LangGraph, CrewAI or the Claude Agent SDK: how would you choose?

Choose by the shape of the work. LangGraph fits a process you want to control step by step, as a graph with saved state and pauses. CrewAI fits work that splits into roles handing results to each other. The Claude Agent SDK fits agents that work on files and run commands with Claude, because it gives you Claude Code's loop and tools ready-made. For 1 or 2 tools, you may need no framework at all.

LangGraph

• You draw the graph: nodes (call the model, run tools, your own functions) and edges, including the loop back to the model.
• Checkpointers save state at every step, so a run can pause, wait for a person (interrupt()) and resume later, even days later, from the same thread.
• Works with any model provider. Python and JavaScript. MIT licence.
• Best for: fixed processes with branches and approvals that you must test and audit.

CrewAI

• You define agents (role, goal, backstory, tools) and tasks, then a crew runs them in order or under a manager agent.
• Flows add event-driven steps and state around crews.
• Many model providers. Python. MIT licence.
• Best for: research-then-write pipelines and other role-based teamwork, with little code.

Claude Agent SDK

• Claude Code as a library: the agent loop, built-in tools (read, edit, run commands, search the web), permissions, hooks, sessions and subagents.
• You write the options (prompt, allowed tools, your own tools or MCP servers, hooks), not the loop.
• Claude models only, through the Claude API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud or Microsoft Foundry. Python and TypeScript.
• Best for: coding agents and agents that operate on a file system with safety controls already built.

Questions I would ask before choosing

1. Is the path fixed or open-ended? Fixed: LangGraph, or a plain workflow. Open-ended work on files: the Agent SDK.
2. Do I need several model makers? Then not the Agent SDK.
3. Must runs pause for approval and resume later? LangGraph's checkpoints are built for it. The Agent SDK has permission callbacks and resumable sessions.
4. Is the work naturally a team of roles? CrewAI.
5. Will a framework hide what is sent to the model? Every layer of abstraction makes prompts and errors harder to see.

The answer interviewers like

"The framework matters less than tools, prompts and evaluation. I would prototype with the plainest option, measure it on real tasks, and adopt a framework when I need what it gives: saved state, approvals, many agents or ready tools." Tecyfy's side-by-side comparison is at /ai-agents/langgraph-vs-crewai-vs-claude-agent-sdk.