Microsoft Agent Framework vs AutoGen
Agent Framework is AutoGen's successor. Start new work there and plan the migration for existing code.
Workflow frameworkMaintenance mode
Read comparisonCrewAI vs AutoGen · Active framework vs maintenance mode
CrewAI vs AutoGen
Last reviewed: September 2026Role-based crewsMaintenance mode
Quick answer
AutoGen is in maintenance mode: it will not receive new features and is community managed, and Microsoft points new users to Microsoft Agent Framework. For a new Python project with role-based agents, CrewAI is the stronger choice today. If you like AutoGen's group-chat model or work in .NET, move to Microsoft Agent Framework instead.
Best for new role-based projectsOnly for existing AutoGen code
This comparison changed in 2026. AutoGen was one of the frameworks that made multi-agent conversation popular, and its repository still has about 60.4k GitHub stars. But the repo now says plainly: 'AutoGen is now in maintenance mode. It will not receive new features or enhancements and is community managed going forward.' New users are sent to Microsoft Agent Framework.
CrewAI, by contrast, is actively developed, with native A2A delegation, MCP support, Flows and a managed platform (CrewAI AMP). If you are choosing between the two for new work, the decision is mostly made for you. The more useful question is what to do with existing AutoGen code, which we cover on the Microsoft Agent Framework vs AutoGen page.
How do CrewAI and AutoGen compare on specs?
| Spec | CrewAI | AutoGen |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Actively developed | Maintenance mode; community managed; no new features |
| Coordination | Sequential or hierarchical crews; Flows | Two-agent chat and group chat teams (AgentChat); event-driven core |
| Languages | Python | Python (primary) and .NET |
| A2A | Yes, native | Not documented |
| MCP | Yes | Basic, through extensions |
| Human-in-the-loop | HITL checkpoints | Teams run continuously once started; no built-in pause for human input (per Microsoft's migration guide) |
| Checkpointing | Via Flows state | Not built in (per Microsoft's migration guide) |
| No-code option | Crew Studio (AMP) | AutoGen Studio |
| License | MIT | MIT (code), CC-BY-4.0 (docs) |
| GitHub stars (approx., Sep 2026) | ~59k | ~60.4k |
| Successor | n/a | Microsoft Agent Framework |
How do CrewAI and AutoGen coordinate agents?
CrewAI organises agents as a crew with a process. AutoGen organised them as a conversation: agents in a two-agent chat or a group chat take turns, with a high-level Team abstraction on an event-driven core. Microsoft's migration guide describes AutoGen's teams as control-flow based, with messages broadcast to all agents, and notes that a Team runs continuously once started without a built-in way to pause for human input.
Those limits are why Microsoft rebuilt the model in Agent Framework as typed, data-flow workflows with checkpointing and request-response human input. CrewAI solved similar problems its own way with hierarchical managers and Flows.
CrewAI
AutoGen
When should you choose CrewAI, and when AutoGen?
Choose CrewAI if
- You are starting a new Python project.
- Role-based agents with a manager fit the work.
- You want native A2A and an actively developed framework.
- You may want a managed platform later (CrewAI AMP).
Choose AutoGen if
- You maintain an existing AutoGen system and a migration is not yet scheduled.
- You need a stopgap while planning a move to Microsoft Agent Framework.
- For anything new, choose Microsoft Agent Framework rather than AutoGen.
Can you use CrewAI and AutoGen together?
If you already run AutoGen agents and are adding CrewAI crews, you do not have to pick one before they can cooperate. BAND lists CrewAI among its integrations and connects agents from different frameworks in shared rooms; an AutoGen agent would need to join through BAND's Python SDK or a protocol bridge, since AutoGen is not on BAND's list. For most teams the cleaner path is to migrate AutoGen code to Microsoft Agent Framework first.
How much do CrewAI and AutoGen cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| CrewAI | Free | MIT framework |
| CrewAI AMP Basic | Free | 50 workflow executions/mo |
| CrewAI Enterprise | Custom | SSO, RBAC, dedicated support |
| AutoGen | Free | MIT; community maintained |
Prices from vendor pages, September 2026
What else do people ask about CrewAI vs AutoGen?
Is AutoGen dead?
It is in maintenance mode, not deleted. It still works and is community managed, but it will not get new features. Microsoft recommends Microsoft Agent Framework for new projects.
What replaced AutoGen?
Microsoft Agent Framework, built by the AutoGen and Semantic Kernel teams. Microsoft publishes a migration guide from AutoGen.
Is CrewAI a good AutoGen alternative?
Yes for Python teams that like role-based agents. If you prefer AutoGen's group-chat style or need .NET, Microsoft Agent Framework's Group Chat and Magentic orchestrations are closer.
Does AutoGen support MCP?
Microsoft's migration guide says AutoGen has basic MCP support through extensions; Agent Framework has broader MCP coverage.
Where do these facts come from?
Reviewed Sep 2026
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