Softwr

AI · head to head

AutoGen vs Cognite Data Fusion

AutoGen logo

AutoGen

AI

Programming framework for multi-agent agentic AI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cognite Data Fusion logo

Cognite Data Fusion

Energy

Industrial data platform that contextualises OT, IT and engineering data into an asset-centric knowledge graph

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AutoGen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AutoGen framework now in maintenance mode, no new features planned; Cognite Data Fusion the platform is only as good as the contextualisation work, and that mapping effort is a consulting project that regularly costs more than the first-year subscription.
  • They diverge on capability: AutoGen covers Multi-agent orchestration, Cognite Data Fusion covers Asset-centric data model.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AutoGen and Cognite Data Fusion actually diverge.

Attributes where AutoGen and Cognite Data Fusion differ
AttributeAutoGenCognite Data Fusion
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no pricingquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsPython, .NETWeb, Cloud
CategoryAIEnergy

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AutoGen

  • Multi-agent orchestration
  • Message passing API
  • AgentChat API
  • Extensions API
  • MCP server support
  • AutoGen Studio
  • Cross-language support
  • Observable agent networks

Only in Cognite Data Fusion

  • Asset-centric data model
  • Entity matching
  • P&ID parsing
  • 3D contextualisation
  • Cognite Atlas AI
  • Data workflows
  • Open SDKs
  • Extractors

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AutoGen

  • Building multi-agent conversational systemsnot Cognite Data Fusion
  • Rapid prototyping of agent applicationsnot Cognite Data Fusion
  • Research on agentic AI patterns and architecturesnot Cognite Data Fusion
  • Distributed agent networks across boundariesnot Cognite Data Fusion

Cognite Data Fusion

  • An operator that wants engineers to find the drawing, the sensor trend and the last work order for a valve from one searchnot AutoGen
  • A company standardising asset data across sites so an analytics team can build once and deploy to many plantsnot AutoGen
  • An upstream operator building a production-optimisation model that needs sensor data joined to equipment metadatanot AutoGen
  • A team replacing a stalled internal data-lake project where nobody could reconstruct what the tag names meantnot AutoGen

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AutoGen

  • Framework now in maintenance mode, no new features planned
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced use cases
  • Microsoft recommends new projects use Agent Framework instead
  • Limited to Python and .NET platforms

Cognite Data Fusion

  • The platform is only as good as the contextualisation work, and that mapping effort is a consulting project that regularly costs more than the first-year subscription.
  • Pricing is consumption-based and unpublished, so costs move with data volume and usage patterns you cannot forecast well until a year in.
  • It does not replace your historian, your ERP or your maintenance system, so Cognite is an additional recurring cost layered on systems you still pay for.
  • The reference base and data model lean heavily towards Norwegian and wider oil, gas and process industries; discrete manufacturing fit is weaker and the local partner network thinner outside energy.
  • Getting value out requires in-house Python and data engineering skill; organisations without a data team end up dependent on Cognite professional services for every new use case.

Pricing, plan by plan

AutoGen

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • MIT and CC-BY-4.0 licenses
    • Full framework access
    • Community support

Cognite Data Fusion

On request
  • Cognite Data Fusion$undefined/year
    • Consumption-based pricing on data volume, compute and users
    • Available through cloud marketplaces with private offers
    • Contextualisation and onboarding quoted as a separate engagement

Which should you pick?

Choose AutoGen if

  • You need multi-agent orchestration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Python, .NET.
  • You also want message passing api.
AutoGen review

Choose Cognite Data Fusion if

  • You need asset-centric data model.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want entity matching.
Cognite Data Fusion review

Questions people ask

Is AutoGen or Cognite Data Fusion better?
Neither clearly leads. AutoGen starts at Free and Cognite Data Fusion at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AutoGen or Cognite Data Fusion?
AutoGen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AutoGen and On request for Cognite Data Fusion.
Does AutoGen or Cognite Data Fusion run on more platforms?
AutoGen runs on Python, .NET. Cognite Data Fusion runs on Web, Cloud.
Can I use AutoGen for free?
Yes. AutoGen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cognite Data Fusion starts at On request.
What is AutoGen best used for?
AutoGen is most often used for building multi-agent conversational systems, rapid prototyping of agent applications, research on agentic ai patterns and architectures, distributed agent networks across boundaries. Of those, building multi-agent conversational systems and rapid prototyping of agent applications are not what Cognite Data Fusion is typically brought in for.
What can AutoGen do that Cognite Data Fusion cannot?
AutoGen covers Multi-agent orchestration, Message passing API, AgentChat API, Extensions API. Cognite Data Fusion covers Asset-centric data model, Entity matching, P&ID parsing, 3D contextualisation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AutoGen: Is AutoGen still actively developed?

As of March 2026, AutoGen is in maintenance mode and will not receive new features. Microsoft recommends new projects use the Microsoft Agent Framework instead.

Source
Cognite Data Fusion: Is Cognite a historian?

No. It reads from historians such as PI System and adds context. You still need the historian underneath.

AutoGen: Can I still use AutoGen for new projects?

While AutoGen is stable and maintained for existing projects, Microsoft recommends using the Microsoft Agent Framework for new development.

Source
Cognite Data Fusion: How is it priced?

Consumption-based on data, compute and users, quoted per customer. Nothing is published.

AutoGen: What LLM providers does AutoGen support?

AutoGen includes extensions for OpenAI and Azure OpenAI through its Extensions API, with community support for other providers.

Source
Cognite Data Fusion: How long does a deployment take?

First useful graph in a few months is realistic; full plant contextualisation across a site is typically a year or more.

Cognite Data Fusion: Can we do the contextualisation ourselves?

Technically yes, the SDKs and matching tools are open, but most customers use Cognite or a partner for the first site.

Share

Related pages

More on AutoGen

More on Cognite Data Fusion

Keep looking

Other head to heads