A Semantic Kernel Alternative for .NET — When and Why You'd Reach for One

If you're building an AI feature in .NET in 2026, the first framework you hear about is Microsoft Semantic Kernel . It's well-funded, actively maintained, and integrates deeply with Azure. For most projects, that's a fine starting point. But "fine for most" is not "right for all." Over the last few months we've talked to teams who started with Semantic Kernel and ended up looking for something else. The reasons cluster around three themes: local LLM support, observability, and dependency footpri