AI SDKs
2 open source tools compared. Sorted by stars — scroll down for our analysis.
| Tool | Stars | Velocity | Language | License | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 openai-python The official Python library for the OpenAI API | 30.3k | +102/wk | Python | Apache License 2.0 | 97 |
 anthropic-sdk-python Official Python SDK for the Anthropic API (Claude models). | 3.0k | +36/wk | Python | MIT License | 83 |
Our Analysis
The OpenAI Python SDK is the most-used AI SDK on the planet — the `pip install openai` that powers half the AI demos on Twitter. It gives you typed access to GPT-4o, o1/o3 reasoning models, DALL-E, Whisper, and embeddings. The API format has become the de facto standard that other providers mimic. If you're building AI features in Python, you'll probably use this regardless of your actual model provider — LiteLLM and many frameworks use OpenAI's format as the universal interface. The Anthropic SDK is the direct competitor with better tool-use and long-context support. LiteLLM wraps 100+ providers in OpenAI's format for $0. The catch: You're locked to OpenAI's API and pricing, which can spike unpredictably. The SDK changes frequently — breaking changes between versions happen. And the "one SDK to rule them all" convenience fades when you realize Anthropic's Claude often outperforms GPT-4o for coding and analysis. Consider LiteLLM or the Anthropic SDK directly if you want flexibility.
The Anthropic Python SDK is the official way to talk to Claude — and it's how you should be doing it. Type-safe request and response models, async/await support, streaming via SSE, tool calling helpers, token counting, and automatic retries with exponential backoff. It's not flashy, but it's the most reliable path to Claude's API. If you're building with Claude in Python, use this SDK. Period. The OpenAI Python SDK is the equivalent for GPT models — similar design philosophy, different provider. LangChain wraps multiple providers but adds abstraction overhead. LiteLLM gives you a unified interface across providers if you need to swap models. The Anthropic TypeScript SDK covers the same functionality for Node.js. The catch: this SDK is Claude-only. If your product needs to call multiple LLM providers, you'll either use this alongside OpenAI's SDK or reach for a wrapper like LiteLLM. Python 3.9+ is required — older environments need upgrading. And the SDK version moves fast (v0.86.0 as of March 2026), so pin your version and test upgrades carefully.