2026-07-12
How to Choose ReAct vs Plan-Execute for Your First Agent Loop
Start with ReAct for tool-using assistants. Move to Plan-Execute when tasks need explicit multi-step planning and clearer budgets.
← Back to BlogDirect answer: choose ReAct when the agent must interleave reasoning with tool calls in a short loop. Choose Plan-Execute when the job needs an upfront plan, staged execution, and easier inspection of intermediate goals. In LoopCraft, pick the pattern visually, validate the control flow with your team, then export to LangGraph, OpenAI Agents SDK, AutoGen, or CrewAI. Do not start with the most complex multi-agent graph. Start with the smallest pattern that matches the failure mode you can operate at 2 a.m. https://getloopcraft.com/builder
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