LlamaIndex vs Semantic Kernel
LlamaIndex and Semantic Kernel are both agent frameworks for Python. LlamaIndex is published by LlamaIndex and Semantic Kernel by Microsoft. On GitHub, LlamaIndex has 52,641 stars and Semantic Kernel has 28,694. Both were last active in Oct 2026. The table lines up where they differ (publisher, weekly downloads, category and languages) and has the install commands for both. Everything here comes from the listings' public sources and is refreshed daily. LlamaIndex describes itself as: Open-source Python toolkit for RAG and agents over your own data, with event-driven workflows and 300+ integration packages. Semantic Kernel: Model-agnostic SDK for building agents and multi-agent systems in Python, .NET and Java; Microsoft names Agent Framework as its successor. Licenses: LlamaIndex MIT, Semantic Kernel MIT.
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade
LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex
Open-source Python toolkit for RAG and agents over your own data, with event-driven workflows and 300+ integration packages.
Semantic Kernel
Microsoft
Model-agnostic SDK for building agents and multi-agent systems in Python, .NET and Java; Microsoft names Agent Framework as its successor.
Who should pick which
- Pick Semantic Kernel if you work in C# and Java.
- Pick Semantic Kernel if you want MCP support built in.
- Pick Semantic Kernel if you need several agents working together.
- Pick Semantic Kernel 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 | LlamaIndex | Semantic Kernel |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Harness | Harness |
| Publisher | LlamaIndex | Microsoft |
| 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 | 52,641 | 28,694 |
| Weekly downloads | 1,391,530 | 77,490 |
| Last release | Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Last activity | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
Facts from each listing's public sources, checked daily. Tool lists arrive with tool scans.
Install
LlamaIndex
pip install llama-index
Semantic Kernel
pip install semantic-kernel
Also consider
- 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 - 0.799score
Genkit
Google
Open-source Firebase framework for AI features and agent workflows in JavaScript, Go, Python and Dart, with model plugins.
HarnessAFreshness: A★ 6.5K↓ 95.8K/wk
Questions
- Is LlamaIndex or Semantic Kernel more popular?
- LlamaIndex has more GitHub stars (52,641 against 28,694). Stars measure attention, not quality, so check freshness and docs too.
- Are LlamaIndex and Semantic Kernel open source?
- Yes: LlamaIndex is MIT and Semantic Kernel is MIT.
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Cite this page
LlamaIndex vs Semantic Kernel. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/compare/llamaindex-vs-semantic-kernel (last updated 2026-10-26)