AutoGen vs Hugging Face smolagents
AutoGen and Hugging Face smolagents are both agent frameworks for Python. AutoGen is published by Microsoft and Hugging Face smolagents by Hugging Face. On GitHub, AutoGen has 61,549 stars and Hugging Face smolagents has 30,029. Both were last active in Oct 2026. The table lines up where they differ (publisher, license and weekly downloads) and has the install commands for both. Everything here comes from the listings' public sources and is refreshed daily. AutoGen describes itself as: Archived Microsoft Python framework for multi-agent apps; Microsoft directs new users to Microsoft Agent Framework. Hugging Face smolagents: Small Python library whose agents write their actions as code, with sandboxed execution and tools from MCP servers, LangChain or the Hub. Licenses: AutoGen CC-BY-4.0, Hugging Face smolagents Apache-2.0.
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade
AutoGen
Microsoft
Archived Microsoft Python framework for multi-agent apps; Microsoft directs new users to Microsoft Agent Framework.
Hugging Face smolagents
Hugging Face
Small Python library whose agents write their actions as code, with sandboxed execution and tools from MCP servers, LangChain or the Hub.
Who should pick which
- Pick AutoGen if you need several agents working together.
- Pick Hugging Face smolagents if you want MCP support built in.
- Pick Hugging Face smolagents if you want a stable release (AutoGen is marked experimental).
- AutoGen has the larger community: 61,549 GitHub stars against 30,029.
From listing data only. We don't pick a winner on security beyond the grades; read how grades work.
Side by side
| Fact | AutoGen | Hugging Face smolagents |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Harness | Harness |
| Publisher | Microsoft | Hugging Face |
| License | CC-BY-4.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing | Not stated | Not stated |
| Runs | Not stated | Not stated |
| Auth | Not stated | Not stated |
| Hosts supported | Not stated | Not stated |
| Tools | Not listed yet | Not listed yet |
| Security grade | –Security: not graded yet | –Security: not graded yet |
| Freshness grade | AFreshness: A | AFreshness: A |
| GitHub stars | 61,549 | 30,029 |
| Weekly downloads | 88,975 | 138,942 |
| Last release | Sep 30, 2025 | May 29, 2026 |
| Last activity | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Facts from each listing's public sources, checked daily. Tool lists arrive with tool scans.
Install
AutoGen
pip install autogen-agentchat
Hugging Face smolagents
pip install smolagents
Also consider
- 0.853score
LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex
Open-source Python toolkit for RAG and agents over your own data, with event-driven workflows and 300+ integration packages.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 52.6K↓ 1.4M/wk - 0.851score
Strands Agents
AWS
Open-source Python and TypeScript SDK for model-driven agents, with tools, MCP, multi-agent patterns and streaming.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 8.9K↓ 8.9M/wk - 0.841score
GitHub Copilot SDK
GitHub
Multi-language SDKs for embedding the GitHub Copilot agent runtime, with planning, tool calls and file edits, in your apps.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 10.6K↓ 1.2M/wk
Questions
- Is AutoGen or Hugging Face smolagents more popular?
- AutoGen has more GitHub stars (61,549 against 30,029). Stars measure attention, not quality, so check freshness and docs too.
- Are AutoGen and Hugging Face smolagents open source?
- Yes: AutoGen is CC-BY-4.0 and Hugging Face smolagents is Apache-2.0.
Related
Cite this page
AutoGen vs Hugging Face smolagents. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/compare/autogen-vs-hugging-face-smolagents (last updated 2026-10-26)