OpenSupports 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.
Not the right match-up?
OpenSupports
Open-source ticket-based customer support system
VS
Request Tracker
Enterprise-grade ticketing system from Best Practical
| Feature | OpenSupports | Request Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,038 | ★ 1,141 |
| First released | 2016 | 1996 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk | Zendesk, Jira Service Management |
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
Choose Request Tracker if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Perl
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenSupports or Request Tracker better?
Neither is universally better. Request Tracker has the larger community, while OpenSupports is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenSupports and Request Tracker free and open-source?
Yes. OpenSupports 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 OpenSupports and Request Tracker with Docker?
OpenSupports: yes. Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support.