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Microsoft Agent Framework
Summary
Microsoft's unified framework merges Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a single enterprise agent-building platform.
Microsoft Agent Framework consolidates two separate AI orchestration libraries into one system for building multi-agent workflows that coordinate, call tools, and integrate with enterprise services. The problem: organizations already using Semantic Kernel or AutoGen face fragmented APIs and maintenance uncertainty as both libraries enter long-term support mode. The consolidation offers dual-language support (Python and C#) with consistent interfaces, built-in OpenTelemetry tracing, and seamless Azure/Microsoft 365 hooks—advantages for teams locked into the Microsoft stack. The catch: it launched in October 2025 as public preview, meaning APIs and behaviors will shift before a stable release.
Bottom line: *Use this if you're building agents in Azure and need enterprise governance; skip it if you need production stability or multi-cloud flexibility.*
Pricing Plans
FreeFramework (Free)
Open-source SDK for local development and deployment
- Full Python and .NET support
- Graph-based workflows
- OpenTelemetry integration
- All core features
Azure AI Foundry Hosted (Paid)
Managed runtime for production deployment on Azure
- Hosted agent service
- Observability and governance
- Multi-agent orchestration
- Foundry Agent Service
View full pricing on microsoft.com →
Pricing may have changed since last verified. Check the official site for current plans.
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Pros
Sign in to edit- Unifies the enterprise-ready foundations of Semantic Kernel with the innovative orchestration of AutoGen
- Full framework support for both Python and C#/.NET implementations with consistent APIs and built-in OpenTelemetry integration for distributed tracing, monitoring, and debugging
- Open standards & interoperability — MCP, A2A, and OpenAPI ensure agents are portable and vendor-neutral
- Supports integration with any API via OpenAPI, collaboration across runtimes with Agent2Agent (A2A), and dynamic tool connections using MCP
- Enterprise readiness — built-in observability, approvals, security, and long-running durability
Cons
Sign in to edit- Public preview released October 1, 2025, with AutoGen and Semantic Kernel entering maintenance mode
- Requires understanding of agentic AI concepts and orchestration patterns
- Dependent on external model providers for LLM capabilities
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About
- Platforms
- Python and .NET with consistent APIs. Available for both .NET and Python
- Languages
- PythonC# (.NET)
- API Available
- Yes
- Self-Hosted
- Yes
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-23T13:16:10.839Z
Best For
Who it's for
- Teams building production multi-agent systems with enterprise governance requirements
- Organizations already invested in Microsoft ecosystems, offering seamless Azure and Microsoft 365 integration with built-in compliance and observability
- Developers migrating from Semantic Kernel or AutoGen
- Organizations wanting to move beyond simple assistants into orchestrated agent-based systems that can call tools, work across multiple models, and participate in longer-running workflows
- Projects requiring interoperability across multiple agent frameworks and LLM providers
What it does well
- Retrieval agent for research, a coding agent embedded in a dev workflow, or a compliance agent ensuring policy enforcement
- Customer support, education, code generation, research assistance
- Sequential Agent orchestration, Concurrent orchestration, Group chat orchestration, Handoff Orchestration
- Multi-step business process automation with compliance tracking
- Enterprise data access and integration through connectors
Integrations
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Microsoft Agent Framework free?
- Yes — Microsoft Agent Framework is fully free to use. There is no paid tier.
- Is Microsoft Agent Framework open source?
- No — Microsoft Agent Framework is a closed-source tool. Source code is not publicly available.
- Does Microsoft Agent Framework have an API?
- Yes. Microsoft Agent Framework exposes a developer API. See the official documentation at https://microsoft.com for details.
- Can I self-host Microsoft Agent Framework?
- Yes. Microsoft Agent Framework supports self-hosting on your own infrastructure.
- When was Microsoft Agent Framework released?
- Microsoft Agent Framework was first released in 2025.
- What platforms does Microsoft Agent Framework support?
- Microsoft Agent Framework is available on: Python and .NET with consistent APIs. Available for both .NET and Python.
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