# Agent Network Protocol [08 agent-communication](https://www.agentlist.io/categories/agent-communication)/[Community / OSS](https://www.agentlist.io/ai/community)/ACTIVE/aka ANP Agent Network Protocol (ANP) is an open spec for a decentralized web of agents — DID-based identity, capability description, and peer-to-peer agent messaging without a central directory. - [Agent-to-agent protocol](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/a2a) - [Agent identity & auth](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/identity) - [API-native](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/api-native) SEC.01 ## What it does - 01Decentralized DID identity - 02Capability description format - 03Meta-protocol negotiation - 04Peer-to-peer messaging - 05Open spec (Apache-2.0) SEC.02 ## Who it's for Experiments in decentralized agent networks where no central directory or vendor should sit in the middle. PRICING ## Pricing Open protocol (free). List prices as checked against the vendor's pricing page on 2026-09-25; plans change often, so confirm before deciding. caveat · before you adopt Research-grade adoption: smaller ecosystem and fewer production deployments than A2A. ALT ## Other agent communication platforms (12) [OpenScout / Scout OpenScout · agent-communication cli/api · local · Free (OSS), local](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/scout) [A2A Protocol A2A Project · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Open protocol (free)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/a2a) [AGNTCY AGNTCY · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free (OSS, Apache-2.0)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/agntcy) [NANDA NANDA (MIT Media Lab) · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free (research project)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/nanda) [BeeAI IBM · agent-communication api/cli · local/cloud · Free (OSS, Apache-2.0)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/beeai) [CrewAI CrewAI · agent-communication api/cli · local/cloud · Free OSS core; CrewAI Enterprise paid (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/crewai) [Microsoft Agent Framework Microsoft · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free OSS (MIT); Azure hosting via Foundry](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/agent-framework) [LangGraph LangChain · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free OSS; LangGraph Platform paid tiers](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/langgraph) [MetaGPT DeepWisdom · agent-communication api/cli · local/cloud · Free OSS; MGX hosted product paid (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/metagpt) [CAMEL CAMEL-AI · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free (OSS, Apache-2.0)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/camel) [Agency Swarm VRSEN · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free (OSS)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/agency-swarm) [OpenAI Agents SDK OpenAI · agent-communication api · local/cloud · Free (OSS SDK); model usage metered](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/openai-agents-sdk) VENDOR ## More from Community / OSS [Aider Community / OSS · cli-agent caution cli · local · Free (OSS) + your model API costs](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/aider) [Cline Community / OSS · ide-extension editor/cli · local · Free (OSS) + model costs; ClinePass $9.99/mo](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/cline) [OpenCode Community / OSS · cli-agent cli · local · Free (OSS) + BYOK; Zen PAYG; Go $10/mo](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/opencode) [OpenHands Community / OSS · cli-agent cli/api/editor · local/cloud · Free OSS self-host; Cloud free tier + $20/mo](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/openhands) [LiteLLM Community / OSS · model-router api · local/cloud · Free OSS self-host; Enterprise quote-based](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/litellm) [Model Context Protocol Community / OSS · bridge api · local/cloud · Open protocol (free)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/mcp) [Continue Community / OSS · ide-extension retired editor · local · Retired — acquired by Cursor (Jun 2026); OSS core only](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/continue) [Instinct Community / OSS · bridge caution api · local · Free (OSS, MIT)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/instinct) FAQ ## Frequently asked ### What is Agent Network Protocol? Agent Network Protocol (ANP) is an open spec for a decentralized web of agents — DID-based identity, capability description, and peer-to-peer agent messaging without a central directory. ### Who is Agent Network Protocol for? Experiments in decentralized agent networks where no central directory or vendor should sit in the middle. ### How much does Agent Network Protocol cost? Open protocol (free). List prices as checked against the vendor's pricing page on 2026-09-25; plans change often, so confirm before deciding. ### Does Agent Network Protocol run locally or in the cloud? Agent Network Protocol runs locally on your machine and in the vendor's cloud. Its interfaces are an API or protocol. ### What are alternatives to Agent Network Protocol? Other agent communication platform entries in the catalog: OpenScout / Scout, A2A Protocol, AGNTCY, NANDA, BeeAI, CrewAI, Microsoft Agent Framework, LangGraph, MetaGPT, CAMEL, Agency Swarm, OpenAI Agents SDK. Different categories solve the same problem differently — see the Agent communication & collaboration category page for tradeoffs. ### What should I know before adopting Agent Network Protocol? Research-grade adoption: smaller ecosystem and fewer production deployments than A2A. Spec sheet **Name**: Agent Network Protocol **Vendor**: [Community / OSS](https://www.agentlist.io/ai/community) **Category**: [Agent communication & collaboration](https://www.agentlist.io/categories/agent-communication) **Interfaces**: api **Hosting**: local · cloud **Pricing**: Open protocol (free) **Status**: actively maintained **Speaks**: - [ANP (Agent Network Protocol)](https://www.agentlist.io/transports/anp) **Aliases**: ANP **Record ID**: `sys://community/anp` **Verified**: [2026-09-25](https://www.agentlist.io/changelog) Sources - [↗ github.com/agent-network-protocol/AgentNetworkProtocol](https://github.com/agent-network-protocol/AgentNetworkProtocol) Catalog entries are editorial records, not paid placements or endorsements. Pricing and status are approximate as of the seed date. --- Source: [Agent Network Protocol — AGENT-COMMS by Community / OSS | agentlist.io](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/anp). 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