AutoGenvs
LangGraph
LangGraph: More actively maintained framework with similar multi-agent capabilities
AutoGen
Programming framework for multi-agent agentic AI
As of 29 August 2026, AutoGen is free to use. AutoGen is an open-source programming framework developed by Microsoft Research for building AI agents and enabling cooperation among multiple agents to solve complex tasks. Softwr lists it under AI. AutoGen is made by Microsoft Research, available on API, Windows.
Overview
What AutoGen does
AutoGen is an open-source framework from Microsoft Research for building multi-agent AI applications with flexible orchestration patterns. It provides multiple abstraction levels from high-level APIs for rapid prototyping to low-level components for advanced use cases, supporting both Python and .NET development. The framework features a modular, extensible architecture with pluggable components, asynchronous messaging between agents, and built-in observability through OpenTelemetry for enterprise-grade monitoring. Note: As of March 2026, AutoGen is in maintenance mode and will not receive new features. Microsoft recommends new projects use the Microsoft Agent Framework, which merges AutoGen's orchestration with Semantic Kernel's enterprise stability.
What people use it for
- Building multi-agent conversational systems
- Rapid prototyping of agent applications
- Research on agentic AI patterns and architectures
- Distributed agent networks across boundaries
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of AutoGen
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- AutoGenvsCrewAI
CrewAI: Higher-level framework focused on role-based multi-agent systems
- AutoGenvsSemantic Kernel
Semantic Kernel: Microsoft's newer AI orchestration framework
Pricing
What AutoGen costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Open Source
Free
- MIT and CC-BY-4.0 licenses
- Full framework access
- Community support
- Self-hosted deployment
Capabilities
Features
Multi-agent orchestration
Flexible patterns for agent cooperation and messaging
Message passing API
Core API for event-driven agent communication
AgentChat API
Simplified high-level orchestration
Extensions API
LLM integrations for OpenAI, Azure OpenAI
MCP server support
Model Context Protocol integration
AutoGen Studio
No-code GUI builder for agents
Cross-language support
Python and .NET support
Observable agent networks
OpenTelemetry integration for monitoring
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceCan 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.
SourceWhat LLM providers does AutoGen support?
AutoGen includes extensions for OpenAI and Azure OpenAI through its Extensions API, with community support for other providers.
SourceTimeline
AutoGen over time
Keep looking
Where to go from AutoGen
- AutoGen alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- AutoGen pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- AutoGen badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All AI softwareThe full category
- Best AI softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best AI software for
Compare AutoGen with
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- Sourcegraph Cody
- Tabnine
- Verbit
- Wordtune
- Adobe Firefly
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for AutoGen, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on AutoGen
AutoGen alternatives
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AutoGen pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
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AutoGen badge
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