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Help Scout alternatives · Email

Self-hosted alternatives to Help Scout

The Help Scout listing does not say it can be self-hosted. 6 of the 73 other email apps in this directory can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.

Help Scout has a free plan. Paid plans start at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly). 4 of them are free or have a free plan.

6 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from

How each one differs from Help Scout

  1. Inbox Zero

    Open source AI email assistant for Gmail and Outlook

    • Inbox Zero starts at $18 per user / month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
    • Help Scout has a free plan. Inbox Zero does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Inbox Zero lists macOS and Windows apps.
    • Only Inbox Zero lists a browser extension.
    Inbox Zero pricing and details

  2. Zero Mail

    Open-source AI email client that connects your existing inboxes

    • Zero Mail starts at $20 per month (billing basis not shown). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
    • Only Help Scout lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Zero Mail is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Zero Mail also covers email client and inbox filtering.
    Zero Mail pricing and details

  3. SimpleLogin

    Open-source email aliases that forward to your own inbox

    • SimpleLogin starts at $36 per year ($4 billed monthly). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
    • Only SimpleLogin lists a browser extension.
    • SimpleLogin is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Help Scout also covers shared inbox, workflow automation, AI agents and reports.
    SimpleLogin pricing and details

  4. addy.io

    Email alias forwarding that hides your real address from sites

    • addy.io starts at $1 per month, billed yearly (Lite). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
    • Only addy.io lists a browser extension.
    • addy.io is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Help Scout also covers shared inbox, workflow automation, AI agents and reports.
    addy.io pricing and details

  5. Zimbra

    Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations

    • Help Scout has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
    • Only Zimbra lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
    • Zimbra is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Zimbra also covers tasks, calendar and email client.
    Zimbra pricing and details

  6. Roundcube

    Free open-source webmail client you host yourself

    • Roundcube is free. Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
    • Only Help Scout lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Roundcube is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Roundcube also covers email client.
    Roundcube pricing and details

Common questions

Is there a self-hosted alternative to Help Scout?

Yes. Inbox Zero, Zero Mail, SimpleLogin, addy.io, Zimbra and Roundcube can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.

Can Help Scout be self-hosted?

The Help Scout listing does not say it can be self-hosted. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 2026 against the pages it cites.

Which of these email apps are free?

Zero Mail, SimpleLogin, addy.io and Roundcube are free or have a free plan.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Help Scout: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.