FreeScout vs Libredesk
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
Libredesk
Self-hosted open-source customer support desk
| Feature | FreeScout | Libredesk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,465 | ★ 2,685 |
| First released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Help Scout, Zendesk, Front | Zendesk, Intercom |
Why pick each one
Choose Libredesk if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeScout or Libredesk better?
Neither is universally better. FreeScout has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FreeScout and Libredesk free and open-source?
Yes. FreeScout is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Libredesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FreeScout and Libredesk with Docker?
FreeScout: yes. Libredesk: yes.