Hugging Face smolagents vs LlamaIndex
Hugging Face smolagents and LlamaIndex are both agent frameworks for Python. Hugging Face smolagents is published by Hugging Face and LlamaIndex by LlamaIndex. On GitHub, LlamaIndex has 52,641 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. Hugging Face smolagents describes itself as: Small Python library whose agents write their actions as code, with sandboxed execution and tools from MCP servers, LangChain or the Hub. LlamaIndex: Open-source Python toolkit for RAG and agents over your own data, with event-driven workflows and 300+ integration packages. Licenses: Hugging Face smolagents Apache-2.0, LlamaIndex MIT.
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade
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.
LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex
Open-source Python toolkit for RAG and agents over your own data, with event-driven workflows and 300+ integration packages.
Who should pick which
- Pick Hugging Face smolagents if you want MCP support built in.
- Pick Hugging Face smolagents if you want a stable release (LlamaIndex is marked beta).
From listing data only. We don't pick a winner on security beyond the grades; read how grades work.
Side by side
| Fact | Hugging Face smolagents | LlamaIndex |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Harness | Harness |
| Publisher | Hugging Face | LlamaIndex |
| License | Apache-2.0 | 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 | 30,029 | 52,641 |
| Weekly downloads | 138,942 | 1,391,530 |
| Last release | May 29, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Last activity | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
Facts from each listing's public sources, checked daily. Tool lists arrive with tool scans.
Install
Hugging Face smolagents
pip install smolagents
LlamaIndex
pip install llama-index
Also consider
- 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 - 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 Hugging Face smolagents or LlamaIndex more popular?
- LlamaIndex has more GitHub stars (52,641 against 30,029). Stars measure attention, not quality, so check freshness and docs too.
- Are Hugging Face smolagents and LlamaIndex open source?
- Yes: Hugging Face smolagents is Apache-2.0 and LlamaIndex is MIT.
Related
- AlternativesAlternatives to Hugging Face smolagents
- AlternativesAlternatives to LlamaIndex
- Best ofBest agent frameworks for Python
- ComparisonHugging Face smolagents vs LangChain
- ComparisonCrewAI vs Hugging Face smolagents
- ComparisonLlamaIndex vs Strands Agents
- ComparisonGitHub Copilot SDK vs LlamaIndex
- ComparisonDeep Agents vs LlamaIndex
Cite this page
Hugging Face smolagents vs LlamaIndex. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/compare/hugging-face-smolagents-vs-llamaindex (last updated 2026-10-26)