Claude Agent SDK (Python) vs CrewAI
Claude Agent SDK (Python) and CrewAI are both agent frameworks for Python. Claude Agent SDK (Python) is published by Anthropic and CrewAI by CrewAI. On GitHub, CrewAI has 60,066 stars and Claude Agent SDK (Python) has 8,342. Both were last active in Oct 2026. The table lines up where they differ (publisher, GitHub stars, weekly downloads and category) and has the install commands for both. Everything here comes from the listings' public sources and is refreshed daily. Claude Agent SDK (Python) describes itself as: Python SDK that runs the Claude Code agent loop inside your own program, with custom tools and hooks written as Python functions. CrewAI: Open-source Python framework for multi-agent workflows, with role-based Crews and event-driven Flows. Licenses: Claude Agent SDK (Python) MIT, CrewAI MIT.
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade
Claude Agent SDK (Python)
Anthropic
Python SDK that runs the Claude Code agent loop inside your own program, with custom tools and hooks written as Python functions.
CrewAI
CrewAI
Open-source Python framework for multi-agent workflows, with role-based Crews and event-driven Flows.
Who should pick which
- Pick Claude Agent SDK (Python) if you want MCP support built in.
- Pick CrewAI if you need several agents working together.
- Pick CrewAI if you want a stable release (Claude Agent SDK (Python) is marked beta).
- CrewAI has the larger community: 60,066 GitHub stars against 8,342.
From listing data only. We don't pick a winner on security beyond the grades; read how grades work.
Side by side
| Fact | Claude Agent SDK (Python) | CrewAI |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Harness | Harness |
| Publisher | Anthropic | CrewAI |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| 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 | 8,342 | 60,066 |
| Weekly downloads | 7,924,764 | 644,597 |
| Last release | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Last activity | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 |
Facts from each listing's public sources, checked daily. Tool lists arrive with tool scans.
Install
Claude Agent SDK (Python)
pip install claude-agent-sdk
CrewAI
pip install crewai
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 - 0.753score
LangChain
LangChain
Python framework of interoperable components and integrations for building agents and LLM apps, with LangGraph and Deep Agents layered above it.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 148.4K↓ 37.3M/wk - 0.748score
LangGraph
LangChain
Low-level Python orchestration framework for long-running stateful agents, with durable execution, human review points and short- and long-term memory.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 43.8K↓ 13.1M/wk
Questions
- Is Claude Agent SDK (Python) or CrewAI more popular?
- CrewAI has more GitHub stars (60,066 against 8,342). Stars measure attention, not quality, so check freshness and docs too.
- Are Claude Agent SDK (Python) and CrewAI open source?
- Yes: Claude Agent SDK (Python) is MIT and CrewAI is MIT.
Related
- AlternativesAlternatives to Claude Agent SDK (Python)
- AlternativesAlternatives to CrewAI
- Best ofBest agent frameworks for Python
- Best ofBest agent frameworks for building AI agents
- ComparisonClaude Agent SDK (Python) vs LangChain
- ComparisonClaude Agent SDK (Python) vs LlamaIndex
- ComparisonCrewAI vs Strands Agents
- ComparisonCrewAI vs GitHub Copilot SDK
- ComparisonCrewAI vs Genkit
Cite this page
Claude Agent SDK (Python) vs CrewAI. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/compare/claude-agent-sdk-python-vs-crewai (last updated 2026-10-26)