---
title: "Haystack vs Mastra: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Haystack vs Mastra compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which agent framework tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/haystack-vs-mastra
retrieved: 2026-08-24
---

Agent Framework

# Haystack vs Mastra: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between [Haystack](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/haystack) and [Mastra](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/mastra)? Both are popular agent framework tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

Both Haystack and Mastra are strong agent framework choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences. In our catalog, Mastra rates slightly higher (4.6 vs 4.2 out of 5).

## Haystack vs Mastra — Side by Side

|                | Haystack                         | Mastra                    |
| -------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Category       | Agent Framework                  | Agent Framework           |
| Pricing        | Free                             | Free                      |
| Starting price | Free tier available              | Free tier available       |
| Free tier      | ✓                                | ✓                         |
| Rating         | 4.2                              | 4.6                       |
| Best for       | Agent Framework — rag, retrieval | Agent Framework — ai, llm |

## Pros & Cons

![Haystack](https://appstackbuilder.com/logos/haystack.ico)

[Haystack](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/haystack)

* ✓Best retrieval abstractions of the group
* ✓Pipelines are explicit and debuggable
* ✓Production-minded from the start
* ✗Smaller ecosystem than LangChain
* ✗Pipeline model takes a while to click

![Mastra](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=mastra.ai&sz=128)

[Mastra](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/mastra)

* ✓Best-in-class for TypeScript teams
* ✓Batteries-included (agents, workflows, memory, evals)
* ✓From the experienced Gatsby team
* ✓Strong observability & MCP support
* ✗Younger than Python frameworks
* ✗TypeScript-only ecosystem

## Key Features Compared

### Haystack

* ✓Composable pipelines
* ✓Retrieval and RAG components
* ✓Agent and tool support
* ✓Evaluation tooling

### Mastra

* ✓TypeScript-native agents & workflows
* ✓Memory & semantic recall
* ✓Evals & observability
* ✓MCP tool sharing
* ✓3,300+ models via providers

### Choose Haystack if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Best retrieval abstractions of the group
* ✓Pipelines are explicit and debuggable
* ✓Production-minded from the start
[Haystack review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/haystack)

### Choose Mastra if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Best-in-class for TypeScript teams
* ✓Batteries-included (agents, workflows, memory, evals)
* ✓From the experienced Gatsby team
[Mastra review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/mastra)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is Haystack better than Mastra?⌄

Both Haystack and Mastra are strong agent framework choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences. In our catalog, Mastra rates slightly higher (4.6 vs 4.2 out of 5).

What is the difference between Haystack and Mastra?⌄

Haystack — deepset's pipeline framework for RAG and agents, strongest on retrieval. Mastra — Open-source TypeScript agent framework from the Gatsby team — agents, workflows, memory, and observability in one modern stack. Both are agent framework tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

Haystack vs Mastra: which is cheaper?⌄

Haystack pricing: Free. Mastra pricing: Free. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, Haystack or Mastra?⌄

In our catalog, Haystack rates 4.2 out of 5 and Mastra rates 4.6 out of 5, so Mastra has a slight edge on reviews.

See more options in our guide to the [best agent framework tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/agent-framework).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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