Smolagents
huggingface.co
Hugging Face's minimal library for building code-writing agents.
Quick Information
- Category:
- AI Agents & Automation
- Pricing:
- Free
- Platforms:
- Python
- Free Plan:
- Yes
- API Available:
- Yes
- Last Verified:
- October 2026
What Is Smolagents?
Smolagents is Hugging Face's minimal Python library for building agents. Its distinguishing idea is the CodeAgent, which writes Python code as its actions rather than JSON tool calls. Each ReAct step emits a Python block that an interpreter runs, and the output feeds back as the next observation, so a single step can combine several tool calls and use loops and conditionals. A companion ToolCallingAgent uses JSON for models that handle code poorly.
Sources agree it is Apache 2.0. One reports about 27.8k GitHub stars and v1.26.0 from May 29, 2026, while an older review lists v1.24.0 from January 2026, so the project releases often. It works with Hugging Face Inference, LiteLLM (100+ providers), local transformers, vLLM and Amazon Bedrock models, and tools can come from plain Python functions, MCP servers, LangChain and Hugging Face Spaces.
The key caveat is security. The README says the default executor is not a security boundary, and one source notes the built-in LocalPythonExecutor can be bypassed, while other guides loosely call it a sandbox. For untrusted code, use an isolated executor such as Docker, E2B or Modal. The library itself is free; you pay for model calls.
Smolagents suits developers who want a small, readable codebase for experiments. Compare Pydantic AI, Agno and CrewAI. Browse the AI Agents & Automation tools directory for more.
What Can You Use Smolagents For?
Code-writing agents
Actions expressed as Python.
Research and prototyping
Small, readable code.
Smolagents Features
- CodeAgent — Writes Python as actions.
- ToolCallingAgent — JSON-based alternative.
- MCP and LangChain tools — Reuse existing tools.
- Multi-provider models — Hugging Face, LiteLLM, vLLM, Bedrock.
Who Is Smolagents For?
- Python developers — Minimal API.
- Researchers — Hackable codebase.
Smolagents Pros & Limitations
What We Like
- Free and Apache 2.0
- Flexible model support
- Composable multi-tool steps
Limitations
- Local executor is not a security boundary
- Needs isolated execution for untrusted code
- Python only
Smolagents Pricing
| Plan | Price | Main Features |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Free (Apache 2.0) | Model usage billed by your provider |
Pricing was last verified October 2026. Check the official website for the latest pricing.
AI Listing Jungle Ranking
- Global Rank:
- #1768
- Overall Score:
- 0.0/100
- Monthly Users:
- –
- Rank Change:
- ▼ 373
This ranking reflects AI Listing Jungle's own independent scoring methodology and is not an endorsement by Smolagents or its company. How Our Rankings Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Is smolagents free?
Yes, Apache 2.0.
Is the local executor safe?
No, the README says it is not a security boundary.
Which models work?
Hugging Face, LiteLLM providers, local models, vLLM and Bedrock.
What is a CodeAgent?
An agent whose actions are Python code.
Our Take
Smolagents is elegant for code-first agents.
Use a real sandbox for untrusted code.
Smolagents Alternatives
Smolagents Comparisons
Ready to try Smolagents?
Visit the official website to get started.
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