Frameworks
LangChain vs LangGraph: which to use when
Sequential chains vs stateful graphs — production readiness and observability.
/ Our verdict
For agents, LangGraph. For simple chains, neither is necessary.
2
LangChain wins
0
Ties
5
LangGraph wins
Side by side
How they compare, dimension by dimension.
Dimension
LangChain
LangGraph
Best for simple chains
Yes
Overkill
Stateful multi-step flows
Painful
Native
Debugging complex flows
Hard
Easier (graph visible)
Cycles / loops / retries
Limited
First-class
Type safety
Weak
Stronger with typed state
Learning curve
Easier entry
Steeper
Production battle-tested
Many deployments, some issues
Newer but cleaner
/ Pick LangChain when
- Simple sequential chains (prompt → prompt → output)
- Quick prototyping
- You need existing integration library
/ Pick LangGraph when
- Agent workflows with tool use
- Multi-step reasoning with branching
- Anything requiring persistence or retry logic
- Systems that need graph visualization for debugging
Our take
For any agentic system, LangGraph. For simple chains, we often skip both and write plain TypeScript — fewer dependencies, cleaner code. LangChain's DX has been surpassed.
/ Next step
Still not sure which to pick?
A 30-minute call with our team is often faster than more research. Let's talk through your specific context.
~4h
avg response
Q2 '26
next slot
100%
NDA on request