- Pricing
- Free
- Free options
- Free version
- Deployment
- On-premise
- Popular with
- Education, Government
About osTicket
osTicket is a widely used open-source support ticket system. It turns email, web forms and phone requests into tickets, applies routing and SLA plans, and gives agents canned responses and internal notes. It is lightweight and runs on a standard PHP and MySQL stack.
The open-source version is free to run yourself, which keeps costs low for organisations with IT staff and modest requirements. The trade-off is a more utilitarian interface and fewer modern features, such as built-in AI or rich omnichannel messaging, than commercial platforms.
Because osTicket is self-hosted, treat it as an infrastructure project: choose hosting, set up email piping, and plan upgrades. It rewards teams with IT staff and clear requirements, and it is easy to extend with plugins. For anything involving live chat, social channels or AI, plan to add other tools or choose a modern alternative.
At a glance, osTicket offers Email-to-ticket, Web form tickets, SLA plans, Custom forms, Canned responses and more. It is best suited to iT teams and organisations that want a free, self-hosted ticket system, and a weaker fit for teams that want modern omnichannel and AI features out of the box. Check the vendor site for current plans and pricing, as we have not listed prices for this product.
Popular with: EducationGovernmentSoftware and IT
Features
- Canned responses
- Forms
- Integrations
- Knowledge base
- Role-based permissions
- SLA management
- Team collaboration
- Ticketing
Integrations
Pricing
Open source
Self-hosted, you run and maintain the server
Managed hosting
Offered by third-party hosts at their own prices
Prices change often. Check the vendor for current pricing. How we evaluate software.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open source and free to self-host
- Lightweight and straightforward
- Customizable forms and routing
- Large user community
Cons
- Dated interface
- Fewer modern channels and AI features
- Requires self-hosting and maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Is osTicket free?
The open-source software is free to self-host.
What does osTicket run on?
A PHP and MySQL stack.
Does osTicket have live chat?
Not as a core feature.
Who uses osTicket?
Schools, IT departments and small organisations.
What are the best alternatives to osTicket?
Popular alternatives covered on PreferWise include Zendesk, Freshdesk and Zoho Desk. Which fits best depends on team size, channels and budget, so compare them side by side before you decide.
Who should not use osTicket?
Teams that want modern omnichannel and AI features out of the box. If that describes you, compare osTicket with alternatives before committing.