Microsoft Agent Framework
Semantic Kernel + AutoGen, unified — the enterprise agent stack.
80
sovereigntyMicrosoft's Agent Framework 1.0 (April 2026) merged Semantic Kernel's enterprise foundations with AutoGen's multi-agent orchestration into one MIT-licensed SDK for .NET and Python — session state, type safety, middleware, telemetry, and graph-based workflows out of the box. It's the natural LangChain alternative for enterprise teams (especially .NET shops and Azure environments) that want long-term-supported APIs and a vendor standing behind the framework.
OPEN SOURCEMITSELF-HOST
LicenseMIT
PricingFree (MIT); integrates naturally (but not exclusively) with Azure services
Open sourceYes
Self-hostableYes
Local-first dataNo
What it does well
- +Enterprise plumbing included: sessions, telemetry, middleware
- +First-class .NET as well as Python
- +Stable 1.0 APIs with Microsoft LTS backing
Where it falls short
- −Microsoft-governed direction; strong Azure gravity
- −Heavier than needed for small apps
Microsoft Agent Framework as an alternative to
Where Microsoft Agent Framework shows up in our comparisons, and how it ranked.
Microsoft Agent Framework head-to-head
Straight comparisons against the tools people weigh it against.