Free, open-source alternatives to Help Scout
Shared inbox for customer support. 3 apps you can run yourself instead of Help Scout, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
FreeScoutBest match
Email-based customer support application, help desk and shared mailbox (alternative to Zendesk and Help Scout).
Zammad
Easy to use but powerful support and ticketing system.
Libredesk
Modern omnichannel customer support desk. Live chat, email, and more in a single binary.
Side by side
Why replace Help Scout?
Help Scout works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Help Scout?
FreeScout is the closest open-source replacement for Help Scout in our list. Zammad and Libredesk are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Help Scout?
Yes. All 3 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.