Erxes vs Request Tracker
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Erxes | Request Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,084 | ★ 1,157 |
| First released | 2017 | 1996 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot | Zendesk, Jira Service Management |
What are Erxes and Request Tracker?
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
Request Tracker
Request Tracker (RT) is a mature, enterprise-grade issue tracking and ticketing system. It is used for help desks, NOCs, and complex workflow management.
- Highly configurable workflows
- Email-driven ticketing
- Custom fields and scrips
- Strong access control
Erxes vs Request Tracker: key differences
Erxes is written in TypeScript, while Request Tracker is built with Perl. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Erxes versus GPL-2.0 for Request Tracker. Request Tracker is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Erxes. Request Tracker is the more established project (first released 1996), while Erxes arrived in 2017. Erxes has the considerably larger community, at 4,084 GitHub stars versus 1,157. Erxes lists first-class Docker deployment; Request Tracker does not.
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 Request Tracker if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Perl
Frequently asked questions
Is Erxes or Request Tracker better?
Neither is universally better. Erxes has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Erxes and Request Tracker free and open-source?
Yes. Erxes is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Request Tracker under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Erxes and Request Tracker with Docker?
Erxes: yes. Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Erxes or Request Tracker?
Request Tracker 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.