Crisp
Customer messaging platform with live chat, shared inbox, knowledge base, and AI chatbot
Libredesk
Self-hosted customer support desk in a single binary
Modern, self-hosted helpdesk platform with shared inboxes, automation, SLA management, and AI assistance. Deploy as a single binary or Docker container.
Overview
Purpose & Audience
Libredesk is a self-hosted customer support platform designed for teams seeking full control over their helpdesk infrastructure. Built for businesses that value data sovereignty and deployment flexibility, it delivers enterprise-grade support features without vendor lock-in.
Core Capabilities
The platform centers on multi-shared inboxes with granular role-based permissions, enabling teams to manage conversations across departments. Smart automation eliminates repetitive workflows through auto-tagging, routing, and assignment based on custom conditions. Track service quality with CSAT surveys and enforce accountability through SLA management with breach notifications.
Operational efficiency comes from macros for templated responses, custom attributes for contacts and conversations, and a command bar (CTRL+K) for rapid actions. AI-Assist rewrites responses for tone and professionalism, while webhooks enable real-time integrations with external systems. Activity logs provide complete audit trails.
Deployment
Shipped as a single binary or Docker image, Libredesk requires only PostgreSQL. Installation takes minutes via Docker Compose or direct binary execution. The backend runs on Go with a Vue 3 frontend using Shadcn components. Licensed under AGPL-3.0, it supports self-hosting with straightforward upgrade paths.
Highlights
Multi-shared inboxes with granular role-based permissions for teams and agents
Smart automation rules for auto-tagging, assignment, and conversation routing
SLA management with response time tracking and breach notifications
Single binary deployment with PostgreSQL—Docker or standalone installation
Pros
- Complete data sovereignty through self-hosted deployment
- Single binary architecture simplifies installation and maintenance
- Comprehensive automation reduces manual ticket handling
- Built-in AI assistance for response refinement and tone adjustment
Considerations
- Requires PostgreSQL database and infrastructure management
- Self-hosting demands technical expertise for deployment and updates
- AGPL-3.0 license requires source disclosure for modified versions
- Smaller ecosystem compared to established SaaS helpdesk platforms
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Fit guide
Great for
- Teams requiring full control over customer data and infrastructure
- Organizations with compliance requirements preventing cloud SaaS adoption
- Businesses seeking to eliminate recurring helpdesk subscription costs
- Development teams comfortable managing self-hosted applications
Not ideal when
- Teams without technical resources for server administration
- Organizations preferring fully managed SaaS solutions
- Small businesses seeking zero-maintenance helpdesk options
- Companies requiring extensive third-party marketplace integrations
How teams use it
Multi-Department Support Operations
Separate shared inboxes for sales, technical support, and billing with custom permissions ensure teams access only relevant conversations while maintaining unified customer history.
SLA-Driven Enterprise Support
Automated SLA tracking with breach alerts and auto-assignment based on agent capacity ensures response time commitments are met consistently across high-volume ticket queues.
Regulated Industry Compliance
Self-hosted deployment with activity logs and audit trails satisfies data residency requirements for healthcare, finance, or government organizations unable to use cloud helpdesks.
Workflow Automation at Scale
Smart automation rules automatically tag, route, and assign incoming conversations based on keywords, custom attributes, or contact properties, eliminating manual triage for repetitive requests.
Tech snapshot
Vue42%
Go42%
JavaScript13%
PLpgSQL2%
HTML1%
SCSS1%
Frequently asked questions
What infrastructure does Libredesk require?
Libredesk requires a PostgreSQL database and runs as either a single binary or Docker container. Installation is supported via Docker Compose or direct binary execution on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
How does the single binary deployment work?
Download the binary, configure PostgreSQL connection details in config.toml, run the install command to set up the database schema, set the system user password, and start the application. The binary includes both backend and frontend.
Can I integrate Libredesk with external systems?
Yes, Libredesk supports webhooks for real-time HTTP notifications on conversation and message events, enabling integration with CRMs, analytics platforms, or custom workflows.
What does the AGPL-3.0 license mean for my deployment?
You can freely use and modify Libredesk for internal purposes. If you distribute modified versions or offer it as a network service, you must make your source code available under AGPL-3.0.
How are upgrades handled?
Run the binary with the --upgrade flag to apply database migrations. Upgrades are idempotent and safe to run multiple times without side effects.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 2,087
- Watchers
- 2,087
- Forks
- 131
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age1 year old
Last commit3 days ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageGo
Last synced 2 days ago