FreeScout
A lightweight, completely free, self-hosted shared mailbox modeled on Help Scout's simplicity.
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sovereigntyFreeScout is a PHP/Laravel help desk built as a shared-inbox clone of Help Scout: email comes in, becomes a conversation, and agents reply, tag, assign, and add private notes from one lightweight interface. The core is entirely free with no agent or ticket limits; the project sustains itself by selling small optional modules (knowledge base, reports, custom fields, CRM — $4-$15 one-time each) rather than a subscription, so the base product never expires or gates users the way Freshdesk's time-limited free tier does.
OPEN SOURCEAGPL-3.0SELF-HOSTLOCAL-FIRST
LicenseAGPL-3.0
PricingCore is free forever, unlimited agents and mailboxes. Optional one-time modules (not subscriptions) cost $4-$15 each for extras like knowledge base, reports, or CRM fields.
Open sourceYes
Self-hostableYes
Local-first dataYes
What it does well
- +AGPL-3.0, fully open source, verified against the project's own repo license
- +No recurring cost at all for the core product — pay once (if ever) for optional modules, never a subscription, and no 6-month free-tier expiry
- +Very lightweight: runs comfortably on a small VPS or shared PHP hosting, minimal moving parts
- +Familiar Help Scout-style shared-mailbox workflow with a low learning curve
Where it falls short
- −Native channel coverage is email-first; live chat, WhatsApp, and social messaging require third-party modules or aren't available
- −Reporting and analytics are functional but noticeably thinner than Freshdesk's built-in dashboards
- −Smaller contributor base than Zammad or Chatwoot; some advanced features only ship as paid modules
FreeScout as an alternative to
Where FreeScout shows up in our comparisons, and how it ranked.
FreeScout head-to-head
Straight comparisons against the tools people weigh it against.