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AI · head to head

AutoGen vs Rootly

AutoGen logo

AutoGen

AI

Programming framework for multi-agent agentic AI

From
Free
Rated
-
Rootly logo

Rootly

Logging

AI-native incident management with automation, on-call, and root cause analysis

From
$20/user-month
Rated
-

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; Rootly pricing higher than some competitors for basic features
  • They diverge on capability: AutoGen covers Multi-agent orchestration, Rootly covers AI SRE automation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AutoGen and Rootly actually diverge.

Attributes where AutoGen and Rootly differ
AttributeAutoGenRootly
Starting priceFree$20/user-month
Pricing modelOpen source, no pricingsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsPython, .NETWeb, Mobile, Slack, Microsoft Teams
CategoryAILogging
FoundedUnknown2020

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 Rootly

  • AI SRE automation
  • Alert routing
  • On-call management
  • Incident response
  • Call routing
  • AI meeting bot
  • Status pages

What people use each for

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

AutoGen

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

Rootly

  • Automate on-call and incident response workflowsnot AutoGen
  • Run root cause analysis with AI assistancenot AutoGen
  • Track and improve Mean Time to Mitigation (MTTR)not AutoGen
  • Coordinate response across distributed teamsnot AutoGen
  • Learn from post-incident retrospectivesnot 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

Rootly

  • Pricing higher than some competitors for basic features
  • AI SRE features require separate contact-sales engagement
  • Learning curve for advanced automation features
  • Per-user pricing increases costs as team grows

Pricing, plan by plan

AutoGen

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

Rootly

$20/user-month
  • Incident Response Essentials$20/user-month
    • Response with Slack integration
    • @Rootly AI Chat
    • AI Similar Incidents detection
  • Incident Response Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • All Essentials features
    • Custom forms and incident types
    • Private incidents
  • On-Call Essentials$20/user-month
    • Alert grouping and routing
    • Live call routing (1 phone number)
    • Schedules and escalation policies
  • On-Call Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • All Essentials features
    • 5 phone numbers for call routing
    • Unlimited schedules

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.

Choose Rootly if

  • You need ai sre automation.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Slack, Microsoft Teams.
  • You also want alert routing.

Questions people ask

Is AutoGen or Rootly better?
Neither clearly leads. AutoGen starts at Free and Rootly at $20/user-month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AutoGen or Rootly?
AutoGen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AutoGen and $20/user-month for Rootly.
Does AutoGen or Rootly run on more platforms?
AutoGen runs on Python, .NET. Rootly runs on Web, Mobile, Slack, Microsoft Teams.
Can I use AutoGen for free?
Yes. AutoGen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rootly starts at $20/user-month.
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 Rootly is typically brought in for.
What can AutoGen do that Rootly cannot?
AutoGen covers Multi-agent orchestration, Message passing API, AgentChat API, Extensions API. Rootly covers AI SRE automation, Alert routing, On-call management, Incident response.

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
Rootly: How much does Rootly cost?

Rootly charges $20/user/month for both Incident Response and On-Call Essentials plans. Enterprise plans require contacting sales. Startups under 100 employees with less than $50M raised get up to 50% discount.

Source
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
Rootly: What is Rootly AI SRE?

AI SRE is an advanced feature that provides automated root cause analysis, alert correlation with system changes, impact analysis, and remediation suggestions. Pricing requires contact with sales.

Source
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
Rootly: Does Rootly integrate with Slack?

Yes, Rootly natively integrates with Slack for incident response workflows, allowing teams to manage incidents directly in Slack.

Source
Rootly: Are there discounts for small companies?

Yes, startups under 100 employees or less than 25 employees can get special pricing up to 50% discount. Contact Rootly sales for details.

Source
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