Crisp
Customer messaging platform with live chat, shared inbox, knowledge base, and AI chatbot
Open-Source Projects
Discover top open-source software, updated regularly with real-world adoption signals.
Discover top open-source software, updated regularly with real-world adoption signals.
Free self-hosted help desk and shared inbox alternative
Lightweight PHP-based help desk and shared inbox offering unlimited users, tickets, and mailboxes. Self-hosted alternative to Zendesk and Help Scout with no vendor lock-in.
FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk and shared inbox solution built with PHP and the Laravel framework. Designed for teams seeking privacy, control, and cost savings, it eliminates per-agent pricing and vendor lock-in while delivering core ticketing functionality comparable to commercial platforms like Zendesk and Help Scout.
The platform supports unlimited users, tickets, and mailboxes with seamless email integration and modern Microsoft Exchange authentication. Key workflow features include starred conversations, collision detection when multiple agents access the same ticket, internal notes, auto-replies, conversation forwarding and merging, and open tracking. The interface is fully mobile-responsive and accessible to screen readers, with native mobile apps available for iOS, Android, and macOS.
FreeScout runs on standard PHP/MySQL infrastructure with minimal system requirements, making it suitable for shared hosting environments. Installation options include Docker, one-click installers (Softaculous, Fantastico, Cloudron), and a web-based installer. The platform supports 25+ languages and offers official and community modules for extended functionality, plus API access and integrations with Zapier and Make for workflow automation.
When teams consider FreeScout, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Startup Customer Support
Launch a professional help desk with unlimited agents and tickets, avoiding recurring SaaS costs as the team scales
Internal IT Helpdesk
Deploy a private ticketing system for employee support requests while maintaining full control over sensitive internal data
Agency Client Communication
Manage multiple client mailboxes with shared team access, conversation assignment, and internal notes for collaboration
Migration from Commercial Platforms
Reduce operational costs by migrating from Zendesk or Help Scout while retaining core ticketing workflows and email integration
FreeScout requires PHP 7.1-8.x, MySQL 5.0+/MariaDB/PostgreSQL, and a web server (Nginx, Apache, or IIS). It runs on shared hosting with no minimum CPU or RAM requirements.
No. FreeScout imposes no limitations on the number of users, tickets, mailboxes, or conversations you can manage.
FreeScout provides core help desk features—email integration, collision detection, internal notes, conversation management—without per-agent pricing or vendor lock-in. Advanced features may require modules.
Yes. FreeScout offers an API, official and community modules, and integrations with Zapier and Make for workflow automation.
Yes. A cloud-hosted version is available for teams preferring managed infrastructure over self-hosting.
Project at a glance
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