AutoGen vs 
Letta
AutoGen vs Letta compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Microsoft's conversational agent framework vs Stateful agents with long-term memory.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
AutoGen vs Letta at a glance
| Spec | AutoGen | Letta |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI agent framework | AI agent framework |
| Type | Multi-agent framework | Agent runtime (memory) |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Cloud-optional | Self-hosted |
| Primary language | Python | Python |
| Ease of use | Advanced | Advanced |
| Best for | researchers building conversational agent systems | agents that remember across sessions |
| GitHub stars | 59.9k | 23.9k |
How AutoGen and Letta score
| Criterion | AutoGen | Letta |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Maintenance | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
AutoGen
AutoGen — the official full name, short for “Automated Generation” — is Microsoft’s open-source framework for building multi-agent AI systems where agents converse to solve tasks, with strong support for code execution and tool use.
- Flexible multi-agent conversation patterns
- Strong code-execution and tool-use support
- Backed by Microsoft Research
Letta
Letta (formerly MemGPT) is a framework and server for building stateful agents with long-term memory that persists across sessions, with a visual agent editor.
- Persistent long-term agent memory
- Server with REST API and visual editor
- Model-agnostic and self-hostable
Key differences
AutoGen is multi-agent framework, while Letta is agent runtime (memory). Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. They also differ in how they run (Cloud-optional vs Self-hosted). In short, AutoGen fits researchers building conversational agent systems, and Letta fits agents that remember across sessions.
Which should you choose?
Choose AutoGen for researchers building conversational agent systems. Choose Letta for agents that remember across sessions.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is AutoGen or Letta easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Advanced). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are AutoGen and Letta free?
AutoGen is free and open source (MIT), and Letta is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run AutoGen and Letta locally?
AutoGen: cloud-optional · Letta: self-hosted. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
AutoGen vs Letta — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose AutoGen for researchers building conversational agent systems. Choose Letta for agents that remember across sessions.
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