Paperclip vs 
AG2
Paperclip vs AG2 compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Run a company of AI agents from one dashboard vs The community continuation of AutoGen.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
Paperclip vs AG2 at a glance
| Spec | Paperclip | AG2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI agent framework | AI agent framework |
| Type | Agent orchestration platform | Multi-agent framework |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Yes | Cloud-optional |
| Primary language | TypeScript | Python |
| Ease of use | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Best for | coordinating many agents toward one business goal | teams invested in the AutoGen conversation model |
| GitHub stars | 74.4k | 4.8k |
How Paperclip and AG2 score
| Criterion | Paperclip | AG2 |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| 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
Paperclip
Paperclip is a self-hosted server and web UI that orchestrates teams of AI agents like a company: org charts, goals, budgets, approval gates and a full audit trail. Any agent that can receive a heartbeat can be plugged in — Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw and more.
- Bring any agent: Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw
- Per-agent budgets with hard cost stops
- Org chart, approvals and immutable audit log
AG2
AG2 is the community-driven continuation of AutoGen, focused on multi-agent conversations and orchestration with an open governance model.
- Continuity for the AutoGen ecosystem
- Community-governed, Apache-2.0
- Mature multi-agent conversation patterns
Key differences
Paperclip is agent orchestration platform, while AG2 is multi-agent framework. Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. They also differ in how they run (Yes vs Cloud-optional). In short, Paperclip fits coordinating many agents toward one business goal, and AG2 fits teams invested in the AutoGen conversation model.
Which should you choose?
Choose Paperclip for coordinating many agents toward one business goal. Choose AG2 for teams invested in the AutoGen conversation model.
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 Paperclip or AG2 easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Paperclip and AG2 free?
Paperclip is free and open source (MIT), and AG2 is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Paperclip and AG2 locally?
Paperclip: yes · AG2: cloud-optional. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Paperclip vs AG2 — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Paperclip for coordinating many agents toward one business goal. Choose AG2 for teams invested in the AutoGen conversation model.
People also compare
Explore more open-source AI
Browse thousands of open-source AI tools, models and projects — all curated in one place, updated daily.
Explore the directory →