hermes-agent vs goose
hermes-agent is the more adopted project, with 256,610 GitHub stars against 55,613 for goose (about 4.6x more). hermes-agent was updated more recently (today, against yesterday). hermes-agent is written in Python and goose in Rust.
| hermes-agent | goose | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | The agent that grows with you | an open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions - install, execute, edit, and test with any LLM |
| Author | NousResearch | aaif-goose |
| Stars | 256610 | 55613 |
| Language | Python | Rust |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Last update | 2026-10-24T07:06:45Z | 2026-10-23T17:43:37Z |
| Source | https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent | https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose |
| Stars this week | +2,003 | +252 |
Which should you choose?
- hermes-agent describes itself as: "The agent that grows with you"
- goose describes itself as: "an open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions - install, execute, edit, and test with any LLM"
Stars measure adoption, not fit. Read both READMEs for the tools each server exposes, then try them side by side in your client: the install guide shows how to add both.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, hermes-agent or goose?
hermes-agent has more GitHub stars: 256,610 against 55,613. This week hermes-agent gained 2,003 stars and goose gained 252, which says more about current momentum than the all-time total. Both figures are refreshed daily from GitHub.
Are hermes-agent and goose open source?
hermes-agent: MIT (open source). goose: Apache-2.0 (open source). An open-source license lets you run and self-host the server at no cost. If either one wraps a commercial API, that provider's pricing still applies, so read each README for the accounts and keys it needs.
Can I use hermes-agent and goose together?
Yes, if both run as MCP servers. MCP clients such as Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code can connect to several servers at once, and the agent picks tools from each. Give them distinct names in your config, and keep the number of active servers small so tool definitions do not crowd the context window.
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hermes-agent details · goose details · All Miscellaneous MCP servers
Data last updated . Stars and downloads are refreshed every day from GitHub and npm.