OpenSupports 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 | OpenSupports | Znuny |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 14 · At risk | 75 · Good |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,038 | ★ 596 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk | ServiceNow, Zendesk |
What are OpenSupports and Znuny?
OpenSupports
OpenSupports is an open-source customer support ticket system that lets users submit and track support requests through a web portal. Staff manage tickets with departments, custom responses, and statistics.
- Customer support portal
- Department-based routing
- Custom responses
- Ticket statistics
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
OpenSupports vs Znuny: key differences
OpenSupports is written in JavaScript, while Znuny is built with Perl. OpenSupports is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Znuny. OpenSupports is the more established project (first released 2016), while Znuny arrived in 2021. OpenSupports lists first-class Docker deployment; Znuny does not.
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 OpenSupports or Znuny better?
OpenSupports is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Znuny if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are OpenSupports and Znuny free and open-source?
Yes. OpenSupports is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Znuny under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenSupports and Znuny with Docker?
OpenSupports: yes. Znuny: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenSupports or Znuny?
OpenSupports has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Znuny. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.