Best open-source Helpdesk

Ranked picks

1. 1

   Chatwoot

   Open-source shared inbox, live chat, and help center — the c17 Intercom/Zendesk stack.

   When to pick it: A shared inbox and a help center you host.

2. 2

   Zammad

   Open-source ticket desk already in the catalog for customer support.

   When to pick it: Email-first tickets rather than a chat widget.

3. 3

   onyx

   MIT-community RAG UI so agents and humans answer from the same docs.

   When to pick it: AI answers over your help center. Skip Enterprise directories if you want OSS-only.

4. 4

   WhatsApp Cloud Inbox

   MIT WhatsApp Web-style inbox you can self-host.

   When to pick it: A WhatsApp channel next to Chatwoot, not a full Zendesk clone.

5. 5

   ChatbotX

   Open-source ManyChat-style omnichannel messenger.

   When to pick it: WhatsApp/social marketing chat, not a ticket SLA desk.

   903 stars in the catalog

How they compare

Related pages

• Chatwoot + Resend + Onyx stack
• Fider stack
• Replace Intercom
• Replace Zendesk
• Replace Freshdesk
• Replace Front
• Replace Help Scout
• Replace Drift
• Replace LiveChat
• Replace Canny
• All best open-source pages
• All replace pages
• All stacks
• Tools catalog

FAQ

Chatwoot or Zammad?

Chatwoot if you want live chat plus a help center (the published stack). Zammad if the job is email tickets.

Is Onyx required?

No. Ship Chatwoot first. Add Onyx when the same 40 questions clog the inbox — that is the stack FAQ.

Are these free?

Open-source or fair-code licenses; you pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.

How do I deploy it?

Open the Chatwoot support stack, copy the agent prompt, and start on Railway. SMTP stays on Resend.