Rather than picking an agent framework based on which one you’ve heard about most, a short, specific checklist gets you to the right choice faster.
Is your workflow a line or a graph? A largely linear or simply-branching workflow fits a simpler framework well. If it needs to loop or maintain complex state, our comparison of LangChain and LangGraph covers exactly this distinction.
Do you need multiple model providers, or one specific one? Want flexibility to switch models? A general-purpose framework fits better than a provider-native SDK. Committed to one provider? That SDK usually gives you the tightest integration.
How much configuration are you willing to do upfront? Broader frameworks generally require more setup. If you want a working result fast with less flexibility, a framework with more built-in structure serves a first project better.
If you’ll be connecting to many external tools, check MCP compatibility specifically, since it increasingly lets you avoid custom integration code regardless of framework. See LangChain’s own documentation as a starting reference.
