Semantic Kernel

Semantic Kernel

Open Source(MIT)
Verified
AI-Native
Superseded by a newer product (2025) — this version is now maintenance-only.

Microsoft's SDK to build AI agents and orchestrate models

Works offline
Global
Self-hostable
MCP Ready
Function calling
+3
Last updated: Nov 3, 2026
Open Source
Visit Site28.6k
More
learn.microsoft.com

Quick Answer

AI

Semantic Kernel is an open-source SDK for orchestrating AI agents and integrating them with large language models. It supports RAG and can be accessed via API. Best for developers building AI-powered applications with Microsoft technologies. Open-source.

About Semantic KernelAI

Semantic Kernel is an open-source SDK from Microsoft for building AI agents that can integrate with large language models. It allows developers to combine AI models with conventional programming languages to create intelligent applications. The SDK supports various AI services and enables agents to use external tools and data.

What Makes It UniqueAI

Semantic Kernel allows developers to create custom AI agents that leverage Microsoft's trusted documentation and integrate with various AI services, providing a flexible framework for building intelligent applications.

AI-extracted from public sources. May contain errors. Methodology · Report an error

Decision Intelligence

Best For

AI
Developers building AI-powered applications
Organizations looking to integrate AI with existing systems
Students learning AI development with Microsoft technologies
Pricing Overview

Type

Open Source

Free Trial

No

Credit Card

Not Required

Free Plan

Yes

Dimension Scores

· 4.2 avg

How good it is, across universal quality axes

Ease of Use1/10
Customization8/10
Support7/10
Integration3/10
Compliance & Data Protection1/10
Performance5/10
AI-scored from up to 37 public sources, reviewed by a person·High confidenceHow we score

Task Scores

· 6.8 avg

What it can do, per category it works in · showing 10 of 10 tasks scoring 5+

Workflow Orchestration8/10
Tool Use Delegation8/10
Observability8/10
Role Definition7/10
Agent Coordination7/10
Task Decomposition6/10
Inter Agent Communication6/10
State Management6/10
Error Recovery6/10
Scalability Throughput6/10

Scores are AI-estimated from publicly available data — not an independent test or a verified user rating. How we rank →

Capabilities
Agent
RAG
Categories
Multi Agent Systems
Developer Platform
Code Assistant
Automation Agents
Fit Score

Complexity

Advanced

Company Size

Small
Medium
Enterprise

Target Team Size

Small Team
Large Team

Target Skill Level

Expert
Technical Specifications
SDK Available (unknown)
MCP Compatible
Team Features
Webhook Support (unknown)
Has Demo
Function Calling
Sandbox Mode (unknown)
Audit Logs
No Signup
Works Offline
Requires Host App
Framework
MCP Server
Inference API
Developer Access
API
Public
Deployment:
Self Hosted
Compliance, Privacy & Trust
GDPR: No info available
SOC 2: No info available
HIPAA: No info available
Privacy & data handling
Trains on user data: Unknown
Human review:
Recommended

The Model(s) Behind It

Model details — extracted from public vendor sources by our pipeline (AI extraction plus a source check) or admin-entered. Shown as claimed by the vendor; not independently audited by Intelloro.

Training Data Provenance
Not disclosed
Relevant to EU AI Act Art. 53 / Annex XI (GPAI)
Integrations & Connections
1 connection

Trust Score

75/100

Very Good

Based on 7 data signals

Confidence: High

Reflects publicly available data, not an independent audit

Compliance & Verified38/38
VerifiedYes
Open-source licenseMIT
Human ReviewYes
Reliability0/10

No published data

Market Proof10/10
Notable CustomersJ.M. Family Enterprises
Company17/17
Company ListedYes
Team Size10001+
FundingPublic
Health—

Not yet checked

AI-Assisted Data

Some details are AI-generated estimates — verify with the vendor.

AI-generated estimate: Best For, Description, Limitations, Quick Answer, What Makes Unique

How we source data

AI Governance & Regulatory Disclosures

Legally-sensitive fields — extracted from public vendor sources by our pipeline (AI extraction plus a source check) or admin-entered. Shown as claimed by the vendor; not independently audited by Intelloro.

EU AI Act Risk Tier
Unclassified

Switching & Migration

Migration Difficulty
Moderate Effort
Support:
Help Center
Community Forum
Quick Stats
PlatformsAPI
Launched2023
VerifiedNov 2026
Company & Links
CompanyMicrosoft
Founded1975
Based inUnited States
Last major updateSep 2022
FundingPublic
Documentation
All Features
Plugins from native code, OpenAPI specifications or MCP servers
Automatic function calling
Agent Framework for single and multi-agent apps
Process Framework for business processes
Vector store connectors
OpenTelemetry-compatible logs, metrics and traces
Filters for function and prompt hooks
SDKs for C#, Python and Java
Pricing Plans
Free
Free

Pricing verified from the vendor pricing page.

User Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to review!

Who It's For
4 roles
Software DevelopersComputer ProgrammersWeb Developers+1 more
Platform, Content & Languages
2 content types
1 languages
CodeTextEnglish+4 more

Content Types

Code
Text

Accepts

Text
Code

Produces

Text
Code
Languages: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What can Semantic Kernel do?

Semantic Kernel can: Plugins from native code, OpenAPI specifications or MCP servers, Automatic function calling, Agent Framework for single and multi-agent apps, Process Framework for business processes. Best for: Developers building AI-powered applications.

How much does Semantic Kernel cost?

Semantic Kernel is open source and free to self-host. Cloud hosting options may have separate pricing.

Is Semantic Kernel free?

Yes, Semantic Kernel is open source and free to self-host. Managed hosting may carry separate costs.

What makes Semantic Kernel unique?

Semantic Kernel allows developers to create custom AI agents that leverage Microsoft's trusted documentation and integrate with various AI services, providing a flexible framework for building intelligent applications.

Does Semantic Kernel have an API?

Yes, Semantic Kernel offers a public API for developers to integrate its capabilities into custom applications and workflows.

What platforms does Semantic Kernel support?

Semantic Kernel is available on API.

What languages does Semantic Kernel support?

Semantic Kernel supports English.

Does Semantic Kernel work offline?

Yes, Semantic Kernel supports offline use — you can run it without an active internet connection.

Who is Semantic Kernel for?

Semantic Kernel is designed for Developers building AI-powered applications; Organizations looking to integrate AI with existing systems; Students learning AI development with Microsoft technologies.