FreeScout

Help desk

FreeScout centers on a shared support mailbox and help desk. Check the edition and any add-ons needed for your specific workflow.

Who it may suit

Shared-inbox support for teams that prefer an email-centered workflow.

Replaces

  • Zendesk
  • Help Scout
Official positioning or migration source

"Free self-hosted Zendesk & Help Scout alternative" (official site)

Checked: 2026-11-01

Strengths for small teams

  • Unlimited agents, tickets and mailboxes Source

    Checked: 2026-11-01

  • Shared mailbox via SMTP/IMAP/POP3 Source

    Checked: 2026-11-01

  • OAuth for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace Source

    Checked: 2026-11-01

  • Mobile-friendly, translated into 33 languages Source

    Checked: 2026-11-01

Section checked: 2026-11-01

License

AGPL-3.0

Checked: 2026-11-01

Self-hosting effort

Moderate

Checked: 2026-09-24

The guide offers an install script, but the application still needs a PHP/web-server/MySQL stack, file permissions, mailbox configuration, and cron jobs. Scheduled updates and pre-update backups must be configured and maintained by the operator.

Documentation-based estimate; not hands-on tested. Official self-hosting effort evidence

Pricing

Free, open-source core; optional modules have separately priced lifetime licenses.

Checked: 2026-09-24

Managed cloud

Not verified

Checked: 2026-09-24

Self-hosted: Available

Sections checked: see dates beside each section.

Repository activity

Stars: 4,627

Last push: 2026-10-31

Fetched 2026-11-01 · checked 2026-11-01

Repository metadata source

Self-hosting documentation

Official self-hosting instructions
Official website

Sources