Chatwoot
Open-source live-chat, email support, omni-channel desk. An alternative to Intercom, Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud etc.
38.6k GitHub stars · Mixed or custom · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Open-source and self-hosted alternatives to Zendesk
Help desks and shared inboxes for support teams. Chatwoot adds live chat; Zammad and FreeScout focus on ticketing and email.
Category: Customer support · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot Active Mixed or custom | Open-source live-chat, email support, omni-channel desk. An alternative to Intercom, Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud etc. | Mixed or custom | 38.6k | Oct 24, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| Zammad Active AGPL-3.0 | Zammad is a web based open source helpdesk/customer support system. | AGPL-3.0 | 6.1k | Oct 15, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| FreeScout Active AGPL-3.0 | FreeScout — Free self-hosted omnichannel AI-powered helpdesk & shared mailbox. | AGPL-3.0 | 4.6k | Oct 17, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Not confirmed |
| osTicket Active GPL-2.0 | The osTicket open source ticketing system official project repository, for versions 1.8 and later. | GPL-2.0 | 4.0k | Jun 17, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
Are they still maintained?
4 of 4 Zendesk alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- Chatwoot: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Zammad: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- FreeScout: active, last activity Oct 28, 2026 (1 days ago)
- osTicket: active, last activity Jun 17, 2026 (133 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from Zendesk costs
Zendesk: current plans and prices are on Zendesk's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (Mixed or custom, check terms) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| Zammad | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (AGPL-3.0) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| FreeScout | Your server | $0 (AGPL-3.0) | A server you rent or own, plus your time for updates and backups. |
| osTicket | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (GPL-2.0) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
Self-hosting basics: Chatwoot, Zammad, FreeScout and osTicket need a server, which can be a small cloud server or a spare machine at home. For a sense of scale, DigitalOcean's price list shows a 1 GiB server at $6/month and 2 GiB at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size, and budget time for updates and backups.
Don't want to run a server? Chatwoot, Zammad and osTicket offer a hosted plan run by the project itself. Prices change, so check each project's site.
License check: Chatwoot does not use a single standard open-source license that GitHub can detect. Read the license before using it in a business.
The options in more detail
Zammad
Zammad is a web based open source helpdesk/customer support system.
6.1k GitHub stars · AGPL-3.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
FreeScout
FreeScout — Free self-hosted omnichannel AI-powered helpdesk & shared mailbox.
4.6k GitHub stars · AGPL-3.0 · last code push Oct 28, 2026 · GitHub · Website
osTicket
The osTicket open source ticketing system official project repository, for versions 1.8 and later.
4.0k GitHub stars · GPL-2.0 · last code push Jun 17, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Zendesk alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Zendesk?
It depends on how you use Zendesk. Of the 4 options here, Chatwoot is the most followed on GitHub (38.6k stars) and is actively maintained, with its latest release on Oct 24, 2026.
Is there a self-hosted Zendesk alternative?
Yes. Chatwoot, Zammad, FreeScout and osTicket run on a server you control, so your data stays with you. If you'd rather not run a server, Chatwoot, Zammad and osTicket also offer a hosted plan from the people who make them.
Is there a free alternative to Zendesk?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. Server apps are free software, but you pay for the server they run on. Check the license of Chatwoot before using it in a business.
Are these Zendesk alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 4 of 4 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from Zendesk?
The software itself is free. For server apps, the main cost is hosting: as a reference point, DigitalOcean lists a 1 GiB server at $6/month and a 2 GiB server at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
Are all of these really open source?
Not all under a standard license. Chatwoot: GitHub could not identify a single standard license for this repository (often a mix of open-source and commercial parts). Read the LICENSE file before using it. The others use OSI-approved open-source licenses.
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