Request Tracker vs UVdesk
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 | UVdesk |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | MIT |
| Language | Perl | CSS |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,158 | ★ 19,612 |
| First released | 1996 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Jira Service Management | Zendesk, Freshdesk |
What are Request Tracker and UVdesk?
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
UVdesk
UVdesk is an open-source helpdesk system built on the Symfony framework. It offers ticket management, a knowledge base, email piping, and a customizable workflow engine.
- Email piping to tickets
- Workflow automation
- Knowledge base module
- Extensible app marketplace
Request Tracker vs UVdesk: key differences
Request Tracker is written in Perl, while UVdesk is built with CSS. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Request Tracker versus MIT for UVdesk. UVdesk 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 UVdesk arrived in 2018. UVdesk has the considerably larger community, at 19,612 GitHub stars versus 1,158. UVdesk 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 UVdesk if…
- Full ticketing workflow
- Knowledge base included
- Email piping support
Watch out for
- PHP MySQL stack required
- Slower development pace
Frequently asked questions
Is Request Tracker or UVdesk better?
UVdesk 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 UVdesk free and open-source?
Yes. Request Tracker is licensed under GPL-2.0 and UVdesk under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Request Tracker and UVdesk with Docker?
Request Tracker: check the project docs for container support. UVdesk: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Request Tracker or UVdesk?
UVdesk 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.