| Aspect | Platform | Framework |
|---|---|---|
| You write | The instructions, tools and rules. | The agent and everything around it. |
| You own | The job. | Model routing, channels, storage, retries, observability. |
| On call | The platform. | Your team, when a run fails at 22:00 on a Saturday. |
| First member | The same day for a WhatsApp agent with handoff. | Weeks to months. |
| Cost | Free to start, then usage. | Engineering time, model spend, channel fees and upkeep. |
Which to pick.
Pick a platform to be live fastest with the least to maintain.
Pick a framework when you need control the platform does not give.
Questions
Platform vs framework: what is the difference?
On a platform you write the job and the platform owns channels, models, records and uptime; on a framework you own all of that, with more control and months before launch.
Do I need developers on a platform?
On Health Loops, no. You describe the job, pick the agent and tools, and test in a playground. Developers can still write loops in TypeScript.
What does a self-built agent really cost?
Engineering time, model spend, channel fees and the person who maintains it, on top of the build.