Open-Source AI · AI agent framework

Eliza vs Julep

Eliza vs Julep compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Agents with personality for Discord, X and more vs Stateful agents as a service.

Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech

Choose Eliza for character-driven agents living on social platforms. Choose Julep for agents that must run for days, not seconds.

Eliza vs Julep at a glance

SpecElizaJulep
CategoryAI agent frameworkAI agent framework
TypeAgent framework (TS)Agent backend
LicenseMITApache-2.0
Runs locallyPartialYes
Primary languageTypeScriptPython
Ease of useIntermediateIntermediate
Best forcharacter-driven agents living on social platformsagents that must run for days, not seconds
GitHub stars18.7k6.6k

How Eliza and Julep score

🤝 Too close to call — Eliza and Julep land within a hair (4.1 vs 4.2 / 5). Pick on fit, not on score.
CriterionElizaJulep
Popularity3.52.5
Maintenance5.05.0
Ease of use3.53.5
Privacy3.55.0
License freedom5.05.0

Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.

What each one is

Eliza

Agent framework (TS) · MIT

elizaOS is a TypeScript framework for autonomous agents with personas, memory and connectors to Discord, X and Telegram — the framework behind many social AI agents.

  • Personas and long-term memory out of the box
  • Native Discord, X and Telegram connectors
  • Huge plugin ecosystem in TypeScript
See the Eliza page →

Julep

Agent backend · Apache-2.0

Julep provides a backend for long-running, stateful agents with persistent memory and scheduled tasks, so your agents survive restarts.

  • Persistent state across sessions
  • Scheduled and long-running tasks
  • Self-hostable backend
See the Julep page →

Key differences

Eliza is agent framework (TS), while Julep is agent backend. Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. They also differ in how they run (Partial vs Yes). In short, Eliza fits character-driven agents living on social platforms, and Julep fits agents that must run for days, not seconds.

Which should you choose?

Choose Eliza for character-driven agents living on social platforms. Choose Julep for agents that must run for days, not seconds.

There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eliza or Julep easier to use?

Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.

Are Eliza and Julep free?

Eliza is free and open source (MIT), and Julep is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.

Can I run Eliza and Julep locally?

Eliza: partial · Julep: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.

Eliza vs Julep — which should I pick in 2026?

Choose Eliza for character-driven agents living on social platforms. Choose Julep for agents that must run for days, not seconds.

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