Frappe Helpdesk vs Erxes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Frappe Helpdesk
Modern open-source helpdesk built on Frappe
VS
Erxes
Open-source experience operating system with ticketing
| Feature | Frappe Helpdesk | Erxes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,390 | ★ 4,085 |
| First released | 2022 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot |
What are Frappe Helpdesk and Erxes?
Frappe Helpdesk
Frappe Helpdesk is an open-source ticketing tool built on the Frappe framework. It provides a streamlined agent experience, SLAs, and a customer knowledge base.
- Streamlined agent inbox
- SLA tracking
- Knowledge base
- Canned responses and automation
Erxes
Erxes is an open-source experience operating system that combines a help desk, ticketing, live chat, and CRM in one platform. Its ticketing module routes conversations from many channels into a unified agent inbox.
- Omnichannel inbox
- Plugin marketplace
- Built-in CRM
- Live chat widget
Frappe Helpdesk vs Erxes: key differences
Frappe Helpdesk is written in Vue, while Erxes is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Frappe Helpdesk versus GPL-3.0 for Erxes. Frappe Helpdesk is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Erxes. Erxes is the more established project (first released 2017), while Frappe Helpdesk arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose Frappe Helpdesk if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vue
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 Frappe Helpdesk or Erxes better?
Neither is universally better. Erxes has the larger community, while Frappe Helpdesk is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Frappe Helpdesk and Erxes free and open-source?
Yes. Frappe Helpdesk is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Erxes under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Frappe Helpdesk and Erxes with Docker?
Frappe Helpdesk: yes. Erxes: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Frappe Helpdesk or Erxes?
Frappe Helpdesk has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Erxes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.