Claude Agent SDK (Python) vs LangGraph
LangGraph is the larger project, with 43,823 GitHub stars and 13,114,431 weekly downloads against 8,342 and 7,924,764 for Claude Agent SDK (Python). It is a low-level orchestration framework for long-running stateful agents, with durable execution and human review points. Pick it for several agents working together, or for a stable release.
Pick Claude Agent SDK (Python) for built-in MCP support and a loop that runs inside your own program. It is marked beta. Both are MIT licensed and last active in Oct 2026.
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.
LangGraph
LangChain
Low-level Python orchestration framework for long-running stateful agents, with durable execution, human review points and short- and long-term memory.
Who should pick which
- Pick Claude Agent SDK (Python) if you want MCP support built in.
- Pick LangGraph if you need several agents working together.
- Pick LangGraph if you want a stable release (Claude Agent SDK (Python) is marked beta).
- LangGraph has the larger community: 43,823 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) | LangGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Harness | Harness |
| Publisher | Anthropic | LangChain |
| 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 | 43,823 |
| Weekly downloads | 7,924,764 | 13,114,431 |
| 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
LangGraph
pip install langgraph
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 - 0.732score
CrewAI
CrewAI
Open-source Python framework for multi-agent workflows, with role-based Crews and event-driven Flows.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 60.1K↓ 644.6K/wk
Questions
- Is Claude Agent SDK (Python) or LangGraph more popular?
- LangGraph has more GitHub stars (43,823 against 8,342). Stars measure attention, not quality, so check freshness and docs too.
- Are Claude Agent SDK (Python) and LangGraph open source?
- Yes: Claude Agent SDK (Python) is MIT and LangGraph is MIT.
Related
- AlternativesAlternatives to Claude Agent SDK (Python)
- AlternativesAlternatives to LangGraph
- 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 CrewAI
- ComparisonClaude Agent SDK (Python) vs LlamaIndex
- ComparisonGoogle Agent Development Kit (ADK) vs LangGraph
- ComparisonAgno vs LangGraph
Cite this page
Claude Agent SDK (Python) vs LangGraph. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/compare/claude-agent-sdk-python-vs-langgraph (last updated 2026-10-26)