kitio.aiOpenAI Agents SDK vs Mastra
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. OpenAI Agents SDK is completely free, while Mastra is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Agent handoffs
- Function and hosted tools
- Guardrails
- Sessions
- Built-in tracing
- Agents with tools and memory
- Workflow graphs
- RAG helpers
- Local dev playground
- Evals and tracing
| Feature | OpenAI Agents SDK | Mastra |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI's lightweight framework for multi-agent workflows | TypeScript framework for building AI agents and workflows |
| Category | Agents & automation | Agents & automation |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $250/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | OpenAI | Mastra |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
OpenAI Agents SDK is completely free, while Mastra is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Starter
Free
- 100K observability events
- 24 CPU hours
- 15-day data retention
- Unlimited users and projects
Teams
$250/mo
- 1M observability events
- 250 CPU hours
- 6-month data retention
- SSO and SOC 2 docs
Enterprise
Custom
- Custom limits and retention
- For teams at scale
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
OpenAI Agents SDK
- Small, easy-to-learn API
- Good tracing
- Official OpenAI support
- Model usage billed separately
- Fewer integrations than larger frameworks
Mastra
- Native TypeScript experience
- Good developer playground
- Deploys anywhere
- Not for no-code users
- Younger ecosystem than Python tools
Which one should you choose?
Choose OpenAI Agents SDK if you want:
- Small, easy-to-learn API
- Good tracing
- Official OpenAI support
Watch out: model usage billed separately.
Choose Mastra if you want:
- Native TypeScript experience
- Good developer playground
- Deploys anywhere
Watch out: not for no-code users.
OpenAI Agents SDK vs Mastra FAQ
What is the difference between OpenAI Agents SDK and Mastra?
OpenAI Agents SDK: OpenAI's lightweight framework for multi-agent workflows. Mastra: TypeScript framework for building AI agents and workflows. Both are agents & automation tools.
Is OpenAI Agents SDK or Mastra cheaper?
OpenAI Agents SDK is completely free, while Mastra is freemium.
Do OpenAI Agents SDK and Mastra have free plans?
OpenAI Agents SDK: Yes, fully free. Mastra: Yes.
Who makes OpenAI Agents SDK?
OpenAI Agents SDK is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Who makes Mastra?
Mastra is made by Mastra, based in United States.
Which should I choose, OpenAI Agents SDK or Mastra?
Choose OpenAI Agents SDK if you value small, easy-to-learn api and good tracing. Choose Mastra if you value native typescript experience and good developer playground.