Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) review (2026): pricing, features and alternatives
AI agent framework · adk.dev
Klyvoo pick: Most languages
Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) at a glance
Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) is an AI agent framework that is free and open source, best for multi-language agents with easy Google Cloud deployment.
- What it is
- Google's open-source, code-first toolkit for building, testing and deploying agents in Python, TypeScript, Go, Java and Kotlin.
- What it costs
- Free (open source). Free; pay for model API usage and any cloud hosting
- Who it's for
- Multi-language agents with easy Google Cloud deployment · Developers
- How it compares
- All 8 AI agent frameworks on Klyvoo are free to start
- Pricing checked
- October 2026 on adk.dev
Our verdict
ADK covers more languages than most frameworks and ships with a local web UI and built-in evaluation. It works with many models, but its deployment path is smoothest on Google Cloud.
Pros
- Five language SDKs with a consistent API
- Built-in dev web UI, CLI and evaluation tools
- Graph workflows in ADK 2.0
Cons
- Deployment guides center on Google Cloud
- Fast release pace means frequent changes
Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) pricing
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Open source framework | Free | Full ADK in all supported languages; run locally or on your own infrastructure |
| Google Cloud hosting | Usage-based (Google Cloud pricing) | Optional managed hosting on Agent Runtime, Cloud Run or GKE |
https://adk.dev/
Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) alternatives
| Agent | Starting price | Pricing model | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) | Free (open source) | Free; pay for model API usage and any cloud hosting | Multi-language agents with easy Google Cloud deployment | This page |
| LangGraph | Free (open source) | Free; pay for model API usage and optional LangSmith hosting | Stateful long-running agents with fine control | LangGraph review |
| CrewAI | Free (open source) | Free; pay for model API usage and optional CrewAI AMP plan | Role-based multi-agent teams and workflows | CrewAI review |
| OpenAI Agents SDK | Free (open source) | Free; pay for model API usage | Lightweight multi-agent apps with handoffs | OpenAI Agents SDK review |
| Claude Agent SDK | Free SDK; pay for Claude API use | Free SDK; pay for Claude API usage | Agents that read files, run commands and edit code | Claude Agent SDK review |
| Microsoft Agent Framework | Free (open source) | Free; pay for model API usage and any Azure hosting | .NET and Python teams building production agents | Microsoft Agent Framework review |
Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) FAQ
Is Google Agent Development Kit free?
Yes. ADK is open source under Apache 2.0. You pay only for model usage and any cloud hosting.
What languages does Google Agent Development Kit support?
Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, Java and Kotlin.
What is Google Agent Development Kit best for?
Building and testing agents in several languages, with a direct path to deploy on Google Cloud.
What are the best Google Agent Development Kit alternatives?
Microsoft Agent Framework, LangGraph, CrewAI, OpenAI Agents SDK and Mastra.
