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Independent reviews · Clear choices · No jargon

LangChain vs LlamaIndex

A side-by-side comparison of LangChain and LlamaIndex — ratings, pricing, strengths, weaknesses and who each one is best for.

Updated 2026

Criteria
LangChain
Dev platform
LlamaIndex
Development platform
Rating
4.4
4.7
Pricing
  • Open source: Free
  • LangSmith: from $39/user/mo
  • Open source: Free
  • LlamaCloud: Per use
Pros
  • ✓ Huge ecosystem
  • ✓ Rich integrations
  • ✓ Active community
  • ✓ LangSmith observability
  • ✓ RAG standard
  • ✓ Open source
  • ✓ Active ecosystem
  • ✓ Rich integrations
Cons
  • ✗ Heavy abstractions
  • ✗ Fast-changing versions
  • ✗ Developer-oriented
  • ✗ Learning curve
  • ✗ Engineering tuning cost
Best forLLM app development, Agents, RAG, PrototypesRAG apps, Private-data Q&A, Knowledge bases, Developers
PlatformsPython, JavaScript, APIPython

Our verdict

LlamaIndex edges ahead on our overall rating (4.7 vs 4.4), but both are capable choices.

Choose LangChain if you want LLM app development, Agents. Choose LlamaIndex if you need RAG apps, Private-data Q&A.

Read the full LangChain review →Read the full LlamaIndex review →

FAQ

Is LangChain better than LlamaIndex?

In our review LangChain rates 4.4/5 and LlamaIndex rates 4.7/5. LangChain is best for LLM app development, Agents, while LlamaIndex suits RAG apps, Private-data Q&A — so the better choice depends on your priorities.

What is the difference between LangChain and LlamaIndex?

LangChain: An open-source framework for building LLM apps, connecting models, tools and data. LlamaIndex: Data framework for LLM apps — connects private data to large models and is a standard way to build RAG.

Which is cheaper, LangChain or LlamaIndex?

LangChain starts at Free (Open source); LlamaIndex starts at Free (Open source).