Microsoft Semantic Kernel alternatives

Microsoft's enterprise-focused agent framework — multi-language (C#, Python, Java); Plugins / Planners / Memory; integrates with Azure AI / Foundry. Full Microsoft Semantic Kernel record →

Official migration path

The README now says Semantic Kernel is now Microsoft Agent Framework, its enterprise-ready successor (1.0 GA); SK v1.x keeps getting critical bug and security fixes while new features go to Agent Framework.

Move to: Microsoft Agent Framework

  1. Python: replace semantic-kernel with agent-framework; C#: move from Microsoft.SemanticKernel(.Agents) to Microsoft.Agents.AI and Microsoft.Extensions.AI
  2. Drop the Kernel: create agents from a chat client, e.g. chatClient.AsAIAgent(instructions: ...) in C# or Agent(client=..., instructions=...) in Python
  3. Turn plugins into tools without [KernelFunction] (AIFunctionFactory.Create in C#, @tool in Python); .as_agent_framework_tool() wraps existing ones
  4. Replace AgentThread with agent.create_session() / CreateSessionAsync() and InvokeAsync/invoke with RunAsync/run(input, session=session)

Sources: github.com · learn.microsoft.com · devblogs.microsoft.com · checked 2026-10-26

Other live alternatives

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  6. 6 Vercel AI SDK Agent frameworks (no first-party memory layer)

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Ranked by shared memory design (storage, retrieval, conflict handling, memory unit), same section and shared must-haves (open source, self-hosting, MCP), with adoption as a tie-breaker. ✓ confirmed · — no · ? not in the catalog yet. Want picks for your own requirements? Use the chooser. Checking a whole project? Check your stack.