Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to Help Scout in 2025

As customer support continues to evolve, 2025 has brought a plethora of robust, open-source alternatives to Help Scout. These tools cater to various needs and provide extensive features, from basic ticket management to advanced automation and integrations. Below, we delve into the top 10 open-source customer support systems, each offering unique functionalities.

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1. osTicket

Description: osTicket is a widely used, free, and open-source help desk system. It's known for its robust ticketing system and is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses.
Website: Learn more about osTicket
Ticketing System: Comprehensive ticket management with custom fields, queues, and agent collision detection.
Email Support: Primarily focused on email-based support, converting emails into tickets.
Self-Hosted: Requires self-hosting, giving users full control over the data and software.
Customizable: Highly customizable via code modification and extensions.
Community Support: Active community forum available for support and development.

2. FreeScout

Description: FreeScout is a free and self-hosted open-source help desk and shared inbox, designed as a direct alternative to Help Scout. It's built on PHP (Laravel framework) and is lightweight and powerful.
Website: Explore FreeScout
Shared Inbox: Functions as a shared inbox, allowing teams to manage customer communications collaboratively.
Self-Hosted: Offers complete control over data through self-hosting.
Email Integration: Seamless integration with email, including modern Microsoft Exchange authentication.
Multilingual: Supports a large number of languages.
Mobile-Friendly: Fully responsive for use on mobile devices.

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3. Zammad

Description: Zammad is a web-based, open-source help desk and customer support system. It is designed for businesses of all sizes.
Website: Discover Zammad
Multi-Channel Support: Handles tickets from various channels like email, chat, and social media.
Automation: Includes automation features for ticket routing and assignment.
Reporting: Offers basic reporting and analytics capabilities.
Knowledge Base: Has a built-in knowledge base for self-service options.
Scalable: Designed to handle a high volume of support requests.

4. UVdesk

Description: UVdesk is an open-source help desk platform particularly well-suited for e-commerce businesses, although it can be used for any business.
Website: Learn more about UVdesk
E-commerce Focus: Specifically designed with features tailored for e-commerce support.
Customizable: Highly customizable and adaptable.
Multi-Channel Support: Supports multiple channels, including email and social media.
Knowledge Base: Includes a knowledge base for customers.
Multi-Store Support: Ability to handle support for multiple online stores.

5. Hesk

Description: Hesk is a free, lightweight, and self-hosted open-source help desk software known for its ease of use.
Website: Explore Hesk
Self-Hosted: Users host the software themselves.
Simplicity: Focused on ease of use, with a simple interface.
Ticket Management: Provides basic ticketing functionality.
Security Focus: Emphasis on security due to self-hosting.
Customizable: Can be customized to some extent.

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6. Rocket.Chat

Description: Rocket.Chat is a versatile open-source platform that can be used for team collaboration, in-app chat, and customer service.
Website: Discover Rocket.Chat
Omnichannel: Can centralize customer inquiries from various channels (email, social media, etc.).
Real-Time Chat: Offers live chat functionality.
Customizable: Highly customizable to fit specific needs.
Self-Hosted: Provides self-hosting options.
Integrations: Supports integrations with other tools.

7. Faveo

Description: Faveo is an open-source help desk system designed for small to medium-sized businesses.
Website: Explore Faveo
Ticketing System: Standard ticketing system with various features.
Email Integration: Seamless email integration.
Automation: Provides automation features.
Knowledge Base: Includes knowledge base functionality.
Customer Portal: Offers a customer portal for submitting tickets and checking their status.

8. Budibase

Description: Budibase is an open-source, low-code platform that can be used to build various applications, including help desk systems.
Website: Learn about Budibase
Low-Code Platform: Allows for customization without extensive coding knowledge.
Scalable: Suitable for support teams of all sizes.
Customizable: Highly customizable and adaptable to specific requirements.
No User Limit: No minimum user limit.
Self-Hosted: Gives control over the data through self-hosting.

9. Helpy

Description: Helpy is a modern, open-source help desk alternative focused on simplicity.
Website: Discover Helpy
Open-source: Open Source and free to use.
Modern Design: Modern looking UI.
Simple Setup: Easy to install and use.
Self Hosted: Self-hosted solution giving you full control of your data.
Knowledge base: Built-in Knowledge base tool.

10. SuiteCRM

Description: SuiteCRM is an open source CRM platform that can be customized to function as a help desk system.
Website: Learn about SuiteCRM
CRM Platform: Core functionality is as a CRM but it can be customized to work as a help desk.
Customizable: Offers extensive customization options, being an open-source platform.
Integrations: It allows integrations with other business tools.
Scalability: It can be scaled for larger teams and higher volumes of tickets.
Self-Hosted: Self-hosted, providing full control of the data.

These options should provide a good starting point for exploring open-source alternatives to Help Scout in 2025. Each platform has its strengths, so the best choice depends on specific needs and technical capabilities. Remember to thoroughly evaluate each option based on your requirements before making a decision.

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FAQ

1. What is osTicket and what features does it provide?

osTicket is a widely used, free, and open-source help desk system suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers a ticket management system with custom fields, queues, and agent collision detection. The platform focuses on converting emails into tickets, supports self-hosting, and can be highly customized via code modification and extensions.

2. How does FreeScout differ from other help desk systems?

FreeScout is a free and self-hosted open-source help desk and shared inbox, designed as a direct alternative to Help Scout. It features a shared inbox for collaborative management of customer communications, offers complete control over data through self-hosting, ensures seamless email integration, supports multiple languages, and is mobile-friendly. Learn more about FreeScout

3. What makes Zammad a versatile support system?

Zammad is a web-based, open-source help desk and customer support system designed to handle multi-channel support, including email, chat, and social media. It includes automation features for ticket routing and assignment, provides basic reporting and analytics, has a built-in knowledge base for self-service, and is scalable for high volumes of support requests. Explore Zammad

4. Why is UVdesk a good choice for e-commerce businesses?

UVdesk is an open-source help desk platform tailored for e-commerce businesses. It offers features specifically designed for e-commerce support, is highly customizable, supports multi-channel inquiries from email and social media, includes a knowledge base, and can handle support for multiple online stores. Discover UVdesk

5. What are the key features of Hesk?

Hesk is a free, lightweight, and self-hosted open-source help desk software known for its simplicity and ease of use. It provides basic ticket management, emphasizes security, and can be customized to some extent. Learn more about Hesk

6. How can Rocket.Chat be used for customer service?

Rocket.Chat is an open-source platform suitable for team collaboration, in-app chat, and customer service. It centralizes customer inquiries from various channels (email, social media, etc.), offers live chat functionality, is highly customizable, provides self-hosting options, and supports integrations with other tools. Discover Rocket.Chat

7. What are the main features of Faveo help desk system?

Faveo is an open-source help desk system designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It includes a standard ticketing system, seamless email integration, automation features, a knowledge base, and a customer portal for submitting and tracking tickets. Explore Faveo

8. What is Budibase and how can it be used as a help desk system?

Budibase is an open-source, low-code platform that allows users to build various applications, including help desk systems. It is highly customizable without extensive coding, is scalable for larger teams, has no user limit, and offers self-hosting options for data control. Learn more about Budibase

9. How does Helpy help desk software stand out?

Helpy is a modern and open-source help desk software focused on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a modern UI, simple setup, self-hosting for full control over data, and a built-in knowledge base tool. Discover Helpy

10. Can SuiteCRM function as a help desk system?

SuiteCRM is an open-source CRM platform that can be customized to function as a help desk system. It offers extensive customization options, allows integrations with other business tools, is scalable for larger teams and higher ticket volumes, and provides self-hosting for complete data control. Learn more about SuiteCRM

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.