---
title: "Guild vs LangChain, LangGraph & LangSmith"
description: "Guild vs LangChain: LangGraph, LangSmith deployment, and Fleet compared with Guild's agents, permissions, triggers, Agent Hub, and CLI, plus how to move."
canonical: "https://www.guild.ai/compare/langchain"
---

# Guild vs LangChain, LangGraph & LangSmith

Guild vs LangChain: LangGraph, LangSmith deployment, and Fleet compared with Guild's agents, permissions, triggers, Agent Hub, and CLI, plus how to move.

LangChain gives you open-source libraries for building agents, plus LangSmith to trace, test, and deploy them. Guild runs your LangGraph graphs as they are, next to agents built other ways, with secrets kept out of agent code and a public Agent Hub.

Last verified 2026-10-30. Across 35 features, Guild leads on 13, LangChain on 7, and 15 are level. Every cell below names its source.

## When to choose LangChain

- You want open-source libraries and full control of the agent loop on your own servers.
- You need to self-host the agent server or run it hybrid.
- You use LangSmith tracing and evals across many AI apps, not only agents.
- Your agents need extra Python packages or direct network access.

## When to choose Guild

- You want to keep your LangGraph graph but stop running its server, Postgres, and Redis.
- You need secrets kept out of agent code and control over each action an agent takes.
- You want workspaces, members-only access, and a record of every action.
- You run TypeScript, plain-instruction, Goose, or OpenClaw agents next to LangGraph ones.
- You want to share agents publicly or inside your company, with versions.

## What LangChain and Guild are

**LangChain.** LangChain is the biggest agent ecosystem: libraries in Python and JavaScript, LangGraph for long-running agents that keep their state, and LangSmith to trace, test, and deploy them in the cloud or on your own servers. Fleet adds no-code agents that start from Slack, Gmail, or Teams. Roles and audit logs are Enterprise features.

**Guild.** Guild runs a LangGraph graph as it is: you swap in guild\_model() and guild\_tools() and keep the rest. Around it, secrets stay out of agent code, you decide which actions it can take, and you get triggers, workspaces, audit, and versions on the Agent Hub.

|   | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Category | Open-source agent libraries + commercial platform | One platform to run and control AI agents |
| License | LangChain and LangGraph open source; LangSmith proprietary | Proprietary platform; CLI published on npm as @guildai/cli |
| Pricing | Developer $0, Plus $39/seat/month, Enterprise custom | No public price list; plans priced with the Guild team; model usage metered at list price |
| Maturity | Generally available (Fleet GA 2026-01-13) | Generally available |
| Docs | https://docs.langchain.com | https://docs.guild.ai |

## Concept map: LangChain to Guild

| Concept | LangChain | Guild | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The agent (Python) | Python `create_agent` or a LangGraph `StateGraph` | The LangGraph agent type: `langgraph.json` + `graph.py` with `guild_model()` and `guild_tools()` | LangChain v1, Python 3.13, no extra pip packages, no direct network. |
| The agent (JavaScript) | JS `createAgent({ model, tools, systemPrompt })` | TypeScript `llmAgent()`, or `agent()` with a typed `run()` |   |
| MCP tools | `@langchain/mcp-adapters` | Guild integrations built from MCP servers or OpenAPI specs |   |
| Human approval | `humanInTheLoopMiddleware` | `task.ui` / `ui_prompt` |   |
| Memory and threads | Checkpointer + threads | Sessions; `task.save` / `task.restore` for TypeScript state |   |
| Multi-agent | Sub-graphs and multi-agent setups | `guildAgentTool` sub-agents, or `sub_agents` in `guild.yaml` |   |
| Schedules | LangSmith cron jobs | Schedule triggers: `guild trigger create --type time` |   |
| Webhooks and API | Run webhooks and the Agent Server API | API and event triggers |   |
| Tracing | LangSmith tracing | The session event log (also `GET /v1/sessions/{id}/events`) |   |
| Evals | Datasets + evaluators | Guild Evaluations and `guild agent test` |   |
| No-code agents | Fleet no-code agents | Native agents: `PROMPT.md` + `guild.yaml` |   |
| Agent identity | Fleet Claws vs Assistants identity | Agent- or workspace-scoped credentials vs member-scoped credentials |   |
| Deploy | `langgraph deploy` | `guild agent save --wait --publish` |   |

## Feature by feature: LangChain vs. Guild

### Authoring

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Code-first TypeScript agents | **Yes.** LangChain JS createAgent, or LangGraph StateGraph for explicit graphs. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** @guildai/agents-sdk: agent(), llmAgent(), and the task API (task.llm, task.tools, task.ui, task.gather). ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/packages/agents-sdk.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Python / LangGraph agents | **Yes.** Native: create_agent (Python) and LangGraph, deployed with LangSmith Deployment. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** LangGraph agent type: langgraph.json + graph.py using guild_model() and guild_tools(). LangChain v1, Python 3.13, no extra pip packages. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Instruction-only (no-code) agents | **Yes.** LangSmith Fleet (formerly Agent Builder): describe the agent in natural language or start from a template. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Native agents: PROMPT.md + guild.yaml, no container, ready immediately. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Several agent formats on one platform | **Yes.** Agent Server also hosts Google ADK, Claude Agent SDK, CrewAI, and Strands agents. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Native, TypeScript, Goose, OpenClaw, and LangGraph agent types, plus ADK (CLI 0.28). ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Typed agent input/output | **Yes.** responseFormat for structured output and contextSchema for typed context. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Zod inputSchema and outputSchema on agent(); root input must be z.object. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/packages/agents-sdk.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Repo / workspace agents (shell, git, files) | **Partial.** Deep Agents harness (Fleet is built on it); sandboxing depends on your deployment. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** OpenClaw agents (AGENTS.md + skills/) run in the guildai~lobsterpot container with shell, git, and file editing. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Sub-agents and agent-to-agent calls | **Yes.** Multi-agent graphs and subgraphs in LangGraph. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** guildAgentTool calls owner~agent; Native, Goose, and OpenClaw agents declare sub_agents in guild.yaml. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/guild-yaml.md), checked 2026-10-23) |

### Tools & integrations

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Managed integrations catalog | **Partial.** Fleet has built-in connections (Gmail, Slack, Google Calendar, GitHub); code agents bring their own tools. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/mcp-framework.md), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** 37 non-model integrations (GitHub, Slack, Gmail, Linear, Jira, Notion, Zendesk, …) plus 8 model publishers. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Use MCP servers as tools | **Yes.** @langchain/mcp-adapters over stdio, streamable HTTP, or SSE. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/mcp), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Build custom integrations from MCP servers with guild integration. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Platform exposed over MCP | **Partial.** A Fleet Tool Server exposes custom MCP tools. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/mcp-framework.md), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Guild is an MCP server: https://api.guild.ai/mcp (OAuth + PKCE) or local `guild mcp`. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/api-reference/mcp.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Custom APIs from OpenAPI | **No.** No OpenAPI importer documented; wrap APIs as tools or MCP servers. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/mcp), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** guild integration builds tools from OpenAPI specs; Porter drafts integrations from public APIs. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Secrets never reach the agent | **Partial.** Agent Auth manages OAuth per workspace; code agents handle their own secrets. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/essentials.md), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** A credential proxy injects auth server-side; GitHub uses short-lived GitHub App tokens. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/credentials.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Per-operation credential policies | **No.** Not documented beyond workspace RBAC. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/rbac), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** ALLOW/DENY rules by operation, resource, agent, and workspace; DENY wins. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/credential-policies.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Act as the invoking user | **Yes.** Fleet Assistants act with the invoking person's OAuth. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Member-scoped credentials plus identity mapping for Slack and GitHub users. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/credentials.md), checked 2026-10-23) |

### Runtime & triggers

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Managed hosted runtime | **Yes.** LangSmith Deployment Cloud (Plus plan and up). ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Guild hosts and runs all agent types. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Self-host option | **Yes.** Hybrid, self-hosted (Enterprise), or standalone Agent Server with your own Postgres and Redis. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **No.** Hosted only; no self-host option documented. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Sandboxed, network-controlled execution | **No.** No sandbox described in the Agent Server docs reviewed. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Containers lose network access before the agent runs; only Guild proxies can reach out. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Durable long-running runs | **Yes.** Threads with a Postgres or Mongo checkpointer. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment), checked 2026-10-23) | **Partial.** Multi-turn sessions; they can be interrupted but not resumed. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Schedules (cron) | **Yes.** Cron jobs (UTC), thread-bound or stateless. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cron-jobs), checked 2026-10-23) | **Partial.** CLI supports --frequency CRON --cron-expression; docs list hourly–monthly presets. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/triggers.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Webhook, event & API triggers | **Yes.** Agent Server API plus run webhooks. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cron-jobs), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Event triggers (Slack mention, GitHub PR, Zendesk ticket, …) and API triggers. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/triggers.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Chat channels (Slack, Teams, …) | **Yes.** Fleet triggers for Slack, Gmail, and Microsoft Teams. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/essentials.md), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Slack event triggers; Discord, Telegram, and Twilio integrations. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview.md), checked 2026-10-23) |

### Control & governance

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Per-tool-call approval gate | **Yes.** humanInTheLoopMiddleware in code; Auto/Ask per tool with an Inbox in Fleet. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/essentials.md), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Approval gates are set in the Guild UI, per agent and per action: when the agent reaches a gated action, the run pauses until a designated human approves. No code needed. ([source](https://www.guild.ai/product/ai-governance), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Roles & access control | **Partial.** RBAC is Enterprise-only; other plans make every user Admin. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/rbac), checked 2026-10-23) | **Partial.** Admin and Member org roles, restricted workspaces, and scoped API keys. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Audit log | **Partial.** Enterprise-only, kept up to 400 days. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/audit-logs), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Immutable, CSV-exportable audit log (admins). ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Runtime guardrails & scanning | **Partial.** Middleware hooks such as humanInTheLoopMiddleware. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents), checked 2026-10-23) | **No.** No prompt or tool-call scanning documented; isolation comes from the network-less runtime and credential policies. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Spend budgets & usage limits | **Partial.** Usage metered in LSUs and deployment compute; no per-agent budget documented. ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Per-agent and per-workspace spend budgets, model allowlists, and daily token limits. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Multi-provider models with fallbacks | **Partial.** provider:model strings in createAgent; fallbacks are up to your code. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** guild.yaml models is an ordered fallback list across Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Meta, DeepSeek, and more; BYO keys supported. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/guild-yaml.md), checked 2026-10-23) |

### Observability

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run traces | **Yes.** LangSmith tracing (14-day base, 180-day extended retention). ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Session event log of LLM calls, tool calls, sub-tasks, and container logs; also via the API. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Evaluations | **Yes.** Datasets, evaluators, and Engine for recurring failures. ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **Partial.** Evaluations with samples, checks, and llmJudge; enabled per account, no CLI command yet. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/evaluations.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Cost & usage tracking | **Partial.** Usage visible per LSU and deployment; trace-level cost depends on setup. ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Insights and Spend Explorer. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |

### Ecosystem & business

| Feature | LangChain | Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Public agent hub (install & fork) | **Partial.** Fleet templates and the Prompt Hub; no public agent marketplace. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Agent Hub: Draft, Internal, or Public; owner~name with semver; install and fork (guild agent init --fork). ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/publish-to-agent-hub.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Reusable skills | **Partial.** Deep Agents and the Prompt Hub cover reusable instructions. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** Hub skills, `guild skill`, and skills inside Goose and OpenClaw agents. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/cli/commands.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Full lifecycle CLI | **Yes.** langgraph dev, build, up, deploy, plus deploy logs and revisions. ([source](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cli), checked 2026-10-23) | **Yes.** 17 top-level commands: init, test, save --publish, workspace chat, trigger, integration, skill, session, and more. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/cli/commands.md), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Open-source core | **Yes.** LangChain and LangGraph are open source; LangSmith is proprietary. ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **No.** Proprietary platform; the CLI is published on npm. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt), checked 2026-10-23) |
| Public pricing | **Yes.** Developer $0, Plus $39 per seat per month, Enterprise custom. Fleet free-tier access is unclear. ([source](https://www.langchain.com/pricing), checked 2026-10-23) | **Partial.** No public price list: plans are priced with the Guild team; model usage is metered at list price. ([source](https://docs.guild.ai/reference/pricing.md), checked 2026-10-23) |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between Guild and LangChain?

LangChain is a set of open-source agent libraries (LangChain and LangGraph) plus LangSmith, a paid platform for tracing, evals, deployment, and the no-code Fleet builder. Guild runs agents for you, LangGraph graphs included, with secrets kept out of agent code, permissions per action, triggers, workspaces, audit, and a public Agent Hub.

### Can Guild run my existing LangGraph code?

Yes, for LangChain v1 Python graphs. Guild's LangGraph agent type reads langgraph.json and graph.py as they are; you replace model setup with guild\_model() and tool lists with guild\_tools(). Agents can't install extra pip packages or call the network directly.

### Is Guild an alternative to LangSmith?

For running and controlling agents, yes: Guild covers what LangSmith Deployment and Fleet do, with hosted agents, triggers, workspaces, and audit. LangSmith is still the broader choice for tracing and evals across many AI apps, not only agents.

### What replaces LangSmith tracing in Guild?

Guild sessions. Every run is a session with a log of model calls, tool calls, sub-tasks, and container output, in the Guild app and over the API.

### How much does Guild cost compared with LangSmith?

As of October 2026, LangSmith lists a $0 Developer plan, Plus at $39 per seat per month, and custom Enterprise pricing. Guild doesn't publish a price list: plans are priced with the Guild team, and model usage is metered at list price.

### Is LangSmith Fleet free?

It's unclear as of October 23, 2026. LangChain's pricing page lists 7 Fleet LSUs on the free Developer plan, but other LangChain sources disagree on free access, so this comparison marks it unclear.

### Does Guild have RBAC like LangSmith Enterprise?

Partly. Guild has Admin and Member roles, members-only workspaces, and scoped API keys, which this comparison scores as partial. In LangSmith, roles and audit logs are Enterprise features.

### Can I self-host Guild like LangGraph?

No. As of October 2026, Guild is hosted only. LangChain's agent server can run self-hosted or hybrid, and LangSmith Deployment also offers a cloud option.

## Migrate from LangChain to Guild

[The step-by-step migration guide](https://docs.guild.ai/migrations/langchain): what to take stock of, how each piece maps, and what doesn’t map one to one.

## Sources

- [docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/agents)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/deployment)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/mcp-framework](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/mcp-framework.md)
- [docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/mcp](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/javascript/langchain/mcp)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/essentials](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/fleet/essentials.md)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/rbac](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/rbac)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cron-jobs](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cron-jobs)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/audit-logs](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/audit-logs)
- [langchain.com/pricing](https://www.langchain.com/pricing)
- [docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cli](https://docs.langchain.com/langsmith/cli)
- [docs.guild.ai/packages/agents-sdk](https://docs.guild.ai/packages/agents-sdk.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/agent-types.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/guide/guild-yaml](https://docs.guild.ai/guide/guild-yaml.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview](https://docs.guild.ai/integrations/overview.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/api-reference/mcp](https://docs.guild.ai/api-reference/mcp.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/credentials](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/credentials.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/credential-policies](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/credential-policies.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/security-architecture.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/llms.txt](https://docs.guild.ai/llms.txt)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/triggers](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/triggers.md)
- [guild.ai/product/ai-governance](https://www.guild.ai/product/ai-governance)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/evaluations](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/evaluations.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/platform/publish-to-agent-hub](https://docs.guild.ai/platform/publish-to-agent-hub.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/cli/commands](https://docs.guild.ai/cli/commands.md)
- [docs.guild.ai/reference/pricing](https://docs.guild.ai/reference/pricing.md)

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