predecessor to Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), and both Semantic Kernel and autogen were part of Microsoft's efforts in building multi-agent AI applications; Tags unique to semantic-kernel: artificial-intelligence, azure-openai, csharp, llm; When you need to integrate large language models into applications using C#, Python, Java, or .NET, as semantic-kernel supports these languages natively.
- When should I avoid autogen?
- If your project requires a version of Python earlier than 3.10, as AutoGen is not compatible. When you need a framework that does not rely on potentially untrusted MCP servers for execution. If your project does not require or benefit from the no-code GUI provided by AutoGen Studio. When you prefer a framework that does not involve the complexity of setting up and managing multiple MCP servers.
- When should I avoid semantic-kernel?
- If your project is strictly limited to a single programming language that is not C#, Python, Java, or.NET, as semantic-kernel does not support other languages. When your application must exclusively use a specific AI service provider that is not Azure OpenAI or OpenAI, as semantic-kernel's primary integration is with these services. If your development environment is not Windows, macOS, or Linux, as semantic-kernel does not support other operating systems.
- Is autogen or semantic-kernel more popular on GitHub?
- autogen has more GitHub stars (61,036 vs 28,575). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are autogen and semantic-kernel open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (autogen: CC-BY-4.0, semantic-kernel: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to autogen or semantic-kernel?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at autogen alternatives and semantic-kernel alternatives (autogen markdown twin, semantic-kernel markdown twin), 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 mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, autogen or semantic-kernel?
- autogen: Slowing. semantic-kernel: 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 autogen and semantic-kernel?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: autogen trust report; semantic-kernel trust report.