Complete Guide
How to Install FreeScout
A complete guide to installing FreeScout on your server — or skip the complexity and let our experts do it in 24 hours.
24-hour delivery
We complete the full setup within 24 hours of receiving server access.
Production-ready
SSL, email deliverability, firewall, fail2ban — all configured and tested.
From $100 one-time
No monthly fees. Includes 30 days support and a 1-hour onboarding call.
Skip the complexity
Our engineers have done this 500+ times. We handle everything — you get a working helpdesk in 24 hours.
DIY Installation
Step-by-step FreeScout installation
1. Provision a VPS
Get a Ubuntu 22.04 VPS with at least 1GB RAM. Popular choices: DigitalOcean ($6/mo), Hetzner (€3.29/mo), Vultr ($6/mo), or AWS Lightsail.
2. Install dependencies
SSH into your server and install NGINX, PHP 8.1+, MySQL 8, and Composer. This is where most beginners get stuck — package conflicts, wrong PHP versions, and permission errors are common.
3. Configure SSL
Set up a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate with Certbot and configure NGINX to serve FreeScout over HTTPS with auto-renewal.
4. Configure email
Connect your mailboxes via IMAP/SMTP and set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records so outbound emails don't land in spam. This is the most complex step.
5. Install modules & harden
Install the modules your team needs, set up user accounts, configure firewall rules, and harden the server against attacks.
By platform
Installation guides by hosting provider
What our professional installation includes
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install FreeScout yourself?
For an experienced Linux admin: 2–4 hours. For someone less familiar with servers: 1–2 days including troubleshooting. Our professional service completes the full setup in under 24 hours.
What are the FreeScout server requirements?
Minimum: Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 (or Debian 11/12), 1GB RAM, 10GB disk, PHP 8.1+, MySQL 8, NGINX. Recommended for production: 2GB RAM, 20GB disk.
Is FreeScout free to install?
FreeScout itself is free and open-source. You pay only for your VPS hosting (typically $6–$20/month). Professional installation services like ours charge a one-time setup fee starting at $100.
Can I install FreeScout on shared hosting?
FreeScout requires root access and a specific server stack, so shared hosting is generally not supported. You need a VPS or dedicated server. cPanel hosting with root access can work — see our cPanel guide.
What is the easiest way to install FreeScout?
The easiest way is to use our professional installation service — we handle everything including SSL, email, security, and onboarding for a one-time fee from $100. If you prefer DIY, start with our Ubuntu 22.04 guide.
How do I migrate from Zendesk or Freshdesk to FreeScout?
We provide migration guides and professional migration assistance. See our guides for migrating from Zendesk, Freshdesk, HelpScout, and other platforms.
Migrating from another helpdesk?
We handle data migration from all major platforms as part of our installation service.