LangGraph vs 
smolagents
LangGraph vs smolagents compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Stateful, controllable agent graphs vs Agents in a few lines of code.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
LangGraph vs smolagents at a glance
| Spec | LangGraph | smolagents |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI agent framework | AI agent framework |
| Type | Agent orchestration (graphs) | Minimal agent library |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Cloud-optional | Cloud-optional |
| Primary language | Python / JS | Python |
| Ease of use | Advanced | Beginner |
| Best for | developers needing controllable agent workflows | simple code-writing agents, fast |
| GitHub stars | 37.8k | 28.5k |
How LangGraph and smolagents score
| Criterion | LangGraph | smolagents |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| 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
LangGraph
LangGraph is a library for building stateful, controllable agents as graphs, giving you fine-grained control over loops, branching and persistence.
- Explicit, controllable agent state machines
- Persistence and human-in-the-loop built in
- Integrates with the LangChain ecosystem
smolagents
smolagents is Hugging Face's minimalist library for building agents that think in code, with first-class support for any LLM and Hugging Face tools.
- Tiny API, agents in a few lines
- Code-first agents that are easy to debug
- Backed by Hugging Face
Key differences
LangGraph is agent orchestration (graphs), while smolagents is minimal agent library. Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. LangGraph leans more advanced-friendly, whereas smolagents is more suited to beginner users. In short, LangGraph fits developers needing controllable agent workflows, and smolagents fits simple code-writing agents, fast.
Which should you choose?
Choose LangGraph for developers needing controllable agent workflows. Choose smolagents for simple code-writing agents, fast.
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 LangGraph or smolagents easier to use?
smolagents is generally the easier of the two to get started with, while LangGraph rewards more setup with more control.
Are LangGraph and smolagents free?
LangGraph is free and open source (MIT), and smolagents is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run LangGraph and smolagents locally?
LangGraph: cloud-optional · smolagents: cloud-optional. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
LangGraph vs smolagents — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose LangGraph for developers needing controllable agent workflows. Choose smolagents for simple code-writing agents, fast.
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