osTicket vs Libredesk
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
osTicket
Widely used open-source support ticket system
VS
Libredesk
Self-hosted open-source customer support desk
| Feature | osTicket | Libredesk |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,922 | ★ 2,959 |
| First released | 2003 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk | Zendesk, Intercom |
What are osTicket and Libredesk?
osTicket
osTicket is a widely used open-source support ticket system. It routes inquiries from email, web forms, and APIs into a simple, easy-to-use multi-user interface.
- Email and web ticket creation
- Custom fields and forms
- SLA and ticket routing
- Canned responses
Libredesk
Libredesk is a self-hosted, open-source customer support tool. It offers shared inboxes, SLA management, automations, and reporting in a clean modern interface.
- Shared inbox and SLAs
- Automation rules
- Canned responses
- Single binary deployment
osTicket vs Libredesk: key differences
OsTicket is written in PHP, while Libredesk is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for osTicket versus AGPL-3.0 for Libredesk. OsTicket is the more established project (first released 2003), while Libredesk arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose osTicket if…
- Mature and stable
- Easy for staff to learn
Watch out for
- Interface looks dated
Choose Libredesk if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is osTicket or Libredesk better?
Neither is universally better. osTicket has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are osTicket and Libredesk free and open-source?
Yes. osTicket is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Libredesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run osTicket and Libredesk with Docker?
osTicket: yes. Libredesk: yes.