FreeScout is a free, open-source helpdesk and shared inbox system. It is a self-hosted alternative to Zendesk and Freshdesk with no monthly fees.

How long does FreeScout installation take?

Our professional FreeScout installation service completes within 24 hours. This includes server setup, SSL configuration, email configuration, and security hardening.

What server do I need to install FreeScout?

You need a VPS with at least 1GB RAM running Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04. We recommend 2GB RAM for production use. We support all major VPS providers.

How much does FreeScout installation cost?

Our FreeScout installation service starts at $100 for the Basic package (one-time fee). Pro is $150 and Ultimate is $200. There are no recurring fees.

Do you provide support after FreeScout installation?

Yes, every installation includes 30 days of post-installation support plus a 1-hour onboarding call to help your team get started.

Is FreeScout better than Zendesk?

FreeScout is a self-hosted open source alternative to Zendesk. Unlike Zendesk which costs $55-$115 per agent per month, FreeScout has no monthly fees. A 10-agent team pays $6,600-$13,800/year for Zendesk versus a one-time $100 FreeScout installation fee.

FreeScout helpdesk installation guides and tutorials

FreeScout Installation & Setup

Complete guides, tutorials, and migration strategies for your helpdesk

Tutorial

Migrate from osTicket to FreeScout: Step-by-Step (2025)

Complete guide to migrate from osTicket to FreeScout. Data export, import, and why FreeScout is the modern choice.

8 min readMay 15, 2025

Tutorial

Migrate from Zammad to FreeScout: Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to migrate from Zammad (open-source) to FreeScout. Data export, import, and why FreeScout is simpler.

9 min readMay 14, 2025

Guide

FreeScout SSL: Wildcard Certificates & Advanced Setup (2025)

Advanced SSL configuration for FreeScout. Covers wildcard certificates, multiple domains, internal PKI, and certificate pinning.

8 min readMay 13, 2025

Guide

FreeScout Performance Tuning: Optimize for Speed (2025)

Complete guide to optimizing FreeScout for speed. Covers caching, queue optimization, database tuning, and handling 1000+ tickets/day.

10 min readMay 12, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on cPanel — Complete Guide (2025)

Deploy FreeScout on cPanel/WHM hosting. Covers cPanel setup, databases, SSL, and why cPanel can host FreeScout.

8 min readMay 11, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on Debian — Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step FreeScout installation on Debian 12. Works on any Debian-based VPS. Covers setup, MySQL, NGINX, SSL, and email.

7 min readMay 10, 2025

Tutorial

FreeScout on DigitalOcean App Platform (2025)

Deploy FreeScout on DigitalOcean App Platform with managed database. Zero ops, auto-scaling, Git-based deployments.

6 min readMay 9, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on Vultr — Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to deploy FreeScout on Vultr Cloud. Covers instance setup, DDoS protection, backups, and why Vultr is the best global option.

7 min readMay 8, 2025

Comparison

FreeScout vs osTicket: Modern vs Legacy Helpdesk (2025)

FreeScout vs osTicket: features, UI/UX, customization, and why FreeScout is the better choice for new projects.

7 min readMay 7, 2025

Comparison

FreeScout vs Zammad: Open-Source Helpdesk Comparison (2025)

FreeScout vs Zammad: cost, features, customization, and which open-source helpdesk is right for your team.

7 min readMay 6, 2025

Tutorial

Migrate from HelpScout to FreeScout: Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to migrate from HelpScout to FreeScout. Data export, import, team training, and smooth cutover strategy.

10 min readMay 5, 2025

Tutorial

Migrate Freshdesk to FreeScout: Complete Guide (2025)

Complete guide to migrate from Freshdesk to FreeScout. Covers data export, import, team training, and cutover strategy.

10 min readMay 4, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on AWS EC2 — Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to deploy FreeScout on AWS EC2. Covers instance setup, security groups, RDS, Elastic IP, and AWS-specific best practices.

9 min readMay 3, 2025

Guide

FreeScout Security Hardening: Production Setup (2025)

Complete security hardening guide for FreeScout. Covers firewall, fail2ban, SSH security, PHP hardening, backups, and compliance best practices.

10 min readMay 2, 2025

Tutorial

FreeScout SSL: HTTPS Setup & Auto-Renewal (2025)

Complete guide to SSL certificates for FreeScout. Covers Let's Encrypt, certbot, auto-renewal, and fixing SSL errors.

6 min readMay 1, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout with Docker — Complete Guide (2025)

Use Docker to deploy FreeScout with docker-compose. Includes MySQL, NGINX, SSL, and why Docker is perfect for testing and production.

8 min readApr 30, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on Linode — Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to install FreeScout on Linode. Covers Linode Compute, reverse DNS, security, and everything you need to get FreeScout running.

7 min readApr 29, 2025

Installation

FreeScout Installation Guide: Complete Setup (2025)

The complete FreeScout installation guide — server requirements, step-by-step setup, SSL, email configuration, and why most businesses hire an expert instead.

12 min readApr 28, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on Hetzner — Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to install FreeScout on Hetzner Cloud. Covers Cloud Servers, reverse DNS, backups, and why Hetzner is the best value for FreeScout.

7 min readApr 28, 2025

Comparison

FreeScout vs HelpScout: Full Comparison (2025)

FreeScout vs HelpScout: cost, features, ease of use, and who each is best for. Detailed comparison from a team that has installed FreeScout for 500+ businesses.

9 min readApr 27, 2025

Tutorial

Migrate from Zendesk to FreeScout: Complete Guide (2025)

Step-by-step guide to migrate from Zendesk to FreeScout without losing data. Data export, preparation, parallel running, and cutover strategy.

12 min readApr 26, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on DigitalOcean (2025)

Step-by-step guide to install FreeScout on DigitalOcean Droplet. Covers App Platform, Marketplace, and manual VPS setup — the fastest way to get FreeScout running.

8 min readApr 25, 2025

Tutorial

FreeScout Email: SMTP, IMAP, SPF, DKIM & DMARC (2025)

Complete guide to FreeScout email setup — SMTP for sending, IMAP for receiving, and email deliverability (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Fix 'emails not sending' and prevent spam folder.

14 min readApr 24, 2025

Guide

FreeScout Modules Guide: Which Do You Need? (2025)

Complete guide to FreeScout modules — knowledge base, live chat, AI replies, automation, reports. Which are worth installing and how they extend FreeScout's capabilities.

10 min readApr 23, 2025

Comparison

FreeScout vs Freshdesk: Full Comparison (2025)

FreeScout vs Freshdesk: cost, features, ease of use, and who each is right for. Head-to-head comparison from a team that has installed FreeScout for 500+ businesses.

9 min readApr 22, 2025

Comparison

FreeScout vs Zendesk: Full Comparison (2025)

FreeScout vs Zendesk: cost, features, setup, and who each is right for. A no-fluff comparison from a team that has installed FreeScout for 500+ businesses.

8 min readApr 20, 2025

Tutorial

Install FreeScout on Ubuntu 22.04 — Step by Step (2025)

Complete step-by-step guide to install FreeScout on Ubuntu 22.04 with NGINX, PHP 8.2, MySQL, SSL, and email configuration. Includes common errors and fixes.

15 min readApr 15, 2025