FreeScout vs UVdesk
A shared mailbox that feels like a help desk. PHP help desk with email-to-ticket, a support center, and a knowledge base. Compare the capabilities you need, then check hosting, licensing and maintenance. This pair is shown for browsing but is not indexed (no written verdict yet).
| Attribute | FreeScout | UVdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A shared mailbox that feels like a help desk. | PHP help desk with email-to-ticket, a support center, and a knowledge base. |
| Documented capabilities | Shared mailbox, Ticket assignment, Collision detection | Email-to-ticket from unlimited mailboxes, Customer support center, Knowledge base and FAQ, Automated workflows and saved replies, Unlimited agents and tickets |
| Best-fit workflow | Teams whose support work is mostly email. | Small teams that want an email help desk with a knowledge base on a PHP and MySQL stack. |
| Check before choosing | Live chat and a modern messenger widget are not the core product. Some modules are paid. | The latest release is from September 2025 and the README still lists PHP 8.1. Reporting is a paid add-on, and no official Docker image is published. |
| Deployment options | PHP, Docker | Composer, Web installer |
| GitHub stars | 4,618 | 19,637 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | OSL-3.0 |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Docker noted | Yes | Not recorded |
| Cloud / hosted | Not recorded | Yes |
| Primary language | PHP | PHP |
| Last commit | 2026-10-26 | 2026-10-07 |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Content source | Editorial catalog entry | Editorial catalog entry |
| Metadata checked | 2026-10-27 | Check the current repository |
| Forks | 735 | 562 |
| Star growth | +42 (2026-10-01 to 2026-10-27) | Not recorded |
| Alternative to | Intercom, Zendesk | Zendesk |
This comparison uses recorded capabilities, not hands-on performance tests. A capability missing from one record does not mean that product lacks it. Confirm edition, version and current pricing in the official documentation.
When to consider FreeScout
Teams whose support work is mostly email.
Live chat and a modern messenger widget are not the core product. Some modules are paid.
FreeScout documentation and sourceWhen to consider UVdesk
Small teams that want an email help desk with a knowledge base on a PHP and MySQL stack.
The latest release is from September 2025 and the README still lists PHP 8.1. Reporting is a paid add-on, and no official Docker image is published.
UVdesk documentation and sourceFreeScout vs UVdesk questions
- What is FreeScout?
- A shared mailbox that feels like a help desk.
- What is UVdesk?
- PHP help desk with email-to-ticket, a support center, and a knowledge base.
- Can you self-host FreeScout and UVdesk?
- Both can be self-hosted.
- What licenses do FreeScout and UVdesk use?
- FreeScout uses the AGPL-3.0 license. UVdesk uses the OSL-3.0 license.
- Which has more GitHub stars, FreeScout or UVdesk?
- UVdesk has 20k stars and FreeScout has 4.6k. Stars show attention; check recent commits and releases for maintenance.
- What languages are FreeScout and UVdesk written in?
- Both are mainly written in PHP.