FreeScout vs GLPI
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?
| Feature | FreeScout | GLPI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,465 | ★ 6,206 |
| First released | 2018 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Help Scout, Zendesk, Front | ServiceNow, Zendesk |
Why pick each one
Choose GLPI if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.2k GitHub stars
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeScout or GLPI better?
Neither is universally better. GLPI has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FreeScout and GLPI free and open-source?
Yes. FreeScout is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and GLPI under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FreeScout and GLPI with Docker?
FreeScout: yes. GLPI: yes.