Erxes vs osTicket
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
osTicket
Widely used open-source support ticket system
| Feature | Erxes | osTicket |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,085 | ★ 3,922 |
| First released | 2017 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot | Zendesk, Freshdesk |
What are Erxes and osTicket?
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
osTicket
osTicket is a widely used open-source support ticket system. It routes inquiries from email, web forms, and APIs into a simple, easy-to-use multi-user interface.
- Email and web ticket creation
- Custom fields and forms
- SLA and ticket routing
- Canned responses
Erxes vs osTicket: key differences
Erxes is written in TypeScript, while osTicket is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Erxes versus GPL-2.0 for osTicket. OsTicket is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Erxes. OsTicket is the more established project (first released 2003), while Erxes arrived in 2017.
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)
Choose osTicket if…
- Mature and stable
- Easy for staff to learn
Watch out for
- Interface looks dated
Frequently asked questions
Is Erxes or osTicket better?
Neither is universally better. Erxes has the larger community, while osTicket is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Erxes and osTicket free and open-source?
Yes. Erxes is licensed under GPL-3.0 and osTicket under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Erxes and osTicket with Docker?
Erxes: yes. osTicket: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Erxes or osTicket?
osTicket has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Erxes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.