Microsoft Agent Framework
Microsoft's open-source agent SDK for .NET and Python, successor to AutoGen
What is Microsoft Agent Framework?
Microsoft Agent Framework is an open-source SDK for building AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET. It brings together ideas from AutoGen and Semantic Kernel, and Microsoft recommends it for new projects instead of AutoGen, which is now in maintenance mode. It is MIT licensed.
Pros
- First-class .NET and Python support
- Backed by Microsoft
- Clear migration path from AutoGen
Cons
- Younger than LangGraph or CrewAI
- Best fit leans toward Azure
- Docs still catching up
Where Microsoft Agent Framework ranks
Alternatives
Microsoft Agent Framework alternatives
Google Agent Development Kit
Google's open-source toolkit for building and deploying multi-agent systems
Claude Agent SDK
Anthropic's SDK for building agents on the same harness that powers Claude Code
CrewAI
Open-source Python framework for teams of role-based AI agents
LangGraph
Open-source framework for building stateful, controllable agents as graphs
LlamaIndex
Open-source framework for agents over your documents and data
Mastra
TypeScript framework for AI agents, workflows, memory and evals
Microsoft Agent Framework FAQ
What is Microsoft Agent Framework?
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Microsoft Agent Framework is an open-source SDK for building AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET. It brings together ideas from AutoGen and Semantic Kernel, and Microsoft recommends it for new projects instead of AutoGen, which is now in maintenance mode. It is MIT licensed.
How much does Microsoft Agent Framework cost?
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Microsoft Agent Framework is open source. MIT licensed.
Is Microsoft Agent Framework free?
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Yes. Microsoft Agent Framework is open source and free to self-host; you pay only for the model API and hosting you use.
Is Microsoft Agent Framework an autonomous AI agent?
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We rate Microsoft Agent Framework as "Task agent": completes tasks you hand it, then reports back.
What are the best Microsoft Agent Framework alternatives?
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Popular alternatives to Microsoft Agent Framework are Google Agent Development Kit, Claude Agent SDK, CrewAI, LangGraph, LlamaIndex.