The Best IT Ticketing Systems in 2026
Freshservice is the top-ranked IT ticketing system of the 27 we ranked (9.3/10), best for IT teams needing a broad service desk. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is the runner-up (9.1/10), and GLPI is the next highest-ranked option with a free plan (9.0/10). We researched IT ticketing systems through official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core ticketing job, value for money and verified features, so buyers can compare service desks and ITSM platforms for their support operation.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Freshservice#1 of 279.3/10A broad cloud service desk with ticketing, self-service, assets, and change workflows.
14-day trial
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Runner-up
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus#2 of 279.1/10Broad ITSM with a free option, self-hosting, and paid tiers that add asset and change management.
Free plan · 30-day trial
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Top-ranked free plan
GLPI#3 of 279.0/10GLPI combines IT ticketing, asset inventory and a knowledge base, with cloud or self-hosted deployment.
Free plan · 45-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 27 tools, best first
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Best forIT teams needing a broad service desk
A broad cloud service desk with ticketing, self-service, assets, and change workflows.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Freshservice -
Best forTeams that want broad ITSM and deployment choice
Broad ITSM with a free option, self-hosting, and paid tiers that add asset and change management.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
9.1/10★★★★★Visit ManageEngine -
Best forTeams prioritizing open-source IT ticketing and assets
GLPI combines IT ticketing, asset inventory and a knowledge base, with cloud or self-hosted deployment.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit GLPI -
Best forTeams already using Jira for configurable work tracking
Jira brings flexible project tracking and automation, but is not centered on core service-desk workflows.
- Automation rules
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Jira -
Best forIT teams needing ticketing, assets, and SLA controls
Mature ticketing, SLA controls, self-service, and asset workflows at a technician-based price.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forTeams needing self-hosted ticketing and asset workflows
A self-hosted help desk that links tickets, SLAs, assets, approvals, and knowledge.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit SolarWinds -
Best forLarge IT teams coordinating complex incidents
A broad ITSM system with deeper major-incident and on-call tools in higher tiers.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit ServiceNow -
Best forEnterprises needing configurable ITIL service management
A broad ITSM suite for organizations that need configurable service and change management.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit OpenText -
Best forOrganizations needing ITIL ticketing and a CMDB
A configurable ITSM suite spanning ticketing, ITIL workflows, CMDB and self-service.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit OTRS -
Best forSmall teams wanting low-cost, Microsoft-oriented ITSM
A Microsoft-oriented help desk with a free plan and paid tiers from $12 per agent monthly, billed annually.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Desk365 -
Best forIT teams pairing service workflows with asset discovery
A tiered ITSM and asset management system for teams that need configurable workflows.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
8.0/10★★★★☆Try Alloy Navigator -
Best forTeams focused on incident and problem lifecycle control
A lifecycle-focused ITSM platform with strong problem management and flexible deployment.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Infraon ITSM -
Best forEnterprises extending service management beyond IT
A broad IT and business service platform for enterprises needing flexible deployment.
- Asset management
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Matrix42 Enterprise Service Management verdict → Visit Matrix427.8/10★★★★☆Visit Matrix42 -
Best forOrganizations needing cross-department ITSM
Cross-department ITSM with broad workflows, automation and asset management.
- Asset management
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Vivantio -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing hosted or self-hosted tickets
Flexible hosted or self-hosted ticketing, with a free option and paid hosted plans.
- Self-service portal
- SLA management
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Zammad -
Best forTeams comfortable operating open-source ticketing
A configurable, self-hostable ticketing system with email intake, SLAs, and automation.
- SLA management
7.5/10★★★★☆Try Request Tracker -
Best forTeams seeking self-hosted open-source ticket workflows
A self-hostable help desk for teams that need configurable ticket workflows and customer self-service.
- SLA management
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Znuny -
Best forSmall teams wanting simple tickets with self-hosting
Flexible help desk ticketing with cloud or self-hosted deployment.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Jitbit -
Best forTeams needing broad ITSM and extensive integrations
Broad ITSM coverage and integrations come with an $89 per-agent starting price.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit SysAid -
Best forOrganizations prioritizing problem and root-cause management
A strong fit for teams that need structured root-cause and recurring-problem management.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit InvGate -
Best forTeams needing ticketing, assets, and operator mobile
A broad service desk with operator mobile access, but key workflow features start at £72 per agent monthly.
- Self-service portal
- Asset management
- SLA management
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit TOPdesk -
Best forEnterprises extending service management beyond IT
A broad ITSM suite for organizations extending service processes beyond IT.
- Asset management
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit USU -
Best forEnterprises focused on governed change workflows
A change-governance tool with approval, risk, CAB, and audit workflows—not broad ticketing.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Serviceaide -
Best forSmall teams able to manage self-hosted ticketing
Free, self-hosted ticketing with intake, routing, SLAs, and a customer portal.
- SLA management
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit osTicket -
Best forTeams pairing request handling with CMDB documentation
Open-source ITSM that pairs request handling with infrastructure and service records.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit iTop -
Best forSolo and small teams needing basic free cloud tickets
A free, straightforward cloud ticket queue for solo IT operators and small teams.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Spiceworks -
Best forMid-sized and enterprise IT teams seeking configurable ITSM
Configurable ITSM spanning service workflows, assets, and operations.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit EasyVista
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | SLA management | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshservice | No | $19/user/mo | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus | Yes | $13/user/mo | Yes | 9.1 |
| 3 | GLPI | Yes | €19/user/mo | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | Jira | Yes | $7.91/user/mo | 8.8 | |
| 5 | SolarWinds Service Desk | No | $39/seat/mo | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | SolarWinds Web Help Desk | No | $320/user/yr | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | ServiceNow ITSM | No | 8.4 | ||
| 8 | OpenText SMAX | No | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | OTRS | No | 8.2 | ||
| 10 | Desk365 | Yes | $12/user/mo | Yes | 8.1 |
| 11 | Alloy Navigator | No | $19/user/mo | Yes | 8.0 |
| 12 | Infraon ITSM | No | $19/user/mo | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Matrix42 Enterprise Service Management | No | 7.8 | ||
| 14 | Vivantio | No | $49/user/mo | 7.7 | |
| 15 | Zammad | Yes | €7/seat/mo | Yes | 7.6 |
| 16 | Request Tracker | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.5 |
| 17 | Znuny | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.4 |
| 18 | Jitbit Helpdesk | No | $24/mo | Yes | 7.3 |
| 19 | SysAid | No | $89/user/mo | Yes | 7.2 |
| 20 | InvGate Service Desk | No | $500/user/yr | 7.1 | |
| 21 | TOPdesk | No | £51/user/mo | Yes | 7.0 |
| 22 | USU IT Service Management | 6.9 | |||
| 23 | ChangeGear | $2,800/mo | 6.8 | ||
| 24 | osTicket | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.7 |
| 25 | iTop | Yes | Free | 6.6 | |
| 26 | Spiceworks Cloud Help Desk | Yes | 6.5 | ||
| 27 | EasyVista Service Manager | No | 6.4 |
Head-to-head All 12 comparisons →
- Freshservice vs Jira
- Freshservice vs SolarWinds Web Help Desk
- ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs Jira
- ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs SolarWinds Web Help Desk
- GLPI vs Jira
- GLPI vs SolarWinds Web Help Desk
- Jira vs SolarWinds Service Desk
- Jira vs SolarWinds Web Help Desk
- Jira vs OpenText SMAX
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How we rank IT ticketing systems
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update