Paperclip vs 
Google ADK
Paperclip vs Google ADK compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Run a company of AI agents from one dashboard vs Google's official Agent Development Kit.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
Paperclip vs Google ADK at a glance
| Spec | Paperclip | Google ADK |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI agent framework | AI agent framework |
| Type | Agent orchestration platform | Agent framework |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Yes | Partial |
| Primary language | TypeScript | Python |
| Ease of use | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Best for | coordinating many agents toward one business goal | production agents on the Google/Gemini stack |
| GitHub stars | 74.4k | 20.8k |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Paperclip | Google ADK |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-agent | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tool / function calling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code execution | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memory | ✗ | ✓ |
| Human-in-the-loop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Graph control | ✗ | ✓ |
How Paperclip and Google ADK score
| Criterion | Paperclip | Google ADK |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| 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
Google ADK
ADK is Google's code-first framework for building, evaluating and deploying agents: hierarchical multi-agent systems, workflow control, built-in eval and a path to Vertex AI.
- Model-agnostic but optimized for Gemini
- Workflow agents give deterministic orchestration
- Built-in evaluation and deployment story
Key differences
Paperclip is agent orchestration platform, while Google ADK is 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 Partial). In short, Paperclip fits coordinating many agents toward one business goal, and Google ADK fits production agents on the Google/Gemini stack.
Which should you choose?
Choose Paperclip for coordinating many agents toward one business goal. Choose Google ADK for production agents on the Google/Gemini stack.
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 Google ADK easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Paperclip and Google ADK free?
Paperclip is free and open source (MIT), and Google ADK is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Paperclip and Google ADK locally?
Paperclip: yes · Google ADK: partial. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Paperclip vs Google ADK — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Paperclip for coordinating many agents toward one business goal. Choose Google ADK for production agents on the Google/Gemini stack.
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