Top Free Alternatives to Zendesk
Stop paying expensive subscriptions for Customer Support tools. Discover the best free and open-source replacements for Zendesk.
Why switch from Zendesk?
Zendesk scales aggressively per agent seat and locks advanced triggers and automation behind premium tiers. Open-source helpdesks allow unlimited agents and complete customization of your ticketing queues.
Zammad Helpdesk
Free / Cloud Paid
Open-source user support and helpdesk system with web chat, email, and social integrations.
Key Features
- Ticketing system
- Customer history tracking
- SLA definitions & alerts
- Knowledge base
Pros
- + Sleek and responsive web interface
- + Unlimited agents when self-hosted
- + Integrates email, telephone, and chat
Cons
- - Requires Elasticsearch for fast search queries
- - Setup of phone and chat integrations takes some technical work
Helpy
Free / Pro Paid
Modern self-hosted helpdesk and ticketing platform. Replaces Zendesk.
Key Features
- Ticketing system
- Knowledge base center
- Multi-channel email support
- Detailed support reports
Pros
- + Clean and modern interface
- + Focused strictly on customer support tickets
- + GDPR compliance built-in
Cons
- - Advanced features (like SSO or cloud integrations) require a Pro license
- - Smaller plugin ecosystem
Chaskiq
Free / Open Source
Live chat widget
Key Features
- 100% data control
- Self-hostable
- No vendor lock-in
- Community-driven
Pros
- + Ownership of your data
- + Flexible and customisable
- + Cost-effective
Cons
- - Requires server setup
- - Smaller commercial support
Chatwoot
Free / Open Source
Live chat widget
Key Features
- 100% data control
- Self-hostable
- No vendor lock-in
- Community-driven
Pros
- + Ownership of your data
- + Flexible and customisable
- + Cost-effective
Cons
- - Requires server setup
- - Smaller commercial support
Papercups
Free / Open Source
Live chat widget
Key Features
- 100% data control
- Self-hostable
- No vendor lock-in
- Community-driven
Pros
- + Ownership of your data
- + Flexible and customisable
- + Cost-effective
Cons
- - Requires server setup
- - Smaller commercial support
Peppermint
Free / Open Source
Ticket Management & Helpdesk system
Key Features
- 100% data control
- Self-hostable
- No vendor lock-in
- Community-driven
Pros
- + Ownership of your data
- + Flexible and customisable
- + Cost-effective
Cons
- - Requires server setup
- - Smaller commercial support
UVDesk
Free / Open Source
Ticket Management & Helpdesk system
Key Features
- 100% data control
- Self-hostable
- No vendor lock-in
- Community-driven
Pros
- + Ownership of your data
- + Flexible and customisable
- + Cost-effective
Cons
- - Requires server setup
- - Smaller commercial support