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Open source / Zendesk

Open-source alternatives to Zendesk

Zammad and Chatwoot are open source: free to download and run on your own server. Zendesk costs from $55 a month.

Zammad

Open source (AGPL-3.0) · Open-source helpdesk and ticketing system

Zammad is a web-based helpdesk that handles support across email, chat, phone and social media. The software is owned by the independent Zammad Foundation.

  • Ticketing across channels
  • Knowledge base
  • Automations and SLAs
  • Reporting
  • Owned by a foundation

Free to download and run on your own server under the AGPL-3.0 licence; you pay only for your hosting. Zammad GmbH also sells a hosted version.

See ZammadZammad vs ZendeskSource code (opens in a new tab)

Chatwoot

Open core (MIT) · Open-source customer support inbox, an alternative to Intercom and Zendesk

Chatwoot brings live chat, email, WhatsApp, social media and more into one support inbox, with a help centre and an AI agent called Captain.

  • Omnichannel inbox
  • Website live chat
  • Help centre
  • Captain AI agent
  • Self-hosted or cloud

The core is open source under the MIT licence and free to run on your own server; some enterprise features need a paid licence.

See ChatwootChatwoot vs ZendeskSource code (opens in a new tab)

Before you switch

  • Free to use, not free to run. The licence costs nothing, but self-hosting needs a server (often $5 to $40 a month) and someone to install updates and keep backups.
  • Open core means the main product is open source but some features, usually for larger teams, need a paid licence.
  • Hosted versions exist for many of these, run by the makers. They cost money but save the upkeep, and you can still move to your own server later.
  • Licences differ. MIT and Apache allow almost anything. GPL and AGPL require you to share changes you make to the code; for normal business use, that rarely matters.

More open-source alternatives