bestaiagents

17 ranked · 71 total

Updated Nov 4, 2026

Best Open Source AI Agents in 2026

OpenHands is the best open-source AI agent for coding, giving you a self-hosted, Devin-style agent under the MIT license. Cline is the best open-source agent inside your editor, n8n and Dify are the leading self-hostable agent builders, and LangGraph and CrewAI are the most popular open-source frameworks for building your own.

Ranked by what each agent actually does unattended, pricing clarity and fit for small teams. How we rank.

At a glance

#AgentBest forPriceAutonomy
1OpenHands logoOpenHandsSelf-hosting a Devin-style agentOpen sourceTask agent
2Cline logoClineDevelopers who want to pick their own modelOpen sourceTask agent
3OpenClaw logoOpenClawTech-savvy people who want a private assistantOpen sourceTask agent
4n8n logon8nTechnical teams automating across many toolsFree planAutonomous
5Dify logoDifyInternal AI apps on company documentsFree · from $49/moTask agent
6LangGraph logoLangGraphProduction agents that need controlOpen sourceTask agent
7CrewAI logoCrewAIMulti-agent prototypesOpen sourceTask agent
8Browser Use logoBrowser UseDevelopers automating websites without APIsOpen sourceTask agent
9AiderTerminal users who want git-native editsOpen sourceAssistant
10AutoGPT logoAutoGPTExperimenting with autonomous agentsOpen sourceAutonomous
11Microsoft Agent Framework logoMicrosoft Agent Framework.NET and Azure shopsOpen sourceTask agent
12OpenAI Agents SDKDevelopers who want a minimal frameworkOpen sourceTask agent
13Claude Agent SDK logoClaude Agent SDKAgents that work with files and codeOpen sourceTask agent
14Pydantic AI logoPydantic AIPython teams that value type safetyOpen sourceTask agent
15Mastra logoMastraTypeScript and Next.js teamsOpen sourceTask agent
16LlamaIndex logoLlamaIndexAgents over PDFs and internal docsOpen sourceTask agent
17Google Agent Development Kit logoGoogle Agent Development KitTeams on Google CloudOpen sourceTask agent
OpenHands logo
#1Top pickFree option

OpenHands

Open-source platform for running autonomous coding agents, formerly OpenDevin

OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin) is an open-source platform for AI coding agents that can write code, run commands and browse the web in a sandbox. You can self-host it for free or use the hosted product. A Teams plan adds a managed setup for up to 10 users.

Why it's here

  • MIT licensed and self-hostable
  • Works with many models
  • Runs agents in isolated sandboxes

Watch out for

  • Self-hosting takes DevOps work
  • Hosted Teams plan is expensive for small teams
  • Less polished than commercial IDE agents
Cline logo
#2Free option

Cline

Open-source coding agent for VS Code that uses any model you bring

Cline is an open-source coding agent that runs inside VS Code and other editors, planning changes, editing files and running commands with your approval at each step. It is free for individual developers; you pay only for the AI model usage, using your own API keys or a provider of your choice. An Enterprise plan adds team controls.

Why it's here

  • Apache-2.0 open source
  • Works with many model providers, including local models
  • Clear plan-then-act flow with approvals

Watch out for

  • Model costs can add up with no cap
  • More setup than a subscription tool
  • Approving each step slows long tasks
Open sourceTask agent
OpenClaw logo
#3Free option

OpenClaw

Open-source personal AI assistant you run on your own computer and chat with

OpenClaw is an open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own Mac, Windows or Linux machine and that you talk to through chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord. It can manage email, calendars and files, browse the web and run shell commands. It is MIT licensed with no subscription; you choose the model it uses.

Why it's here

  • Runs locally and keeps state on your machine
  • Works from chat apps you already use
  • No subscription

Watch out for

  • Setup takes technical skill
  • Broad system access needs care
  • You manage updates and model costs
n8n logo
#4Free option

n8n

Workflow automation with AI agent nodes, cloud-hosted or self-hosted

n8n is a workflow automation platform with built-in AI agent nodes that connect models to your apps, databases and APIs. You build flows visually, drop into code when needed and run them in n8n's cloud or on your own servers. Cloud plans start at €20 a month billed annually and a self-hosted Community Edition is on GitHub.

Why it's here

  • Self-hosting option
  • Hundreds of integrations plus custom code
  • Flexible AI agent and tool nodes

Watch out for

  • Steeper learning curve than Zapier
  • Self-hosted license is fair-code, not OSI open source
  • Debugging complex flows takes time
Free planAutonomous
Dify logo
#5Free option

Dify

Open-source platform for building AI apps, agents and RAG workflows

Dify is an open-source platform for building AI applications, agents and retrieval workflows with a visual editor. You can self-host the Community Edition with Docker or use Dify Cloud. The cloud Sandbox plan is free with 200 message credits and Professional costs $590 per workspace per year.

Why it's here

  • Self-hostable
  • Visual workflow and RAG tools
  • Works with many model providers

Watch out for

  • License has extra conditions beyond Apache-2.0
  • Self-hosting needs maintenance
  • Less suited to non-technical users
Free · from $49/moTask agent
LangGraph logo
#6Free option

LangGraph

Open-source framework for building stateful, controllable agents as graphs

LangGraph is an open-source framework from LangChain for building agents as graphs of steps with state, memory and human-in-the-loop checkpoints. It gives developers fine control over how an agent moves between tools and decisions. It is MIT licensed, with LangSmith available for tracing and deployment.

Why it's here

  • Fine control over agent flow
  • Built-in persistence and human approval steps
  • Large ecosystem and docs

Watch out for

  • More code than higher-level frameworks
  • Concepts take time to learn
  • Best tooling ties into LangSmith
CrewAI logo
#7Free option

CrewAI

Open-source Python framework for teams of role-based AI agents

CrewAI is an open-source Python framework for building multi-agent systems where agents with defined roles work together on tasks. It is known for being quick to start with. CrewAI also runs a hosted platform with a free Basic plan and custom Enterprise pricing.

Why it's here

  • Simple, readable agent definitions
  • MIT licensed
  • Large community and examples

Watch out for

  • Less fine-grained control than LangGraph
  • Multi-agent runs can be costly in tokens
  • Debugging agent hand-offs is hard
Open sourceTask agent
Browser Use logo
#8Free option

Browser Use

Open-source library and cloud for AI agents that control web browsers

Browser Use is an open-source Python library that lets AI agents operate a web browser, plus a cloud service that runs those browsers for you. Developers use it to automate web tasks on sites without APIs. The library is MIT licensed; the cloud is pay-as-you-go with a $5 minimum top-up.

Why it's here

  • Large open-source community
  • Works with many models
  • Hosted browsers when you need scale

Watch out for

  • Requires coding
  • Websites change and break flows
  • Model and proxy costs add up
#9Free option

Aider

Open-source AI pair programmer that edits code in your terminal with git commits

Aider is an open-source AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal and edits code in your local git repository. It works with many LLMs, maps your codebase for context and commits each change so you can review or undo it. It is free to use; you pay only for the model API you connect.

Why it's here

  • Every edit is a git commit you can undo
  • Works with most model providers
  • Lightweight, no editor lock-in

Watch out for

  • Development has slowed in 2026
  • Less autonomous than newer agents
  • No built-in team features
AutoGPT logo
#10Free option

AutoGPT

Open-source platform for building and running continuous AI agents

AutoGPT is an open-source project for building, deploying and running AI agents that automate multi-step workflows. It began as one of the first autonomous GPT agents and now includes a low-code platform you can self-host. The code is on GitHub, with the classic agent under MIT and the newer platform under its own license.

Why it's here

  • Free and self-hostable
  • Large, long-running community
  • Visual builder for agents

Watch out for

  • Self-hosting takes effort
  • Less reliable than commercial tools
  • Mixed licenses across the repo
Open sourceAutonomous
Microsoft Agent Framework logo
#11Free option

Microsoft Agent Framework

Microsoft's open-source agent SDK for .NET and Python, successor to AutoGen

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.

Why it's here

  • First-class .NET and Python support
  • Backed by Microsoft
  • Clear migration path from AutoGen

Watch out for

  • Younger than LangGraph or CrewAI
  • Best fit leans toward Azure
  • Docs still catching up
Open sourceTask agent
#12Free option

OpenAI Agents SDK

OpenAI's lightweight open-source SDK for building agents with tools and handoffs

The OpenAI Agents SDK is an open-source framework for building agents that use tools, hand off to other agents and apply guardrails, with tracing built in. It is small and Python-first, with a TypeScript version too. It is MIT licensed and works with OpenAI and other model providers.

Why it's here

  • Few concepts to learn
  • Built-in tracing and guardrails
  • MIT licensed

Watch out for

  • Fewer built-in integrations than LangChain
  • Best experience with OpenAI models
  • Less suited to complex graph workflows
Claude Agent SDK logo
#13Free option

Claude Agent SDK

Anthropic's SDK for building agents on the same harness that powers Claude Code

The Claude Agent SDK is an open-source SDK from Anthropic for building agents that use the same tools and agent loop as Claude Code, including file access, command execution, subagents and MCP. It is available for Python and TypeScript. The SDK is MIT licensed; you pay for Claude API usage.

Why it's here

  • Battle-tested agent loop from Claude Code
  • Built-in tools and MCP support
  • Python and TypeScript

Watch out for

  • Designed around Claude models
  • API costs for long sessions
  • Less suited to visual, no-code builders
Pydantic AI logo
#14Free option

Pydantic AI

Type-safe Python agent framework from the team behind Pydantic

Pydantic AI is an open-source Python framework for building agents with typed inputs, outputs and tools, made by the Pydantic team. It works with many model providers and pairs with Pydantic Logfire for observability. It is MIT licensed.

Why it's here

  • Typed, validated outputs
  • Model-agnostic
  • Feels like normal Python

Watch out for

  • Python only
  • Fewer prebuilt integrations
  • Multi-agent patterns are more manual
Mastra logo
#15Free option

Mastra

TypeScript framework for AI agents, workflows, memory and evals

Mastra is a TypeScript framework for building AI agents, workflows and AI-powered apps, with memory, tools and observability included. It suits JavaScript and TypeScript teams that want to stay in their own stack. The core is Apache-2.0 licensed, with some enterprise features under a separate license.

Why it's here

  • Native TypeScript
  • Workflows, memory and evals in one package
  • Local dev playground

Watch out for

  • Not for Python teams
  • Younger ecosystem
  • Enterprise features under a different license
Open sourceTask agent
LlamaIndex logo
#16Free option

LlamaIndex

Open-source framework for agents over your documents and data

LlamaIndex is an open-source framework for building agents and retrieval apps that work over your documents and data, with Workflows for multi-step agents. The company also sells LlamaParse, a document parsing and extraction service. The framework is MIT licensed; LlamaParse has a free credit tier and paid plans.

Why it's here

  • Strong document and retrieval tooling
  • Many data connectors
  • MIT licensed

Watch out for

  • Best parsing is a paid service
  • API surface changes often
  • Less focused on general agents
Google Agent Development Kit logo
#17Free option

Google Agent Development Kit

Google's open-source toolkit for building and deploying multi-agent systems

Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) is an open-source framework for building, testing and deploying AI agents and multi-agent systems. It is optimized for Gemini and Google Cloud but works with other models. It is Apache-2.0 licensed.

Why it's here

  • Built-in eval and dev UI
  • Easy deploy to Google Cloud
  • Apache-2.0 licensed

Watch out for

  • Best fit with Gemini and Google Cloud
  • Smaller community than LangGraph
  • Fast-moving APIs
Open sourceTask agent

More open source agents

Listed but not yet reviewed in depth.

GPT Pilot logoGPT PilotGPT Pilot aims to research how much LLMs can be utilized to generate fully working, production-ready apps w…BabyAGIBabyAGI is an AI-powered task management system that leverages OpenAI and vector databases to streamline ta…AIliceAIlice is a fully autonomous, general-purpose AI agent developed by MyShell.ai.Clippy logoClippyClippy, also known as Clippinator, is an AI-powered code development assistant that utilizes GPT-4 to enhan…OpenAgents logoOpenAgentsOpenAgents is an open platform designed for language agents, featuring a user-friendly interface that suppo…Mentant logoMentantMentat is an AI coding assistant that integrates seamlessly with your command line, providing developers wi…AgentOps logoAgentOpsAgentOps is an advanced developer platform designed specifically for testing and debugging AI agents.SellAgent logoSellAgentSellAgent introduces a community-driven platform centered around its Large Action Model (LAM).AgentForge logoAgentForgeAgentForge is a cutting-edge brand offering technology solutions and consultation services focused on the d…OpenBMB logoOpenBMBOpenBMB is a platform that focuses on delivering large-scale AI models to everyone.MyShellMyShell is an AI platform that empowers users to build, share, and own AI applications with ease.AutoRP logoAutoRPAutoRP is a GitHub-based tool that runs AI-powered workflows over codebases.Autonomous HR logoAutonomous HRAutonomous HR is an AI agent designed to manage human resources queries autonomously.Camel AI logoCamel AICamel AI is an open-source, multi-agent framework built around the exploration of AI scaling laws.ChatDev logoChatDevChatDev is an innovative open-source framework designed to facilitate multi-agent collaboration.Chemcrow logoChemcrowChemcrow stands out as an essential tool for researchers and professionals working with chemical data.Codefuse logoCodefuseCodefuse serves as an intelligent assistant throughout the software development lifecycle, built on a power…SourceGraph logoSourceGraphSourceGraph provides a comprehensive web app and documentation resource that supports the Sourcegraph ecosy…Chaindesk logoChaindeskChaindesk revolutionizes customer interaction by enabling businesses to train custom ChatGPT AI chatbots fo…Devon logoDevonDevon is positioned as an open-source pair programming tool, making it a valuable resource for developers s…KuaFuAi logoKuaFuAiKuaFuAi introduces a multi-agent system specifically designed for AI-driven software development.DotagentDotagent claims to be faster, cheaper, and smarter than any single large language model (LLM).Eidolon logoEidolonEidolon is a robust, open-source framework built to help developers quickly create and deploy generative AI…The English Compiler logoThe English CompilerThe English Compiler is a proof-of-concept AI-based compiler designed to convert English-based markdown spe…Agentcoin logoAgentcoinAgentcoin offers an exclusive club experience where users can "buy a key" to participate in a collaborative…DemoGPT logoDemoGPTGenerator for LangChain code and Streamlit apps powered by AI.Taxy AI logoTaxy AIGPT-4-driven browser automation for seamless task execution.UFO logoUFOAI framework for UI interaction on Windows OS.OpenAGI logoOpenAGIPlatform for creating and managing LLM-powered agents.Mini AGI logoMini AGICompact AI agent with advanced memory and reasoning abilities.MemGPT logoMemGPTCreate LLM agents with persistent memory and customizable capabilities.SuperAGI logoSuperAGIDeveloper-first framework for building autonomous AI agents.Adala logoAdalaFramework for autonomous data labeling in AI development.BambooAI logoBambooAIData analysis assistant driven by AI for natural language interactions.BeeBot logoBeeBotAutonomous task executor acting as a personal AI worker.AgentVerse logoAgentVerseMulti-agent LLM framework for task-solving and simulations.CodeFuse-ChatBot logoCodeFuse-ChatBotAI assistant for managing the software development lifecycle.Cody by ajhous44 logoCody by ajhous44Coding assistant with AI for efficient codebase navigation.GPT Discord logoGPT DiscordAdvanced GPT-powered Discord bot with AI features.GPT Runner logoGPT RunnerTool for AI-driven code discussions and preset management.GPT Migrate logoGPT MigrateAI-based code migration assistant.GeniA logoGeniAAI-powered engineering assistant for streamlined workflows.Lemon Agent logoLemon AgentWorkflow optimization with AI-powered task planning and execution.bumpgen logobumpgenAI-powered assistant for TypeScript dependency upgrades.LLM Agents logoLLM AgentsBuild and manage AI agents using large language models.WorkGPT logoWorkGPTFramework for AI agents to complete tasks using diverse APIs.GitHub Copilot X logoGitHub Copilot XAI coding assistant to enhance developer productivity.Instrukt logoInstruktTerminal-based AI environment for agent development and instruction.IX logoIXAutonomous GPT-4 agent platform for flexible workflows.Devika AI logoDevika AIDevika AI, developed by Stition.ai, is an advanced AI software engineer capable of understanding high-level…Micro Agent logoMicro AgentMicro Agent is an open-source tool developed by Builder.io to address the unreliability of AI-generated code.JARVIS logoJARVISMicrosoft Jarvis is an advanced AI platform developed by Microsoft in collaboration with Hugging Face.Multi-GPT logoMulti-GPTMulti-GPT is an open-source project that creates a collaborative environment for multiple AI agents, each w…Teenage-AGI logoTeenage-AGITeenage-AGI is a Python-based AI agent inspired by BabyAGI and the "Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacr…

Best Open Source AI Agents: FAQ

What is the best open-source AI agent?

+

It depends on the job: OpenHands and Cline for coding, OpenClaw as a personal assistant, Browser Use for browser automation, and n8n or Dify for business workflows.

Are open-source AI agents free?

+

The software is free, but you pay for the AI model you connect and for any hosting. With local models the model cost can be zero, though quality is usually lower.

Can open-source agents use local models?

+

Many can, including Cline, Aider, OpenHands and OpenClaw, which helps when data can't leave your machine.

Is n8n open source?

+

n8n's code is public on GitHub and you can self-host it, but it uses a fair-code license with limits on commercial reuse rather than a standard OSI open-source license.

What happened to AutoGen?

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Microsoft moved AutoGen into maintenance mode and recommends Microsoft Agent Framework, its open-source successor, for new projects.