AppBreakup
Submit an app

osTicket alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave osTicket: dated interface, and no built-in live chat or social channels. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces osTicket, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Zammad currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Zammad logoZammadOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 366.5
2FreeScout logoFreeScoutOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 362.6
3UVdesk logoUVdeskOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 359.6
  1. Zammad logo

    1. ZammadTop pick

    Best for: Organisations, especially in Europe, that want a full help desk they can self-host

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from osTicket

    Modern open-source help desk with chat, social channels and AI features.

    Pros

    • Full help desk at no licence cost when self-hosted
    • Modern, fast agent interface
    • Hosted option in certified European data centres

    Cons

    • Smaller integration ecosystem than commercial suites
    • Self-hosting needs Elasticsearch and upkeep
    • Less chat-first than Intercom-style tools
    Visit Zammad Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zammad a good osTicket alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes, 100% open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zammad.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted starting price
    From €7 per agent/month (Starter, max 5 agents)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zammad.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, alongside hosted plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zammad.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. FreeScout logo

    2. FreeScout

    Best for: Small teams that want a Help Scout-style inbox they can self-host cheaply

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from osTicket

    Open-source shared inbox with a cleaner, Help Scout-like interface.

    Pros

    • Free core with no limits on agents or tickets
    • Runs even on inexpensive shared PHP hosting
    • Familiar email-like workflow

    Cons

    • Many features are paid modules
    • Reporting and polish behind commercial tools
    • You handle hosting, updates and email setup
    Visit FreeScout Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FreeScout a good osTicket alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Limits
    No limits on agents or tickets
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Stack
    PHP (Laravel) and MySQL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. UVdesk logo

    3. UVdesk

    Best for: PHP-savvy ecommerce sellers who want a customisable self-hosted help desk

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from osTicket

    Open-source PHP help desk with ecommerce integrations.

    Pros

    • Free open-source edition on Symfony
    • Integrations with many ecommerce platforms and marketplaces
    • Extensible with apps

    Cons

    • Less polished than commercial help desks
    • Uneven documentation
    • Many integrations are paid extras
    Visit UVdesk Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is UVdesk a good osTicket alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026uvdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Framework
    Symfony (PHP)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026uvdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Editions
    SaaS and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026uvdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best osTicket alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Zammad logo

Best osTicket alternative for most people

Zammad

Modern open-source help desk with chat, social channels and AI features.

FreeScout logo

Best osTicket alternative for a free option

FreeScout

Open-source shared inbox with a cleaner, Help Scout-like interface.

Jira Service Management logo

Best osTicket alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Jira Service Management

Free for three agents, with IT service management features.

UVdesk logo

Best osTicket alternative for open source

UVdesk

Open-source PHP help desk with ecommerce integrations.

Zammad logo

Best osTicket alternative for self-hosting

Zammad

Modern open-source help desk with chat, social channels and AI features.

Zoho Desk logo

Best osTicket alternative for iPhone and Android

Zoho Desk

Hosted help desk with a free plan and modern features.

Zammad logo

Best osTicket alternative for working in the browser

Zammad

Modern open-source help desk with chat, social channels and AI features.

osTicket alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to osTicket?

Zammad ranks first right now. Modern open-source help desk with chat, social channels and AI features. FreeScout and UVdesk follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to osTicket?

Yes. Zammad (open source), FreeScout (open source), UVdesk (open source) and Jira Service Management (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to osTicket?

Yes: Zammad, FreeScout and UVdesk. Zammad, FreeScout and UVdesk can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from osTicket?

The complaints we hear most: dated interface; no built-in live chat or social channels; few modern AI or automation features.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces osTicket, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.