🤝 no affiliate links · no paid placements · every entry lists honest trade-offs

Zendesk Support Team alternatives

Killing from $19/agent/mo (~$228/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.

head-to-head

FreeScout
price Free self-host
self-hostable yes
license AGPL-3.0
verified 2026-08

free & open source (2)

FreeScout oss self-host AGPL-3.0
Free self-host

Featherweight shared-inbox help desk — runs on tiny shared hosting.

trade-offs: PHP app, fewer enterprise features

github →
Zammad oss self-host AGPL-3.0
Free self-host

Full multichannel ticketing (email, chat, phone, X) used by large orgs.

trade-offs: Needs Elasticsearch for search · Heavier stack

github →

faq

What is the best free alternative to Zendesk Support Team?

FreeScout is the top free option — Featherweight shared-inbox help desk — runs on tiny shared hosting.

How much can I save by switching from Zendesk Support Team?

Zendesk Support Team costs from $19/agent/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $228/year per seat.

Can Zendesk Support Team be self-hosted?

Yes — FreeScout and Zammad can be self-hosted for free.

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