Request Tracker vs Trudesk
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 | Trudesk |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 55 · Fair |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,158 | ★ 1,496 |
| First released | 1996 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Jira Service Management | Zendesk, Freshdesk |
What are Request Tracker and Trudesk?
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
Trudesk
Trudesk is an open-source help desk and ticket management system. It provides a kanban-style ticket board, knowledge base, and real-time messaging built on Node.js.
- Kanban ticket board
- Built-in knowledge base
- Real-time chat and notices
- Mobile-friendly UI
Request Tracker vs Trudesk: key differences
Request Tracker is written in Perl, while Trudesk is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Request Tracker versus Apache-2.0 for Trudesk. Trudesk 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 Trudesk arrived in 2016. Trudesk 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 Trudesk if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Request Tracker or Trudesk better?
Trudesk 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 Trudesk free and open-source?
Yes. Request Tracker is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Trudesk under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Request Tracker and Trudesk with Docker?
Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support. Trudesk: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Request Tracker or Trudesk?
Trudesk 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.