osTicket
Email and web forms become assigned tickets; dated, dependable and very much your PHP server.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-11
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- Installation
- Upload the release to a PHP web root, create a MySQL database, then finish the browser installer
- Operational Setup
- A PHP/MySQL web host plus database credentials, filesystem permissions and mail piping or IMAP setup
- Where Your Data Lives
- Tickets and configuration in MySQL; attachments in the database or server filesystem depending on storage setup; ticket metadata can export as CSV
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Its interface, automation and reporting feel dated beside Freshdesk.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $133/mo ($1,596/yr) in subscriptions
osTicket FAQ
Common questions
Is osTicket free and open source?+
osTicket is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-2.0 that runs on self-host. Email and web forms become assigned tickets; dated, dependable and very much your PHP server.
What paid software does osTicket replace?+
osTicket serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Freshdesk, Groove, Help Scout, Zendesk, saving up to $133/month ($1,596/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up osTicket?+
Installation: Upload the release to a PHP web root, create a MySQL database, then finish the browser installer. Setup notes: A PHP/MySQL web host plus database credentials, filesystem permissions and mail piping or IMAP setup
What is the catch or trade-off with osTicket?+
Its interface, automation and reporting feel dated beside Freshdesk.