Framework comparison - verified
Claude Agent SDK vs Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)
Claude Agent SDK (Anthropic) and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) (Google), compared field by field from their official docs as of October 18, 2026. Their docs differ on 4 points, listed below; the table also shows versions, install commands and links.
Key differences
- Languages: Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) lists Go, Java and Other and Claude Agent SDK does not.
- License: Claude Agent SDK uses Anthropic Commercial Terms of Service (the Python SDK repository is MIT licensed); Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) uses Apache-2.0.
- Evals: Claude Agent SDK does not state it in its docs; Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) documents it.
- Model-agnostic: Claude Agent SDK does not state it in its docs; Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) documents it.
Generated from the fields below that differ. Versions, dates and links are left to the table.
Side by side
Every field we track, with the source linked on each value. Rows marked Differs are where the two frameworks' docs differ.
| Field | Claude Agent SDK | Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) |
|---|---|---|
| MaintainerDiffers | Anthropic | |
| LanguagesDiffers | Python, TypeScript | Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, Other |
| LicenseDiffers | Anthropic Commercial Terms of Service (the Python SDK repository is MIT licensed) | Apache-2.0 |
| Latest versionsDiffers | Python: claude-agent-sdk 0.2.168 (2026-10-15); TypeScript: @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk 0.3.302 (2026-10-16) | Python: google-adk 2.12.0 (2026-10-13); TypeScript: @google/adk 2.3.0 (2026-10-13); Go: google.golang.org/adk/v2 v2.6.0 (2026-10-13); Java: com.google.adk:google-adk 1.12.0 (2026-10-14); Kotlin: com.google.adk:google-adk-kotlin-core-jvm 1.4.0 (2026-10-14) |
| MCP | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-agent | Yes | Yes |
| Durable execution | Yes | Yes |
| Human in the loop | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Structured output | Yes | Yes |
| Tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Memory | Yes | Yes |
| EvalsDiffers | Not stated | Yes |
| Model-agnosticDiffers | Not stated | Yes |
| Install commands listedDiffers | 2 (Python and TypeScript) | 5 (Python, TypeScript, Go, Java and Kotlin) |
| Quickstart snippet | Python snippet published | Python snippet published |
| What it is, per its docsDiffers | The Claude Agent SDK is a Python and TypeScript library from Anthropic that gives developers the same tools, agent loop, and context management that power Claude Code, for running agents inside their own applications. | Agent Development Kit (ADK) is Google's open-source, code-first framework for building, evaluating, and deploying AI agents, available in Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, and Kotlin, optimized for Gemini and described by its docs as model-agnostic. |
| HomepageDiffers | code.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview | adk.dev |
| Source repositoryDiffers | github.com/anthropics/claude-agent-sdk-python | github.com/google/adk-python |
Install both
Copied verbatim from the page linked under each command.
Claude Agent SDK
Python
pip install claude-agent-sdkTypeScript
npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdkGoogle Agent Development Kit (ADK)
Python
pip install google-adkSource: adk.dev
TypeScript
npm install @google/adkSource: adk.dev
Go
go get google.golang.org/adk/v2Source: adk.dev
Java
<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.adk</groupId>
<artifactId>google-adk</artifactId>
<version>1.12.0</version>
</dependency>Source: github.com/google/adk-java
Kotlin
implementation("com.google.adk:google-adk-kotlin-core:1.4.0")Source: github.com/google/adk-kotlin
FAQ
What is the difference between Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)?
Going by their official docs: Languages: Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) lists Go, Java and Other and Claude Agent SDK does not. License: Claude Agent SDK uses Anthropic Commercial Terms of Service (the Python SDK repository is MIT licensed); Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) uses Apache-2.0. Evals: Claude Agent SDK does not state it in its docs; Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) documents it. Model-agnostic: Claude Agent SDK does not state it in its docs; Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) documents it.
Do Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) both support MCP?
Claude Agent SDK: yes. Google Agent Development Kit (ADK): yes. "Not stated" means the docs do not say.
Which languages do Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) support?
Claude Agent SDK: Python, TypeScript. Google Agent Development Kit (ADK): Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, Other. Both list Python and TypeScript.
What licenses do Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) use?
Claude Agent SDK: Anthropic Commercial Terms of Service (the Python SDK repository is MIT licensed). Google Agent Development Kit (ADK): Apache-2.0.
Do Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) support durable execution and human in the loop?
Durable execution: Claude Agent SDK yes, Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) yes. Human in the loop: Claude Agent SDK yes, Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) yes. "Not stated" means the docs do not say.
What are the latest versions of Claude Agent SDK and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)?
As of October 18, 2026: Claude Agent SDK Python package claude-agent-sdk 0.2.168 (October 15, 2026) and TypeScript package @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk 0.3.302 (October 16, 2026); Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) Python package google-adk 2.12.0 (October 13, 2026), TypeScript package @google/adk 2.3.0 (October 13, 2026), Go package google.golang.org/adk/v2 v2.6.0 (October 13, 2026), Java package com.google.adk:google-adk 1.12.0 (October 14, 2026) and Kotlin package com.google.adk:google-adk-kotlin-core-jvm 1.4.0 (October 14, 2026).
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