ITFlow 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 | ITFlow | Request Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,006 | ★ 1,157 |
| First released | 2021 | 1996 |
| Replaces | ServiceNow, Jira Service Management | Zendesk, Jira Service Management |
What are ITFlow and Request Tracker?
ITFlow
ITFlow is a self-hosted application for IT service providers that combines client documentation, asset tracking, and a ticketing system. It handles support tickets with categorization and priorities alongside a knowledge base.
- Incident and request tickets
- Built-in knowledge base
- Asset linkage
- Priority and category routing
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
ITFlow vs Request Tracker: key differences
ITFlow is written in PHP, while Request Tracker is built with Perl. Licensing differs — MIT for ITFlow versus GPL-2.0 for Request Tracker. ITFlow is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Request Tracker. Request Tracker is the more established project (first released 1996), while ITFlow arrived in 2021. ITFlow lists first-class Docker deployment; Request Tracker does not.
Why pick each one
Choose ITFlow if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in PHP
Choose Request Tracker if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Perl
Frequently asked questions
Is ITFlow or Request Tracker better?
Neither is universally better. Request Tracker has the larger community, while ITFlow is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ITFlow and Request Tracker free and open-source?
Yes. ITFlow is licensed under MIT and Request Tracker under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ITFlow and Request Tracker with Docker?
ITFlow: yes. Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, ITFlow or Request Tracker?
ITFlow has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Request Tracker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.