2 Open Source alternatives to Zendesk in 2026
We compare 2 self-hostable tools you can deploy on your own server in minutes, with license, tech stack and a ready-to-copy docker-compose.
Quick comparison
Sorted by featured first, then GitHub stars as a tiebreaker — the same rule we use across the whole site.
Detailed profile of each alternative
Alternative to Intercom, Zendesk
Omnichannel support inbox, an alternative to Intercom/Zendesk.
Alternative to Zendesk
Support ticketing system, a self-hostable alternative to Zendesk.
How much does Zendesk cost, and how much can you save?
Zendesk costs $19/mo per user. Self-hosting the alternative, you only pay for the server — usually a few dollars a month.
Calculate your exact savings in the SaaS Audit →Already know which one you want?
Add Chatwoot to the Stack Builder and generate a ready-to-deploy docker-compose.yml, alone or alongside the rest of your stack.
Build my stackFrequently asked questions
Do I need Docker to self-host a Zendesk alternative?
Yes, for all 2: each one has a ready-to-copy docker-compose.yml. You just need Docker installed on your server.
How much RAM do I need at minimum?
The lightest option on this list is Zammad, which runs on as little as 1GB of RAM — enough for a cheap VPS.
Are they all 100% free, or are there paid features like on Zendesk?
1 out of 2 are 100% FOSS. The rest are Open-Core: the core is free and self-hostable, but some advanced feature may stay paid — we call it out on each tool's page.