OpenHands vs 
Letta
OpenHands vs Letta compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. AI developer that writes and runs code vs Stateful agents with long-term memory.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
OpenHands vs Letta at a glance
| Spec | OpenHands | Letta |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI agent framework | AI agent framework |
| Type | Autonomous coding agent | Agent runtime (memory) |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Cloud-optional | Self-hosted |
| Primary language | Python | Python |
| Ease of use | Advanced | Advanced |
| Best for | autonomous end-to-end coding tasks | agents that remember across sessions |
| GitHub stars | — | 23.9k |
How OpenHands and Letta score
| Criterion | OpenHands | Letta |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | n/a | 3.5 |
| Maintenance | n/a | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
OpenHands
OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin) is an autonomous software-engineering agent that can write code, run commands, browse the web and fix issues like a human developer.
- Acts like a real developer: edits, runs, tests
- Strong SWE-bench performance
- Open alternative to Devin
Letta
Letta (formerly MemGPT) is a framework and server for building stateful agents with long-term memory that persists across sessions, with a visual agent editor.
- Persistent long-term agent memory
- Server with REST API and visual editor
- Model-agnostic and self-hostable
Key differences
OpenHands is autonomous coding agent, while Letta is agent runtime (memory). Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. They also differ in how they run (Cloud-optional vs Self-hosted). In short, OpenHands fits autonomous end-to-end coding tasks, and Letta fits agents that remember across sessions.
Which should you choose?
Choose OpenHands for autonomous end-to-end coding tasks. Choose Letta for agents that remember across sessions.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenHands or Letta easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Advanced). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are OpenHands and Letta free?
OpenHands is free and open source (MIT), and Letta is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run OpenHands and Letta locally?
OpenHands: cloud-optional · Letta: self-hosted. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
OpenHands vs Letta — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose OpenHands for autonomous end-to-end coding tasks. Choose Letta for agents that remember across sessions.
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