Plain alternatives · Help Desks
Open-source alternatives to Plain
Plain is not described as open source on its own site. 6 of the 66 other help desk and live chat tools in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.
Plain is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly). All 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 Plain
- Free plan · from $19/mo
Chatwoot
Open-source support inbox you can self-host or use in the cloud
- Chatwoot starts at $19 per agent / month, billing term not stated. Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- Chatwoot has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Chatwoot lists iOS and Android apps.
- Chatwoot is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free
FreeScout
Free open-source help desk and shared mailbox you host yourself
- FreeScout is free. Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- FreeScout has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only FreeScout lists iOS and Android apps.
- FreeScout is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $12/mo
osTicket
Open-source support ticketing, self-hosted or as a cloud edition
- osTicket starts at $12 per agent / month, for the cloud-hosted edition (billing basis not stated). Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- osTicket has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- osTicket is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Plain also covers live chat, help center and AI support agent.
- Free plan · from €7/mo
Zammad
Open-source help desk, hosted in Germany or run on your own server
- Zammad starts at €7 per agent / month, billed annually (€9 billed monthly). Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- Zammad has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zammad is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Plain also covers workflow automation, help center and AI support agent.
- Free plan · from $8/mo
UVdesk
Open-source help desk for online stores with hosted Pro and Enterprise
- UVdesk starts at $8 per agent / month, billed annually ($11 billed monthly). Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- UVdesk has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- UVdesk is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- UVdesk also covers forms.
- Free plan · from $6/mo
Faveo Helpdesk
Help desk and service desk, cloud-hosted or self-hosted
- Faveo Helpdesk starts at $6 per agent / month, billed annually ($7 billed monthly). Plain starts at $45 per user / month, billed annually ($55 billed monthly).
- Faveo Helpdesk has a free plan. Plain does not, though it has a free trial.
- Faveo Helpdesk is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Faveo Helpdesk also covers reports and ticketing.
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Plain?
Yes. Chatwoot, FreeScout, osTicket, Zammad, UVdesk and Faveo Helpdesk are open source, according to their own sites.
Is Plain open source?
Plain is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Nov 12, 2026 against the pages it cites.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 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 Plain: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.