Is LangChain better than LlamaIndex?

LangChain ranks higher in our list of AI agent frameworks and tooling (#1 against #3, score 92.0 against 88.0). LangChain is best for: large agent projects that need many integrations. LlamaIndex is best for: agents that work over documents and data.

Which is cheaper, LangChain or LlamaIndex?

LangChain: MIT-licensed framework is free; LangSmith hosted service has Developer, Plus and Enterprise plans. LlamaIndex: MIT-licensed framework is free; LlamaParse is a separate service.

Do LangChain and LlamaIndex run on the same platforms?

LangChain supports Self-hosted. LlamaIndex supports Self-hosted.

Comparison · AI agent frameworks and tooling

LangChain vs LlamaIndex: which is better in 2026?

LangChain92.0#1 in best AI agent frameworks and tooling

LlamaIndex88.0#3 in best AI agent frameworks and tooling

LangChain ranks higher in our list of AI agent frameworks and tooling (#1 against #3, score 92.0 against 88.0).

How we rank Share

92.0
Editorial score
88.0
1
Platforms
1
Yes
Free to use
Yes
Yes
Open source
Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose LangChain if you want

Large agent projects that need many integrations.

The largest ecosystem here, with LangGraph for agent workflows and LangSmith for tracing on paid tiers. Its breadth can be heavy for small projects, which is where the smaller frameworks fit better.

Choose LlamaIndex if you want

Agents that work over documents and data.

The strongest focus on documents and retrieval, with an MIT-licensed framework and a separate parsing service. It is narrower for general agent work than LangChain.

Side by side

	LangChain	LlamaIndex
Score	92.0	88.0
Rank in list	#1 of 12	#3 of 12
Price	Free and open sourceMIT-licensed framework is free; LangSmith hosted service has Developer, Plus and Enterprise plans	Free and open sourceMIT-licensed framework is free; LlamaParse is a separate service
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Yes
Platforms	Self-hostedSelf-hosted	Self-hostedSelf-hosted
Made by	LangChain	LlamaIndex
Language	Python and TypeScript	Not listed
Agent approach	Graph workflows with LangGraph	Document-centric agents
Paid hosted service	LangSmith paid plans	LlamaParse, separate
Best for	Large agent projects that need many integrations	Agents that work over documents and data
Strengths	MIT licensed with a large community LangGraph for agent workflows Optional LangSmith tracing and evaluation	MIT licensed with source on GitHub Focus on document and data workflows Separate parsing service available
Limits	Large API surface can be heavy for small projects Hosted tracing requires the separate LangSmith plans	Parsing service is a separate product to evaluate Narrower agent focus than general orchestration frameworks
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about LangChain vs LlamaIndex

Is LangChain better than LlamaIndex?: LangChain ranks higher in our list of AI agent frameworks and tooling (#1 against #3, score 92.0 against 88.0). LangChain is best for: large agent projects that need many integrations. LlamaIndex is best for: agents that work over documents and data.
Which is cheaper, LangChain or LlamaIndex?: LangChain: MIT-licensed framework is free; LangSmith hosted service has Developer, Plus and Enterprise plans. LlamaIndex: MIT-licensed framework is free; LlamaParse is a separate service.
Do LangChain and LlamaIndex run on the same platforms?: LangChain supports Self-hosted. LlamaIndex supports Self-hosted.