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← Back to Microsoft Agent Framework Overview

Microsoft Agent Framework Pricing & Plans 2026

Complete pricing guide for Microsoft Agent Framework. Compare all plans, analyze costs, and find the perfect tier for your needs.

Try Microsoft Agent Framework Free →Compare Plans ↓

Not sure if free is enough? See our Free vs Paid comparison →
Still deciding? Read our full verdict on whether Microsoft Agent Framework is worth it →

🆓Free Tier Available
💎1 Paid Plans
⚡No Setup Fees

Choose Your Plan

Open Source

Free

one-time

  • ✓Full framework access (MIT license)
  • ✓Python and C#/.NET SDKs
  • ✓Multi-agent orchestration
  • ✓Community support via GitHub
Start Free →

Azure AI Foundry (managed hosting)

Custom

usage-based

  • ✓Managed agent deployment on Azure
  • ✓Azure OpenAI model access
  • ✓Enterprise security and compliance
  • ✓Azure standard compute and model pricing applies
Start Free Trial →

Pricing sourced from Microsoft Agent Framework · Last verified March 2026

Feature Comparison

FeaturesOpen SourceAzure AI Foundry (managed hosting)
Full framework access (MIT license)✓✓
Python and C#/.NET SDKs✓✓
Multi-agent orchestration✓✓
Community support via GitHub✓✓
Managed agent deployment on Azure—✓
Azure OpenAI model access—✓
Enterprise security and compliance—✓
Azure standard compute and model pricing applies—✓

Is Microsoft Agent Framework Worth It?

✅ Why Choose Microsoft Agent Framework

  • • Only major agent framework with genuine first-class .NET support — if your team writes C#, this is essentially your only serious option
  • • Combines AutoGen's proven multi-agent research patterns with Semantic Kernel's production-grade enterprise features
  • • Free and open-source (MIT) with no licensing traps — only pay for the models and compute you use
  • • Checkpointing and time-travel debugging are genuinely useful features that most competing frameworks lack
  • • MCP and A2A protocol support future-proofs agent interoperability as these standards mature
  • • Backed by Microsoft with dedicated teams, extensive documentation, and Azure integration for managed hosting

⚠️ Consider This

  • • Still in public preview (GA targeted Q1 2026) — APIs may change, and production deployment carries preview-stage risk
  • • Microsoft's framework churn track record creates trust issues: developers burned by AutoGen → Semantic Kernel → Agent Framework migrations are understandably skeptical
  • • Documentation is improving but still reflects the merger — some pages reference AutoGen or Semantic Kernel concepts that have been reorganized
  • • The learning curve is steep for teams new to multi-agent patterns: understanding when to use agent vs. workflow orchestration takes experimentation
  • • Community ecosystem is smaller than LangChain's — fewer pre-built tools, integrations, and tutorials available

What Users Say About Microsoft Agent Framework

👍 What Users Love

  • ✓Only major agent framework with genuine first-class .NET support — if your team writes C#, this is essentially your only serious option
  • ✓Combines AutoGen's proven multi-agent research patterns with Semantic Kernel's production-grade enterprise features
  • ✓Free and open-source (MIT) with no licensing traps — only pay for the models and compute you use
  • ✓Checkpointing and time-travel debugging are genuinely useful features that most competing frameworks lack
  • ✓MCP and A2A protocol support future-proofs agent interoperability as these standards mature
  • ✓Backed by Microsoft with dedicated teams, extensive documentation, and Azure integration for managed hosting

👎 Common Concerns

  • ⚠Still in public preview (GA targeted Q1 2026) — APIs may change, and production deployment carries preview-stage risk
  • ⚠Microsoft's framework churn track record creates trust issues: developers burned by AutoGen → Semantic Kernel → Agent Framework migrations are understandably skeptical
  • ⚠Documentation is improving but still reflects the merger — some pages reference AutoGen or Semantic Kernel concepts that have been reorganized
  • ⚠The learning curve is steep for teams new to multi-agent patterns: understanding when to use agent vs. workflow orchestration takes experimentation
  • ⚠Community ecosystem is smaller than LangChain's — fewer pre-built tools, integrations, and tutorials available
  • ⚠Python SDK may lag .NET in certain edge cases, given Microsoft's natural .NET-first development culture

Pricing FAQ

Should I start a new project with Microsoft Agent Framework or wait for GA?

For new projects, the public preview is stable enough for development and testing. Azure AI Foundry Agent Service (which uses this framework) reached GA in May 2025, so the production infrastructure is proven. For mission-critical deployments, consider waiting for framework GA in Q1 2026. For learning and development, start now.

I'm currently using AutoGen. Do I need to migrate?

AutoGen is in maintenance mode — it'll get security patches but no new features. You should plan to migrate, but there's no urgent deadline. The Agent Framework preserves AutoGen's core concepts (agents, group chats, tool use), so migration is more about namespace changes than architectural rewrites.

How does this compare to LangChain/LangGraph?

LangChain has a much larger ecosystem (more integrations, tutorials, community examples) and is more mature for Python developers. Microsoft Agent Framework wins on .NET support (LangChain has none), multi-agent orchestration patterns, and Azure integration. For Python-only teams, both are viable; evaluate based on your cloud provider and orchestration needs.

Can I use non-Microsoft models?

Yes. The framework supports any model provider through its model client abstraction — OpenAI, Anthropic, local models via Ollama, etc. Azure OpenAI gets the tightest integration, but the framework is not locked to Microsoft models.

What's AF Labs?

AF Labs is the experimental package that ships alongside the main framework, containing cutting-edge features that aren't yet stable enough for the core SDK. Think of it as a staging area for new capabilities. Use it for experimentation, not production.

Ready to Get Started?

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More about Microsoft Agent Framework

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