OpenAI Agents SDK vs OpenAI Assistants API

A side-by-side look at scores, pricing and features — with RECATOOLS' ASEAN-aware verdict for each.

OpenAI Agents SDK OpenAI's minimal Python framework for agent handoffs, not graphs. Visit OpenAI Assistants API OpenAI's stateful agent API — shut down 26 Aug 2026 Visit
RECATOOLS Score 8 / 10 5 / 10
Capability 7.5 7
Value for money 8.5 4
Ease of use 8 6
ASEAN readiness 6.5 6
API quality 8 8
Pricing Open Source Paid
Free tier
Paid from
Has API
Open source
Free to use
Users
Founded 2023
Maker
Verdict

OpenAI's Agents SDK is the deliberately small option in a field of increasingly elaborate agent frameworks: a handoff pattern with guardrails and tracing gets you a working multi-agent setup in well under 100 lines, whic...

The Assistants API gave developers managed conversation threads, built-in code interpreter, file retrieval and tool calling without hand-rolling orchestration, and a lot of production assistants from non-AI-native compan...

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Comparisons cover up to 4 tools. Scores are RECATOOLS editorial assessments; verify current pricing on each vendor's site.