# Best open source helpdesk and ticketing systems > The best open source helpdesk and ticketing system is FreeScout, with 4,585 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Frappe Helpdesk and Zammad are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: FreeScout leads for startups and small business; Zammad for enterprise. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 14 apps in the helpdesk & ticketing category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source helpdesk and ticketing system? | | Picks | 25 | | Top pick | FreeScout (4,585 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-helpdesk | ## Top picks 10 of the 14 apps in the helpdesk & ticketing category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [FreeScout](https://appsgit.com/apps/freescout) (4,585 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): FreeScout has 4,585 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 679 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. - [Frappe Helpdesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-helpdesk) (3,418 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Frappe Helpdesk has 3,418 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,107 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. - [Zammad](https://appsgit.com/apps/zammad) (5,981 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Zammad has 5,981 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 2,422 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. - [Libredesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/libredesk) (2,995 stars, AGPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Libredesk has 2,995 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,556 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. - [Erxes](https://appsgit.com/apps/erxes) (4,091 stars, AGPL-3.0 + erxes terms, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Erxes has 4,091 GitHub stars, is source-available under the AGPL-3.0 with a no-competing-SaaS condition (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,499 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. - [BottleCRM](https://appsgit.com/apps/bottlecrm) (2,438 stars, MIT, Python, Docker): BottleCRM has 2,438 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 369 commits in the last year; it replaces Salesforce and Pipedrive. - [Bugsink](https://appsgit.com/apps/bugsink) (2,114 stars, PolyForm-Shield-1.0.0, source-available, Python, Docker): Bugsink has 2,114 GitHub stars, is source-available under the PolyForm Shield 1.0.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 708 commits in the last year; it replaces Sentry. - [MantisBT](https://appsgit.com/apps/mantisbt) (1,808 stars, GPL-2.0, PHP): MantisBT has 1,808 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-2.0 license and had 648 commits in the last year. - [ITFlow](https://appsgit.com/apps/itflow) (1,012 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): ITFlow has 1,012 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 1,032 commits in the last year. - [Request Tracker](https://appsgit.com/apps/request-tracker) (1,162 stars, GPL-2.0, Perl): Request Tracker has 1,162 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-2.0 license and had 569 commits in the last year. ## Best for startups Ranked for startups on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites and recent commits. - [FreeScout](https://appsgit.com/apps/freescout) (4,585 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): FreeScout has 4,585 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 679 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Frappe Helpdesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-helpdesk) (3,418 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Frappe Helpdesk has 3,418 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,107 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [BottleCRM](https://appsgit.com/apps/bottlecrm) (2,438 stars, MIT, Python, Docker): BottleCRM has 2,438 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 369 commits in the last year; it replaces Salesforce and Pipedrive. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (MIT), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Libredesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/libredesk) (2,995 stars, AGPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Libredesk has 2,995 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,556 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Zammad](https://appsgit.com/apps/zammad) (5,981 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Zammad has 5,981 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 2,422 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For startups it also scores on an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for small business Ranked for small business on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides. - [FreeScout](https://appsgit.com/apps/freescout) (4,585 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): FreeScout has 4,585 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 679 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Frappe Helpdesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-helpdesk) (3,418 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Frappe Helpdesk has 3,418 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,107 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Libredesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/libredesk) (2,995 stars, AGPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Libredesk has 2,995 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,556 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Zammad](https://appsgit.com/apps/zammad) (5,981 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Zammad has 5,981 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 2,422 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For small business it also scores on an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [BottleCRM](https://appsgit.com/apps/bottlecrm) (2,438 stars, MIT, Python, Docker): BottleCRM has 2,438 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 369 commits in the last year; it replaces Salesforce and Pipedrive. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for enterprise Ranked for enterprise on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Zammad](https://appsgit.com/apps/zammad) (5,981 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Zammad has 5,981 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 2,422 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [FreeScout](https://appsgit.com/apps/freescout) (4,585 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): FreeScout has 4,585 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 679 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Frappe Helpdesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-helpdesk) (3,418 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Frappe Helpdesk has 3,418 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,107 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Libredesk](https://appsgit.com/apps/libredesk) (2,995 stars, AGPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Libredesk has 2,995 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,556 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Freshdesk. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Erxes](https://appsgit.com/apps/erxes) (4,091 stars, AGPL-3.0 + erxes terms, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Erxes has 4,091 GitHub stars, is source-available under the AGPL-3.0 with a no-competing-SaaS condition (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,499 commits in the last year; it replaces Zendesk and Intercom. For enterprise it also scores on a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 14 apps in the helpdesk & ticketing category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is FreeScout free? Yes. FreeScout is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source helpdesk and ticketing system is best for a startup? FreeScout ranks first for startups, with 4,585 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Frappe Helpdesk and BottleCRM follow. The startups ranking adds points for Docker images, permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source helpdesk and ticketing system is best for a small business? FreeScout ranks first for small business, with 4,585 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Frappe Helpdesk and Libredesk follow. The small business ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these helpdesk and ticketing systems with Docker? Yes, 6 of the 10 picks. FreeScout, Frappe Helpdesk and Libredesk publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these helpdesk and ticketing systems open source? 8 of the 10 apps on this list are open source; 2 are source-available. Source-available licenses add conditions, such as limits on hosted or commercial use, so read them before you deploy. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source task manager?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-task-management) - [What is the best open source project management tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-project-management) - [What is the best open source CRM?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-crm) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms) - [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat) - [What is the best open source file sharing app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sharing) - [What is the best open source monitoring tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-monitoring-tools) ## See also - [All helpdesk & ticketing apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/helpdesk-ticketing) - [All task management apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/task-management) - [All project management apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/project-management) - [Open-source alternatives to Zendesk](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/zendesk) - [Open-source alternatives to Intercom](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/intercom) - [Open-source alternatives to Freshdesk](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/freshdesk) - [Open-source alternatives to Salesforce](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/salesforce) - [Open-source alternatives to Pipedrive](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/pipedrive) - [Open-source alternatives to Zoho CRM](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/zoho-crm) - [Chatwoot vs Zammad](https://appsgit.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-zammad) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-helpdesk Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. 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