OpenAI Agents SDK (Python) vs Semantic Kernel

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

Agents

Semantic Kernel

Agents

Tagline

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

A lightweight Python package for building agentic AI applications with minimal abstractions.

Semantic Kernel

A model-agnostic SDK for building, orchestrating, and deploying AI agents and multi-agent systems.

Pricing

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

Free· SDK is free and open source (MIT-licensed). Cost is pass-through to whichever model provider you point it at — OpenAI API pricing applies when using GPT models; third-party providers billed separately.

Semantic Kernel

Free

API

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

Yes

Semantic Kernel

Yes

Platforms

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

web

Open source

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

Yes

Semantic Kernel

Yes · MIT

GitHub stars

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

28,714

checked 2026-10-29

Last GitHub push

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

2026-10-28

First commit

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

2023-02

Package downloads (30 d)

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

300,767 · pypi semantic-kernel

checked 2026-10-20

Hacker News stories

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

9

checked 2026-10-17

Semantic Kernel

383

checked 2026-10-20

Company

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

Microsoft Corporation

Model used

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

GPT-4o / GPT-4.1 / gpt-realtime (provider-pluggable via LiteLLM)

Semantic Kernel

Multi-model

Best for

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

Developers building, orchestrating, and deploying AI agents and multi-agent systems.

Editorial score

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

—

Semantic Kernel

8.4 / 10

Use cases

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

Building agents with instructions, tools, guardrails, and handoffsRunning specialist agents inside isolated workspacesBuilding voice agents with automatic interruption detectionCreating voice pipelines combining speech-to-text and text-to-speechMaintaining working context within an agent loop using sessions

Semantic Kernel

—

Pros

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

• The SDK offers a small set of primitives that makes it quick to learn while retaining enough features for practical use.
• Any Python function can be converted into a tool with automatic schema generation and Pydantic-powered validation.
• Guardrails run input validation and safety checks in parallel with agent execution to fail fast when checks do not pass.
• Built-in tracing supports visualizing, debugging, and monitoring workflows, with integration for OpenAI's evaluation, fine-tuning, and distillation tools.
• The SDK is Python-first, allowing developers to use built-in language features to orchestrate and chain agents without learning new abstractions.

Semantic Kernel

• The project is licensed under the MIT license.
• Provides built-in support for multiple LLM providers including OpenAI and Azure OpenAI.
• Allows extension via native code functions, prompt templates, OpenAPI specs, or MCP.
• Integrates with vector databases such as Azure AI Search, Elasticsearch, and Chroma.

Website

OpenAI Agents SDK (Python)

openai.github.io

Semantic Kernel

learn.microsoft.com

Editorial score: rule-based, 0–10, from AI-assisted profile inputs (see /methodology) — not a user rating; “—” means unscored. “Not listed” means we have no record of it, not that it is absent. GitHub figures and prices carry the date they were checked or captured; prices are shown as published, unconverted.