CrewAI provides high-level abstractions based on real-world roles. You define a Role, Goal, and Backstory. It is fantastic for rapid prototyping and simulations.
LangGraph models agents as state machines using directed graphs. State flows through nodes (agents/functions) connected by edges (conditional logic). It is harder to learn but the gold standard for production because it allows deterministic control flows and easy persistence (saving/resuming state).
AutoGen (v0.4+, event-driven rewrite) uses a conversational group-chat paradigm. Following the v0.4 rewrite in late 2025, it adopted an event-driven architecture with improved modularity. Update (April 2026): Microsoft Agent Framework v1.0 is now GA, unifying AutoGen and Semantic Kernel into a single production SDK with graph workflows, MCP/A2A support, M365 integration, and Entra ID security. Evaluate AutoGen standalone carefully — Microsoft's investment has shifted to the unified framework.
| Framework | Mental Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| LangGraph | State Machine (Graphs) | Production-grade, stateful, fault-tolerant workflows |
| CrewAI | Team Coordination (Roles) | Rapid prototyping, business process automation |
| AutoGen | Conversational (Group Chat) | Exploratory research, multi-agent debates |
Stand up a full multi-agent CrewAI project from the CLI: install the tool, scaffold a crew, then run it.