osTicket
osTicket: A free, self-hosted help desk for teams that need core ticketing without a broad integration stack. Ranked #73 of 100 in Help Desk Software by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for organizations wanting a simple self-hosted help desk.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOrganizations wanting a simple self-hosted help desk
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- SLA managementYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free open-source edition with email, phone, and web-form intake
- Includes routing, SLAs, customer portal, knowledge base, and canned replies
- HTTP API supports XML or JSON, API keys, and ticket creation
Where it doesn't
- Requires installation on Apache or IIS with PHP and MySQL
- Listed integrations are limited to email, phone, web forms, and HTTP API
- Feature set is more basic than broader help desk platforms
Our verdict on osTicket
osTicket is a free, open-source, web-based help desk application for teams managing customer support requests. It brings email, phone, and web-form inquiries into a multi-user interface, then supports assignment, transfer, referral, routing, automated actions, and ticket queues. The customer portal lets people submit and track tickets, while the knowledge base, FAQs, automatic replies, and canned responses support common questions. It is a fit for organizations that want to host and control a straightforward support system on their own infrastructure.
The core feature coverage is practical for a simple help desk. Ticket filters can route requests and trigger automated actions, while custom fields, forms, columns, and queues allow teams to shape the workflow. Service-level agreement plans add overdue alerts, and the HTTP API uses XML or JSON with API keys for integrations or ticket creation. The downloadable application can run on infrastructure using Apache or IIS, PHP, and MySQL, so organizations should account for installation and ongoing administration rather than treating it as a ready-to-use hosted service.
osTicket suits teams whose needs center on shared ticket intake, basic automation, SLA tracking, self-service content, and a customer portal. Its open-source model and plugin support provide room for configurable workflows, but its listed ecosystem is narrow, covering email, phone, web forms, and the HTTP API. Organizations seeking a broader integration catalog or a more advanced feature set should consider another help desk product. Choose osTicket when self-hosting and core support operations matter more than extensive platform breadth.
Your product? Our editors can test osTicket in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
osTicket pricing
osTicket fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Shared inbox | Not verified |
| SLA management | Yes |
| Help center | Yes |
| Ticket automation | Yes |
| Customer portal | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| Included agent seats | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | osticket.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to osTicket
- FreshdeskA mature omnichannel help desk with ticketing, automation, AI, and analytics.9.3
- Zoho DeskA broad help desk with a free plan, multichannel support, automation, SLAs, and self-service tools.9.2
- Salesforce Service CloudA deeply capable service platform whose higher tiers carry significant per-user costs.9.1
See all osTicket alternatives →
Also Ranked In
osTicket is ranked in 8 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Help Desk Software.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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