Erxes vs Znuny
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Erxes | Znuny |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,084 | ★ 596 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Intercom, HubSpot | ServiceNow, Zendesk |
What are Erxes and Znuny?
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
Znuny
Znuny is an open-source ticketing system and service desk maintained as a free fork of OTRS Community Edition. It supports helpdesk and ITSM workflows.
- Maintained OTRS fork
- Helpdesk and ITSM
- Customizable workflows
- Active community support
Erxes vs Znuny: key differences
Erxes is written in TypeScript, while Znuny is built with Perl. Erxes is the more established project (first released 2017), while Znuny arrived in 2021. Erxes has the considerably larger community, at 4,084 GitHub stars versus 596. Erxes lists first-class Docker deployment; Znuny 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)
Frequently asked questions
Is Erxes or Znuny 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 Znuny free and open-source?
Yes. Erxes is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Znuny under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Erxes and Znuny with Docker?
Erxes: yes. Znuny: check the project docs for container support.