Multi-agent frameworks let you wire multiple LLM-powered agents into pipelines, graphs, or crews — each with its own role, memory, and tools. They are the backbone of production agentic systems.
Frequently asked questions about Multi-Agent Frameworks
What is a multi-agent framework?+
A multi-agent framework provides primitives for defining, composing, and running multiple LLM-powered agents that collaborate to solve complex tasks. Examples include LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, and Smolagents.
What is the best multi-agent framework in 2025?+
LangGraph leads production deployments (18k+ stars, used by Replit and LinkedIn). CrewAI is the fastest path to a working crew of agents. AutoGen is best for research and human-in-the-loop scenarios.
LangGraph vs CrewAI — which should I use?+
LangGraph offers fine-grained control via a state machine graph — ideal for production workflows with complex branching. CrewAI is higher-level and faster to prototype with, but less flexible for edge cases.
Can I use multi-agent frameworks without LangChain?+
Yes. AutoGen, Smolagents, and OpenAI Agents SDK are framework-agnostic. LangGraph can also run standalone without the rest of the LangChain ecosystem.