Mastra
The TypeScript framework for building AI agents
Overview
Mastra fills a gap for TypeScript developers who want to build AI agents without switching to Python, where most agent frameworks like LangChain live. It bundles agents, graph-based workflows, memory, and observability into one open-source package, and can deploy to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare, or a standalone Node server. The framework itself is free under Apache 2.0, so a solo developer or small team can build and self-host an entire agent stack without paying anything beyond their own model API costs.
Where Mastra makes money is Mastra Cloud, an optional hosted platform for observability, deployment, and team collaboration. The free Starter tier covers light usage, but the Teams plan jumps straight to $250 a month, which is a steep step for a small team just wanting better observability. That pricing structure makes sense for companies already running agents in production with a team around them, less so for an individual developer who is probably fine self-hosting for free.
Key Features
Typed Agents: Define agents with instructions, models, tools, and runtime behavior in TypeScript.
Graph-Based Workflows: Orchestrate multi-step logic with control flow methods like .then(), .branch(), and .parallel().
Memory System: Built-in conversation history, data retrieval, and semantic memory for agents.
Observability: Evals, metrics, datasets, and traces to monitor how agents actually perform in production.
MCP Server Support: Author Model Context Protocol servers directly within the framework.
90+ Model Providers: Connect to a wide range of AI providers through one standard interface.
Pricing
Starting price
Free and open source (self-hosted); Mastra Cloud Teams plan starts at $250/mo, with a free Starter cloud tier and usage-based overages
Self-Hosted (Free): $0. Apache 2.0 licensed, build and host agents, workflows, and memory anywhere.
Mastra Cloud Starter: $0/month. 100K observability events (then $10/100K), 24 CPU hours (then $0.35/hr), 15-day data retention.
Mastra Cloud Teams: $250/month. 1M observability events, 250 CPU hours, 6-month retention, multiple teams, SSO, SOC 2 docs.
Enterprise (Cloud or Self-Hosted): Custom pricing. RBAC, audit logs, dedicated support engineer, and uptime SLAs.
Disclaimer: pricing may change, confirm on Mastra's own pricing page before buying.
Pros
Free and Open Source: The core framework is Apache 2.0 licensed with no cost to self-host.
TypeScript-Native: A real alternative for teams that don't want to build their agent stack in Python.
Batteries Included: Memory, observability, and workflow orchestration ship built in rather than requiring separate tools.
Broad Model Support: Works with 90+ providers through a single interface, avoiding vendor lock-in.
Flexible Deployment: Deploy to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare, or self-hosted Node servers.
Cons
Steep Jump to Teams Cloud Plan: Mastra Cloud goes from a free Starter tier straight to $250/month with no mid-tier option.
Developer-Only: Requires solid TypeScript skills; there's no low-code or visual option for non-developers.
Usage-Based Overages Add Up: Observability events, CPU hours, and gateway tokens all carry separate per-unit charges past included limits.
Younger Framework: Smaller ecosystem and community than more established Python agent frameworks.
What Makes It Unique
TypeScript-First Agent Stack: Mastra bundles agents, workflows, memory, and observability into one open-source TypeScript framework, filling a gap in an ecosystem where most serious agent tooling assumes Python.
Kay Score
7.4
/ 10
Tool Information
Pricing
Free and open source (self-hosted); Mastra Cloud Teams plan starts at $250/mo, with a free Starter cloud tier and usage-based overages
Category
Coding & Development
Platform
Web / iOS / Android
Last Updated
