ACP
AI Protocols · Free + paid
Agent Communication Protocol by IBM/BeeAI
At a glance
- Korean
- None (English and a few others only)
- API
- Yes
- Available on
- API
What is ACP?
ACP (Agent Communication Protocol) is an open protocol that lets AI agents built separately in different frameworks, teams, and infrastructures communicate through a standardized RESTful API. It supports all modalities, synchronous and asynchronous communication, streaming, stateful and stateless modes, online and offline agent discovery, and long-running tasks. It can be used regardless of implementation, including the BeeAI framework, LangChain, CrewAI, or custom code, and it is the foundation of the BeeAI platform. The official page has a notice and migration guide stating that ACP is now part of A2A under the Linux Foundation.
- REST-based communication using standard HTTP patterns
- Supports all message formats (text, images, audio, video, etc.) based on MimeType
- Can be used without an SDK via curl or Postman; official Python and TypeScript SDKs provided
- Offline agent discovery by embedding metadata in the package
- Async-first, with synchronous communication also supported
- Provides an OpenAPI specification and an MCP adapter
Who uses ACP and for what
- Replacing a running agent with an agent from a different framework
- A multi-agent system in which research, writing, and SEO optimization agents collaborate like a team
- Cross-company agent collaboration (e.g., a logistics company's routing agent and a supplier's inventory agent)
Pricing
Open source (free, standard/specification)
Released free as open standards/protocols, implementations distributed as open source
Estimate based on AI knowledge - please verify on the official site
AI tools similar to ACP (alternatives)
ACP vs. alternatives at a glance
| AI | Pricing | Combos on the map | Connected tools | Free | Cheapest monthly | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| A2A | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
| AGENTS.md | Free | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| ANP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| AP2 | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
0 of these 5 tools have a free plan.
Combo and connection counts are based on the relationships recorded on AI Galaxy Map (2026-10-26); they are not a quality ranking.
ACP on AI Galaxy Map
- One of 9 AI tools in the AI Protocols field.
- Connected to 4 other tools — #1 in its field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ACP for free?
Open source (free, standard/specification). Prices can change, so check the official site before paying.
What AI can I use instead of ACP?
Tools that do the same job, such as A2A, AGENTS.md, ANP, AP2, are connected to it on the map.
Can I use ACP in Korean?
None (English and a few others only)
Sources (official pages)
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying.