Pick AutoGen if
engineers prototyping multi-agent apps who want a canvas before they commit to YAML.
Read the AutoGen pageAutoGen vs LangChain
Our take
Pick AutoGen if engineers prototyping multi-agent apps who want a canvas before they commit to YAML. Pick LangChain if engineers building agents in Python or JS who will read traces when something breaks. Skip AutoGen if people who want a hosted research composer (Elicit) or a visual LLM app studio with a Cloud SKU (Dify). Skip LangChain if no-code ops teams (Zapier / Make) or people who only want a visual canvas
Best for
AutoGen Compose a team of agents and run them
LangChain Engineers building agents in Python or JS who will read traces when something breaks
Free plan
AutoGen $0 · mIT code. You bring an LLM API key or a local model
LangChain $0 · langChain / LangGraph: no license fee. You pay model providers
Lowest paid
AutoGen Not published by the vendor
LangChain LangSmith Plus $39/mo
Coding agent
AutoGen Agents / models / tools / terminations
LangChain OSS libraries
Runs where
AutoGen Hosted
LangChain Hosted
Watch out
AutoGen Studio is not “free AI.”
LangChain OSS is not a studio
Last checked
AutoGen 2026-10-19 · microsoft.github.io/autogen/stable/user-guide
LangChain 2026-10-19 · langchain.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick LangChain if
engineers building agents in Python or JS who will read traces when something breaks.
Read the LangChain page