# Microsoft AutoGen — AI Compare Ninja

> Maintain existing multi-agent applications and migrate them to Microsoft Agent Framework.

## Overview
- **Category:** Development & Code (Agent & RAG frameworks)
- **Status:** Deprecated - Officially in maintenance mode with no new features. Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 is the recommended successor.
- **Paid from:** free / active successors (Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0)
- **Free access:** Free plan (Software free but in maintenance mode. Model and infrastructure costs separate.)
- **Website:** https://microsoft.github.io/autogen/stable/
- **Canonical URL:** https://www.aicompare.ninja/en/tool/microsoft-autogen

## What it does
- Stable APIs and long-term community support following GA release on April 2, 2026
- Multi-agent orchestration with Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) communication
- Python and .NET library with no token or run quotas
- AgentChat, Core, Extensions, and Studio available as maintenance modules
- Official migration guide to Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0
- No library cost; model, sandbox, and hosting charges paid to the respective provider

## In brief
Microsoft AutoGen is an open-source framework for conversational single- and multi-agent systems in Python and .NET. Core components include AgentChat, Core, Extensions, and Studio.

Since April 2026 AutoGen has been in maintenance mode and receives no new features. Microsoft recommends Agent Framework 1.0 for new projects. The library itself is free; costs arise from models, sandboxes, and infrastructure.


## Limits
AutoGen has no token or run allowance because it is a library. Cost comes from connected models, code sandboxes, hosting, and observability. The decisive fact is status: the official repository marks AutoGen as maintenance mode without new features and directs new users to Microsoft Agent Framework. AutoGen Studio is also a prototype and explicitly not production-ready. Existing projects have official migration samples to Agent Framework.

## Pricing tiers
| Tier | Price | Period | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AutoGen open source | free | Service mode | AgentChat, Core, Extensions, and Studio remain available; No new features or enhancements; Community managed; Own model, tool, and infrastructure costs; Existing applications can continue running |
| Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 | free | active successors | GA since April 2, 2026; Stable APIs and long-term support; Python and .NET; Multi-agent orchestration, MCP, and A2A; Official AutoGen migration guide |

## Sources
All details regarding plans, limits, and features are based on official vendor documentation and the primary sources verified below.

- https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/blob/main/README.md
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/migration-guide/from-autogen/
- https://devblogs.microsoft.com/agent-framework/microsoft-agent-framework-at-build-2026-announce/

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*Source: AI Compare Ninja (2026) - https://www.aicompare.ninja/en/tool/microsoft-autogen*