Erxes vs Papercups
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?
Erxes
Open-source experience operating system with ticketing
VS
Papercups
Open-source live chat and customer messaging
| Feature | Erxes | Papercups |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Elixir |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,058 | ★ 6,097 |
| First released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot | Intercom, Drift |
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 Papercups if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Elixir
Frequently asked questions
Is Erxes or Papercups better?
Papercups is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Erxes if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Erxes and Papercups free and open-source?
Yes. Erxes is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Papercups under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Erxes and Papercups with Docker?
Erxes: yes. Papercups: yes.