FreeScout vs Erxes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
FreeScout
Free self-hosted help desk and shared inbox
VS
Erxes
Open-source experience operating system with ticketing
| Feature | FreeScout | Erxes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,465 | ★ 4,058 |
| First released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Help Scout, Zendesk, Front | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot |
Why pick each one
Choose Erxes if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (4.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeScout or Erxes better?
FreeScout is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Erxes if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are FreeScout and Erxes free and open-source?
Yes. FreeScout is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Erxes under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FreeScout and Erxes with Docker?
FreeScout: yes. Erxes: yes.