Microsoft Agent Framework vs CrewAI
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Microsoft framework for building and running AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET.
Open source · MIT
Python framework for building teams of role-playing AI agents that work together on tasks.
The short answer
Choose Microsoft Agent Framework if you need…
- Developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production
- Teams that need orchestration beyond a single prompt or stateless chat loop
- Python or C#/.NET developers who want one framework across both languages
- Teams that want to switch model providers without rewriting their architecture
Choose CrewAI if you need…
- Python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows
- Teams that want role-based agents collaborating on a task
- Developers who want both autonomous agent teams and tighter step-by-step control via Flows
- Builders who want low-level control over prompts and execution logic
Side-by-side
| Microsoft Agent Framework | CrewAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.5k | 60.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Python | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Microsoft Agent Framework
Microsoft Agent Framework is a set of code libraries for building AI agents, which are programs that use language models to carry out tasks, and for connecting several agents into workflows. It supports Python and .NET with similar APIs, and includes features such as orchestration patterns, middleware, OpenTelemetry tracing, and a developer UI. Developers use it to move agent prototypes toward production with an approach that is not tied to a single model provider.
CrewAI
CrewAI is an open-source Python framework for orchestrating multiple AI agents. You give each agent a role and goal, and they collaborate through what the project calls Crews, while Flows provide event-driven, more precisely controlled workflows. It is aimed at developers building multi-step automations with LLMs.
Best for
Microsoft Agent Framework
- Developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production
- Teams that need orchestration beyond a single prompt or stateless chat loop
- Python or C#/.NET developers who want one framework across both languages
- Teams that want to switch model providers without rewriting their architecture
- Developers who use Microsoft Foundry or Azure OpenAI
CrewAI
- Python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows
- Teams that want role-based agents collaborating on a task
- Developers who want both autonomous agent teams and tighter step-by-step control via Flows
- Builders who want low-level control over prompts and execution logic
Strengths
Microsoft Agent Framework
- Supports both Python and .NET with documented samples for each
- Includes built-in OpenTelemetry observability and middleware for custom request handling
- Offers graph-based orchestration patterns and provider flexibility in one framework
CrewAI
- Open source under the MIT license with an active repository
- Offers both autonomous Crews and deterministic event-driven Flows
- Includes documentation, courses, and an official skills package for coding agents
Not ideal for
Microsoft Agent Framework
- People who only want a simple chatbot or a single prompt call; the framework is built for multi-step orchestration and may be more than needed
- Non-developers, since setup requires writing code and configuring cloud credentials
- Teams that need Go support from this repo; the README says Go lives in a separate repository, microsoft/agent-framework-go
CrewAI
- Non-programmers, since the project is a Python framework and requires writing code
- Projects needing a fully managed hosted product without setup; the README's commercial AMP Suite is a separate paid offering
- Simple single-prompt tasks that do not need multiple agents or workflow control
Trade-offs
Microsoft Agent Framework
- The README is truncated and several features, such as time-travel and the Labs packages, are described only briefly, so details need checking in the docs
- Quickstarts assume Azure and Microsoft Foundry access, which may be a barrier outside that ecosystem
- Some components are marked experimental (AF Labs), so stability varies by package
CrewAI
- The README's performance and 'production-ready' claims are promotional and not backed by benchmarks in the excerpt
- Core concepts (Crews, Flows, Agents) add a learning curve for newcomers
- Some advanced features and a control plane are part of a commercial suite
Getting started
Microsoft Agent Framework
Install the Python package
pip install agent-frameworkAdd the .NET core package
dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AICrewAI
Install CrewAI (from PyPI, per the project's PyPI badge)
pip install crewaiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Microsoft Agent Framework and CrewAI?
Microsoft Agent Framework: A Microsoft framework for building and running AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET. CrewAI: Python framework for building teams of role-playing AI agents that work together on tasks. Microsoft Agent Framework suits developers building agents or multi-agent workflows they plan to run in production, while CrewAI suits python developers prototyping multi-agent workflows.
Are Microsoft Agent Framework and CrewAI free?
Microsoft Agent Framework: Free and open source. CrewAI: Free and open source.
Is Microsoft Agent Framework or CrewAI more popular?
CrewAI has more GitHub stars (60.4k) than Microsoft Agent Framework (14.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Microsoft Agent Framework and CrewAI?
Other options people compare them with include LangGraph, Semantic Kernel, PageIndex, PocketFlow, OpenAI Agents SDK.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.