BAND vs Google ADK (Agent Development Kit)
ADK speaks A2A natively. BAND gives A2A agents, and people, a shared room to work in.
Collaboration layerMulti-language framework
Read comparisonLangGraph vs Google ADK · Graph control vs multi-language kit
LangGraph vs Google ADK
Last reviewed: September 2026Graph frameworkMulti-language framework
Quick answer
Choose LangGraph when you want fine-grained, stateful control in Python or TypeScript and LangSmith for tracing and deployment. Choose Google ADK when you need Go, Java or Kotlin, want first-class A2A, or deploy on Google Cloud. If agents from both need to collaborate, BAND connects them in shared rooms.
Best for graph-level controlBest for language coverage and A2A
LangGraph and ADK now look more alike than they did a year ago. ADK 2.0 added graph-based workflows next to its Sequential, Parallel and Loop agents, and LangGraph has always been graph-first. Both document A2A and MCP. The differences are languages, hosting gravity and how much structure each gives you out of the box.
ADK supports Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, Java and Kotlin. LangGraph supports Python and JavaScript/TypeScript. ADK's best experience is on Google Cloud's Agent Runtime; LangGraph's managed path is LangSmith Deployment. Both frameworks are free: LangGraph under MIT, ADK under Apache 2.0.
How do LangGraph and Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) compare on specs?
| Spec | LangGraph | Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) |
|---|---|---|
| Design | State graph you define | Workflow agents (Sequential, Parallel, Loop) + graph workflows (2.0) |
| Languages | Python, JS/TS | Python, TS/JS, Go, Java, Kotlin |
| A2A | Yes, via LangSmith Agent Server (v1.0) | Yes, first-class; quickstarts in four languages |
| MCP | Yes (agents as MCP tools) | Yes (tools) |
| Human-in-the-loop | Interrupts | Action confirmations, human input |
| Managed hosting | LangSmith Deployment (Serverless/Dedicated) | Agent Runtime on Google Cloud; Cloud Run; GKE |
| Model choice | Model-agnostic | Model-agnostic, tight Gemini integration |
| License | MIT | Apache 2.0 |
| GitHub stars (approx., Sep 2026) | ~38k | ~21k (adk-python) |
| Watch for | Self-hosting the platform needs Enterprise | 2.0 breaking changes from 1.x |
How do LangGraph and Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) coordinate agents?
LangGraph gives you primitives and asks you to compose the multi-agent pattern: supervisor, handoffs or router. ADK gives you pre-built workflow agents for the common shapes and a Task API for delegation, then graphs for the rest. If your team likes to start from a working pattern, ADK is quicker; if it likes to own every edge, LangGraph fits.
Across boundaries both rely on A2A. LangSmith exposes deployed LangGraph agents at an A2A endpoint; ADK can expose and consume A2A agents directly. That means a LangGraph agent and an ADK agent can call each other today.
LangGraph
Google ADK
When should you choose LangGraph, and when Google ADK (Agent Development Kit)?
Choose LangGraph if
- You want maximum control over state and control flow.
- Python or TypeScript covers your team.
- You value LangSmith tracing and its A2A and MCP endpoints on deploy.
- You do not want to be tied to one cloud.
Choose Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) if
- You need Go, Java or Kotlin.
- You deploy on Google Cloud or use Gemini heavily.
- You want ready-made Sequential, Parallel and Loop agents.
- A2A is central to how your agents will be consumed.
Can you use LangGraph and Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) together?
Direct A2A calls work for a request and a response. When the LangGraph agents and ADK agents need to work on the same task over time, with shared context and a person who can intervene, BAND lets them collaborate. Both frameworks are on BAND's integrations list.
How much do LangGraph and Google ADK (Agent Development Kit) cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| LangGraph | Free | MIT |
| LangSmith Plus | $39/seat/mo | 10k base traces/mo, 1 free Serverless deployment |
| LangSmith Enterprise | Custom | Self-hosted or hybrid |
| Google ADK | Free | Apache 2.0 |
| Google Cloud runtime and models | Usage-based | Billed by Google Cloud |
Prices from vendor pages, September 2026
What else do people ask about LangGraph vs Google ADK (Agent Development Kit)?
Is Google ADK better than LangGraph?
ADK is better for language coverage and Google Cloud; LangGraph is better for fine-grained control and its LangSmith tooling. Both are production-grade.
Can LangGraph agents talk to ADK agents?
Yes, over A2A. LangSmith Agent Server exposes A2A endpoints and ADK can consume remote A2A agents.
Does ADK require Google Cloud?
No. ADK runs in any container, though its managed Agent Runtime is on Google Cloud.
Did ADK 2.0 break things?
ADK 2.0 has breaking changes from 1.x, so plan migration time for existing code.
Where do these facts come from?
Reviewed Sep 2026
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