Frappe Helpdesk vs GLPI
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
GLPI
IT asset management and service desk
| Feature | Frappe Helpdesk | GLPI |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,389 | ★ 6,378 |
| First released | 2022 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk | ServiceNow, Zendesk |
What are Frappe Helpdesk and GLPI?
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
GLPI
GLPI is a free IT service management software combining a helpdesk ticketing system with IT asset and inventory management. It is widely used by IT departments.
- ITIL-aligned service desk
- Asset and inventory management
- Self-service portal
- Large plugin ecosystem
Frappe Helpdesk vs GLPI: key differences
Frappe Helpdesk is written in Vue, while GLPI is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Frappe Helpdesk versus GPL-3.0 for GLPI. GLPI is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Frappe Helpdesk. GLPI is the more established project (first released 2003), 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 GLPI if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.4k GitHub stars
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Frappe Helpdesk 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 Frappe Helpdesk and GLPI free and open-source?
Yes. Frappe Helpdesk is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and GLPI under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Frappe Helpdesk and GLPI with Docker?
Frappe Helpdesk: yes. GLPI: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Frappe Helpdesk or GLPI?
GLPI has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Frappe Helpdesk. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.