7 best open source ticketing systems in 2024

Sara Ana Cemazar
June 8, 2023
·
min read

Open source ticketing system is software that supports customer service agents in managing incoming requests. Built on open source technology, it is a great solution for offering efficient customer support for organizations that need advanced customization options and flexibility.

There is many helpdesk software on the market, like Zendesk, Freshdesk, or Zoho Desk. However, people have lately been looking for open source helpdesk alternatives to these solutions.

Why? Because open source software has several advantages over proprietary software. Open source helpdesk solutions are flexible, easily scalable, and usually cheaper than their closed source counterparts.

Here are some of the best open source helpdesk solutions you can choose to build an effective customer support system.

Best open source ticketing systems

1. Rocket.Chat

open source helpdesk

Rocket.Chat enables its users to manage all customer communications from a single place. With this versatile open source messaging platform, you can engage in seamless interactions regardless of how they connect with you: Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, Email, SMS…

This open source ticketing system allows you to boost efficiency with a ticketing system, complete chat history, and role-based permissions. You can also embed open source chatbots and machine learning apps with Rocket.Chat to automate conversations.

Since Rocket.Chat can also be self-hosted, it’s a good solution for companies operating in public safety communications or healthcare communication.

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2. OSTicket

open source helpdesk

OSTicket is an open source helpdesk and ticketing system used by more than 5 Million users worldwide, by more than 15,000 businesses. This is of no wonder since its free package offers a wide array of services.

With OSTicket, it’s easy to scale and streamline customer service. Features such as rich dashboard reports, a powerful ticket filtering system, configurable Help topic, and others make it one of the most popular ticketing software out there.

➡️ Find out what are the most popular open source software solutions that you can use in your organization.

3. Faveo

open source helpdesk

Faveo is yet another help desk system that has omnichannel features, integrating with social media channels. Their services also include SLA and Priority management, and they offer a built-in knowledge base.

This open source helpdesk supports multiple languages and allows its users to build custom forms and canned responses. Since it’s an open source project, you can change the software’s branding to match your own company’s. 

When it comes to ticketing itself, Faveo has powerful functions such as ticket merging and ticket rating. Open API and in-app notifications also make it user-friendly.

4. UVDesk

open source helpdesk

UVDesk is a helpdesk system made for multichannel customer service, primarily aimed at eCommerce customers. This PHP-based ticketing system is, just as any other open source solution, easily customizable and extendable.

Users have the possibility to build their own modules and custom support workflows. 

From reviews of this open source ticketing software, we got the impression that its multi-channel support works great, allowing businesses to operate clutter-free.

The fact that UVDesk is mobile-friendly is also an advantage. Add-on features for supervisors enable them to examine agents’ performance, which can prove to be very useful.

5. FreeScout

In their words, FreeScout is a “super lightweight open source helpdesk solution”. It is built for organizations who want to provide professional customer support, but can’t afford costly solutions such as Zendesk.

FreeScout can be easily deployed on shared hosting. Its features include unlimited support agents, tickets, and mailboxes, push notifications, auto-replies, and much more. 

It’s also multilingual and allows teams to make internal notes and tags, and run satisfaction ratings.

Users love it for a broad spectrum of functionalities that are built on an elegant, user-friendly interface. Due to its integrations with many instant messaging apps, it is truly one of the best open source helpdesk solutions on the market.

6. Zammad

We all know that organizations choose open source ticketing solutions due to their flexibility, affordability, and security. Zammad goes a step further - it’s audit-proof, making it a frequent choice of banking institutions. Their ticket history tracking can be used to see who made which changes and when.

Moreover, Zammad offers several other interesting features such as creating individual fields such as specific query classifications. Users can also build custom lists and overviews.

This open source helpdesk also includes full-text search option, Single Sign-On, and numerous integrations. It’s a fully blooded ticketing system with the advantage of being built on open source code! 

7. Hesk

open source helpdesk

Hesk's mission is to empower its customers to provide better customer support, have less support work, and achieve faster response times.

In more than 16 years of its existence, Hesk has been downloaded more than 650,000 times.

This cloud-based helpdesk allows teams to offer better customer support with custom workflows and redefined templates. It has numerous features in its free version, and customers like it for its easy-to-use interface as well as the simple analytics it offers.

What are the benefits of an open source helpdesk?

1. Customization

The biggest benefit of any open source software is its flexibility or level of customization. You can add functions, categories, set user permissions, change the design, and much more with truly open source helpdesk software.

In other words, you can create a ticketing system that you really want.

2. Omnichannel capabilities

Open source helpdesk solutions almost always offer omnichannel capabilities, offering you the possibility to track tickets coming from various sources within one, centralized system.

You probably don’t need to read the further explanation on how useful this is to raise efficiency for your entire customer support department.

3. Integrations

Open source ticketing software has open APIs and integrates with a myriad of third-party systems. Thus, it helps you further customize it and increase operational efficiency or widen the portfolio of services you provide.

4. Scalability

One of the most useful benefits of open source software is that it’s easily scalable. Open source helpdesk can be set up when your business is still small, and then be upgraded as you grow and your customer base expands.

However, you need to be careful to choose a system that can support larger amounts of data.

5. Security

Data security is the reason why many organizations opt for open source helpdesk. Due to its transparent nature, open source software is reviewed by numerous developers and community members that make improvements to its code, often making it more secure.

Helpdesk software is collecting numerous data on customers. Thus, it makes sense to insist on data privacy and shield your business from unpleasant surprises such as cyberattacks.

6. Cost efficiency

Not all open source software is free. But, considering it customization capabilities and scalability, it’s much more cost-effective than proprietary software. With closed-source software, setting up custom changes and white labeling would cost a lot more, not to mention how long you’d have to wait for the changes to be implemented.

Build your open source ticketing platform with Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat’s open source helpdesk platform is made to handle omnichannel customer service. It is a great way to support your customers with quick and effective support.

Customers love Rocket.Chat because it allows them to be customer-centric while saving them precious time. For Gluu, it meant getting enterprise customers on board.

Since Rocket.Chat’s helpdesk is built on open source, it provides the highest level of customization to its users, making it adjustable for various industry standards.

Contact our team to see how Rocket.Chat can help you serve your customers better.

Frequently asked questions about <anything>

open source ticketing systems

What is open source ticketing system?

Is there a free alternative to Zendesk?

Why organizations choose an open source ticketing system?

What is the best ticketing system?

Sara is an SEO Strategist at Rocket.Chat. She is passionate about topics around digital transformation, workplace experience, open source, and data privacy and security.
Sara Ana Cemazar
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