Helpy vs OpenSupports
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?
Helpy
Open-source helpdesk and knowledge base platform
VS
OpenSupports
Open-source ticket-based customer support system
| Feature | Helpy | OpenSupports |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Ruby | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,481 | ★ 1,038 |
| First released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Help Scout | Zendesk, Freshdesk |
Why pick each one
Choose OpenSupports if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Helpy or OpenSupports better?
Neither is universally better. Helpy has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Helpy and OpenSupports free and open-source?
Yes. Helpy is licensed under MIT and OpenSupports under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Helpy and OpenSupports with Docker?
Helpy: yes. OpenSupports: yes.