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AI · head to head

LangGraph vs LlamaIndex

LangGraph logo

LangGraph

AI

Agent runtime and orchestration framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LlamaIndex logo

LlamaIndex

Machine Learning

Data framework for LLM applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LangGraph steeper learning curve compared to high-level abstractions; LlamaIndex the free LlamaCloud plan includes 10K credits and has no pay as you go option, so work stops when credits run out
  • They diverge on capability: LangGraph covers Human-in-the-loop controls, LlamaIndex covers Data connectors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LangGraph and LlamaIndex actually diverge.

Attributes where LangGraph and LlamaIndex differ
AttributeLangGraphLlamaIndex
Pricing modelOpen source and free, with optional managed platformusage-based
PlatformsPython, JavaScript, WebLinux, Mac, Windows
CategoryAIMachine Learning
FoundedUnknown2022

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 LangGraph

  • Human-in-the-loop controls
  • Customizable workflows
  • Memory management
  • Token-by-token streaming
  • Low-level control
  • Multi-agent support

Only in LlamaIndex

  • Data connectors
  • Indexing
  • Query engine
  • RAG pipelines
  • Agents
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Pinecone

What people use each for

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

LangGraph

  • Building production AI agents with auditable workflowsnot LlamaIndex
  • Designing multi-agent systems for complex tasksnot LlamaIndex
  • Implementing human oversight in autonomous systemsnot LlamaIndex
  • Creating reliable agentic applications at scalenot LlamaIndex

LlamaIndex

  • Parsing PDFs and complex documents into structured text for RAGnot LangGraph
  • Building retrieval augmented generation pipelines over private datanot LangGraph
  • Indexing and querying enterprise documents from an LLM applicationnot LangGraph

Where each one falls short

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

LangGraph

  • Steeper learning curve compared to high-level abstractions
  • Requires understanding of graph-based architecture
  • Debugging complex workflows can be challenging
  • Not optimized for simple, one-off use cases

LlamaIndex

  • The free LlamaCloud plan includes 10K credits and has no pay as you go option, so work stops when credits run out
  • Concurrent parse jobs are capped at 5 on Free and Starter, 20 on Pro and 100 on Enterprise
  • Pay as you go spend is capped at $500 per month on Starter and $5,000 per month on Pro
  • Enterprise SSO is Enterprise plan only
  • Volume discounts on credits and 5x higher rate limits are Enterprise only
  • SaaS or hybrid cloud deployment choice and a dedicated account manager are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

LangGraph

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • MIT-licensed framework
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Full API access
  • LangGraph Platform$35/month
    • Managed hosting
    • Enterprise deployment
    • Integrated tooling

LlamaIndex

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10K monthly credits
    • Basic parsing
    • 5 concurrent jobs
  • Starter$50/month
    • 40K credits + pay-as-you-go
    • Up to 400K credits
    • 5 concurrent jobs
  • Pro$500/month
    • 400K credits + limited-time bonus
    • 20 concurrent jobs
    • Priority Slack support
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom volume discounts
    • 5x higher rate limits
    • SSO

Which should you pick?

Choose LangGraph if

  • You need human-in-the-loop controls.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Python, JavaScript, Web.
  • You also want customizable workflows.
LangGraph review

Choose LlamaIndex if

  • You need data connectors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
  • You also want indexing.
LlamaIndex review

Questions people ask

Is LangGraph or LlamaIndex better?
Neither clearly leads. LangGraph starts at Free and LlamaIndex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LangGraph or LlamaIndex?
LangGraph starts at Free and LlamaIndex at Free.
Does LangGraph or LlamaIndex run on more platforms?
LangGraph runs on Python, JavaScript, Web. LlamaIndex runs on Linux, Mac, Windows.
Can I use LangGraph for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is LangGraph best used for?
LangGraph is most often used for building production ai agents with auditable workflows, designing multi-agent systems for complex tasks, implementing human oversight in autonomous systems, creating reliable agentic applications at scale. Of those, building production ai agents with auditable workflows and designing multi-agent systems for complex tasks are not what LlamaIndex is typically brought in for.
What can LangGraph do that LlamaIndex cannot?
LangGraph covers Human-in-the-loop controls, Customizable workflows, Memory management, Token-by-token streaming. LlamaIndex covers Data connectors, Indexing, Query engine, RAG pipelines.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LangGraph: Is LangGraph free to use?

Yes. The core LangGraph framework is MIT-licensed and completely free. You only pay if you use the optional managed LangGraph Platform for hosting.

Source
LlamaIndex: How much does LlamaIndex (LlamaParse) cost?

LlamaIndex offers a Free plan with 10K monthly credits at $0/month. The Starter plan is $50/month for 40K credits plus pay-as-you-go overage up to 400K total. The Pro plan is $500/month for 400K credits. Credits are priced at 1,000 credits for $1.25.

Source
LangGraph: What programming languages does LangGraph support?

LangGraph provides first-class support for Python and JavaScript, enabling cross-platform agent development.

Source
LlamaIndex: Is LlamaIndex free?

Yes, LlamaIndex offers a free plan with 10K monthly credits, basic parsing, 5 concurrent jobs, and support for up to 100 users with no upfront payment required.

Source
LangGraph: Can I deploy LangGraph in production?

Yes. LangGraph can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure or deployed through LangGraph Platform with enterprise support and SLA guarantees.

Source
LlamaIndex: What are LlamaIndex's concurrent job limits?

The Free and Starter plans allow 5 concurrent jobs. The Pro plan increases this to 20 concurrent jobs. Enterprise plans offer custom configurations with 5x higher rate limits.

Source
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