Request Tracker vs Libredesk
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Request Tracker | Libredesk |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,158 | ★ 2,959 |
| First released | 1996 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Jira Service Management | Zendesk, Intercom |
What are Request Tracker and Libredesk?
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
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
Request Tracker vs Libredesk: key differences
Request Tracker is written in Perl, while Libredesk is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Request Tracker versus AGPL-3.0 for Libredesk. Libredesk 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 Libredesk arrived in 2024. Libredesk has the considerably larger community, at 2,959 GitHub stars versus 1,158. Libredesk lists first-class Docker deployment; Request Tracker does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Request Tracker if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Perl
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 Request Tracker or Libredesk better?
Libredesk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Request Tracker if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Request Tracker and Libredesk free and open-source?
Yes. Request Tracker is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Libredesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Request Tracker and Libredesk with Docker?
Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support. Libredesk: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Request Tracker or Libredesk?
Libredesk 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.