The Agent ExaminerIndependent Review Authority
SDKOpen sourceNot yet hands-on tested

Claude Agent SDK

Build production AI agents with Claude Code as a library.

What it is

The Claude Agent SDK (formerly the Claude Code SDK) is a Python/TypeScript library that runs Claude Code's agent loop, built-in tools, and context management inside your own process, so agents can autonomously read files, run commands, search the web, and edit code.

At a glance

7/7 facts sourced
Pricing
The SDK library is free (the Python repo is MIT), but use is governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service and you pay Claude API token costs (or via Bedrock/Vertex/Azure).source ↗
Hosting model
A self-deployed library that runs the agent loop inside your own process; a separate hosted option (Managed Agents, an Anthropic-run sandbox per session) also exists.source ↗
Memory & state
Sessions maintain context across exchanges (files read, analysis, history), are resumable and forkable, and are stored as JSONL on your filesystem; it also supports CLAUDE.md memory files and automatic context compaction.source ↗
MCP support
Nativesource ↗
Integrations
Built-in tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep, WebSearch, WebFetch), lifecycle hooks, subagents, permissions, Skills, slash commands, and plugins.source ↗
Model providers
Anthropic-first (Claude models); authenticates via the Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or Microsoft Azure AI Foundry. No non-Claude model support is indicated.source ↗
Open source
Yessource ↗
4.2of 5

Editorial scorecard

Overall 4.2 / 5

Our opinion — the same 0–5 rubric is applied to every platform, including Alfe. See the rubric.

Developer experience5/5
Pricing transparency & value4/5
Scalability3/5
Memory & state4/5
Integrations4/5
MCP nativeness5/5

Strengths

  • Ships the same agent loop, tools, and context compaction that power Claude Code.
  • Native MCP plus subagents, hooks, skills, and resumable/forkable sessions.
  • Multiple auth backends — Anthropic API, Bedrock, Vertex, and Azure.

Trade-offs

  • Claude-only — no non-Anthropic model support.
  • Governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service rather than a blanket permissive license, despite the MIT-licensed Python repo.
  • You pay Claude token costs and run your own infrastructure, unless you move to the hosted Managed Agents option.

Our take

Editorial opinion — not a hands-on test result

In our opinion, the Claude Agent SDK is a strong option when you want a proven, feature-rich agent runtime and are committed to Claude models. Its tooling — subagents, hooks, skills, resumable sessions, and first-class MCP — is among the most complete of the SDKs here. The trade-off is single-vendor model lock-in and the commercial-terms governance layer over the MIT repo.

FAQ

Is this the old Claude Code SDK?
Yes — it was renamed from the Claude Code SDK to the Claude Agent SDK.
Where does session state live?
As JSONL on your own filesystem — sessions are resumable and forkable.

Compare Claude Agent SDK

Sources

The Agent Examiner editorial · last updated 2026-07-01. Facts are drawn from each vendor’s own public materials; scores are our editorial opinion (methodology).

Product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to identify the products under discussion.