What is a subagent in AI?
Quick answer
A subagent is an AI agent that another agent calls to handle one part of a bigger job. The main agent gives it a focused task, such as research a supplier or check a calendar, and the subagent works with its own instructions and tools, then reports back. It keeps each agent's job small and clear.
Last updated
Take the free module →Module 11 of the free n8n Jump Start course, about 11 minutes. No account needed.
Updated · By Robert Breen
Why it matters for a small business
One agent with a long list of tools and rules gets confused and expensive. Splitting the work lets each subagent have short instructions, only the tools it needs, and its own context, so the main agent sees a tidy result instead of every intermediate step.
Tools like Claude Code support subagents, and n8n lets an agent call another agent through its AI Agent Tool node. The same rules apply as for any agent: narrow permissions, clear limits and logs you can read.
In a real lesson: n8n AI Agent with Tools: Check Google Calendar, Book It and Log It
In n8n AI Agent with Tools, the Maple Street Dog Grooming agent has three tools on its Tool input: check availability in Google Calendar, create an event, and append a row to the bookings sheet. Its system message sets the order: check, book, log.
There is no subagent in the lesson; one agent with three tools is right for one job. If the salon later wanted the same chat to also handle grooming questions from a long FAQ, a separate FAQ agent connected as a tool would keep the booking rules short. The Logs panel would then show the subagent's call like any other tool call.
Try this lesson free or read the step-by-step guide.
Common confusions
Subagent vs tool
A tool does one fixed action, like create an event. A subagent is itself an agent that can decide steps and use its own tools.
Subagent vs multi-agent system
A multi-agent system is the whole team of agents. A subagent is one member that works for a main agent.
Tips
- Start with one agent; split only when its instructions get long or muddled.
- Give each subagent only the tools its job needs.
- Read the logs to see what each subagent did.
Related terms
More AI agents terms
Where you use it: free lessons
- n8n AI Agent with Tools: Check Google Calendar, Book It and Log It (n8n, 11 min)
- n8n AI Agent Tutorial: Save Social Media Ideas to Google Sheets (n8n, 12 min)
Frequently asked questions
- When should I use subagents?
- When one agent has too many jobs, tools or rules to follow reliably. For a single task, one agent is simpler.
- Do subagents cost more?
- Each one makes its own model calls, so they can. They can also save money by keeping each call's context small.
- Can I use subagents without coding?
- In tools like n8n you connect agents visually. In Claude Code, subagents are set up with short instruction files.