FreeScout

A free, open-source help desk and shared mailbox modelled on Help Scout, built with PHP and Laravel.

Open sourceSelf-hostableCustomer support and live chat software

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About FreeScout

FreeScout is an open-source help desk and shared inbox that closely follows the Help Scout model: conversations look like email, customers just get replies, and agents work from shared mailboxes with assignments, notes, saved replies and collision detection. It is written in PHP on the Laravel framework and runs on a plain PHP and MySQL host, even cheap shared hosting, with no limits on agents, mailboxes or tickets. The core is free; extra features such as live chat, a knowledge base, a customer portal, satisfaction ratings, Slack and WhatsApp integrations or mobile apps come from paid modules, each a one-time purchase, which keeps costs low but means piecing together the features you need. The project is maintained by a small team, and polish and reporting are below commercial tools. It runs in the browser and on your own server. It suits small teams that like Help Scout's approach but want to self-host and pay little.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Many features are paid modules
Reporting and polish behind commercial tools
You handle hosting, updates and email setup

Top FreeScout alternatives

See all 5

1
Help Scout
The hosted original, with no server to maintain and a free plan.
66.5
2
Zammad
Fuller open-source help desk with chat and social channels built in.
62.6
3
osTicket
Classic open-source ticketing with forms and SLAs.
59.6
4
Chatwoot
Open-source, chat-first omnichannel inbox.
57.2
5
Libredesk
Newer open-source desk with all features included at no cost.
55.3

Why people left FreeScout

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FreeScout: common questions

Is FreeScout free?

Yes. FreeScout is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is FreeScout open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at freescout-help-desk/freescout. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does FreeScout run on?

FreeScout is available for Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to FreeScout?

The highest-ranked FreeScout alternatives right now are Help Scout, Zammad and osTicket. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 FreeScout alternatives

FreeScout facts

3 of 3 verified

Open source: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab); “FreeScout is the super lightweight and powerful free open source help desk and shared inbox built with PHP (Laravel framework).”
Limits: No limits on agents or tickets; Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab); “Are there any limitations on the number of agents or tickets? No.”
Stack: PHP (Laravel) and MySQL; Checked Oct 25, 2026freescout.net(opens source in a new tab); “FreeScout is a pure open source PHP/MySQL application, so it can be easily deployed even on a shared hosting.”