10+ Best Free Ticketing System & Help Desk Software [2025]

As a business owner or support manager, you continuously hunt for innovative applications to boost your team’s productivity. Unfortunately, almost every high-quality software has a hefty price tag.

Plus, with so many types of available software, choosing one that is right for your business can be challenging, especially for savvy ticket buyers who understand the costs associated with ticketing.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place because, in this guide, we’ll list the best free ticketing system and help desk that you can use to streamline operations in 2025.

But first, let’s talk a bit about why you need them.

What is help desk & ticketing software?

Help desk and ticketing software helps centralize and streamline customer support by managing customer queries through a ticketing system, ensuring that each request is tracked and answered.

Effectively managing each ticket sold can significantly enhance revenue and customer satisfaction by eliminating per-ticket fees and increasing profitability.

Here are some of its key features:

• Ticketing systems make it possible for teams to categorize, assign, and track customer inquiries.

• Workflow automation gets rid of repetitive tasks like ticket assignments and status updates by automating them.

• Reporting and analytics provide insights into team performance, response times, and customer satisfaction to help create new support strategies.

• Integrations connect and blend with tools like CRM systems, e-mail, and chat platforms for enhanced functionality.

Ticketing software helps companies streamline communication between employees and customers, optimizing the organization’s efficiency in dealing with daily tasks.

Here are other benefits of using help desk software to manage tasks and communications.

• Improved efficiency in handling customer inquiries.

• Enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Reduced response times and better team collaboration.

What is a ticketing system?

A ticketing system is a software application that enables businesses to manage and track customer support requests, issues, and incidents in a centralized and organized manner. It provides a platform for customers to submit tickets, which are then assigned to support agents for resolution.

You can streamline their customer support processes using a ticketing system, improve response times, and enhance overall customer satisfaction. It allows support teams to prioritize and categorize tickets based on urgency and type, ensuring that critical issues are resolved promptly.

Additionally, a ticketing system provides valuable insights into common customer issues, helping businesses identify improvement areas and optimize their support strategies.

Implementing a ticketing system can significantly improve customer service operations, whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise.

Key features to look for in a ticketing system

When selecting a ticketing system, there are several key features to look for to ensure that it meets the needs of your business. Here are some of the most important features to consider:

• Automation: Automating repetitive tasks, such as assigning agent tickets and sending notifications to customers, can save time and reduce the risk of human error. Automation ensures that tickets are routed to the right person and that customers are informed throughout the resolution process.

• Customization: A ticketing system should offer customization options for your business’s needs. It includes the ability to create custom fields, workflows, and reports. Customization allows you to tailor the system to your unique processes and requirements, ensuring a seamless fit with your existing operations.

• Integration: It’s crucial to integrate the ticketing system with other software applications, such as CRM systems, email clients, and social media platforms. Integration ensures that all customer interactions are captured and managed in one place, providing a holistic view of customer support activities.

• Scalability: The ticketing system should be scalable to meet your business’s growing needs. It includes handling a high volume of tickets and users without compromising performance. Scalability ensures that the system can grow with your company and continue to provide reliable support as your customer base expands.

• Free support: The availability of free support, including online resources, documentation, and customer support, is a valuable feature. It ensures that you can get help when needed without incurring additional costs.

Top 10+ free help desk & ticketing software for 2025

The numerous ticketing solutions available in the market can make finding the right one for your business daunting. 

We compiled a list of the best free options to simplify your search. Each software program has unique features and limitations, making it suitable for different types of businesses.

1. HelpDesk

HelpDesk is advanced ticketing and customer support software designed to simplify and optimize communication between a business and its customers. 

HelpDesk also helps manage finances for other events by providing immediate access to ticket revenue, which can be beneficial for funding promotions for future events.

Key features:

• Its centralized ticketing system helps organize all customer interactions into a single, unified platform.

• AI-powered ticket summarization and text enhancements.

• Automation of repetitive processes, including assigning tickets to specific teams, tagging, and prioritizing them on predefined rules.

• Comprehensive reporting and analytics to track key performance metrics.

• Highly customizable workflows.

Limitations in the free version:

• The free version lasts 14 days but doesn’t have any limitations.

Best suited for:

• Businesses of any size looking for a user-friendly solution with robust automation.

Why it’s included:

• HelpDesk combines simplicity with powerful features, making it a versatile choice for organizations.

2. Zoho Desk

Zoho’s flagship web-based help desk software is designed for small businesses and startups. It allows teams to provide seamless support across almost every channel, including email, voice, and chat.

Zoho Desk helps businesses understand and cater to ticket buyers by providing seamless support across multiple channels, ensuring customer satisfaction and retention.

Enabling small teams to streamline customer service operations through a low-cost and cheap alternative.

Key features:

• AI-powered assistant to streamline ticket handling.

• Multi-channel support to manage queries across e-mail, chat, and social media.

• Workflow automation to reduce manual effort.

Limitations in the free version:

• Limited to a small number of users and features.

Best suited for:

• Small businesses requiring multi-channel support and integrations.

Why it’s included:

• Zoho Desk stands out for its ease of use and seamless integration capabilities.

3. HelpDeskZ

HelpDeskZ is free, PHP-based, and open-source software. It allows your team to reconfigure it as much as they want to suit their needs.

HelpDeskZ allows businesses to manage ticket fees effectively, reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction.

Unlike paid help desk software, HelpDeskZ doesn’t have an external platform. Instead, it seamlessly integrates with your site to offer ticketing features.

Key features:

• It allows you to build a database of FAQs and articles, which can act as a customer self-service platform.

• It lets you add any number of support agents.

• It’s self-hosted, which means teams comfortable with tech can control every aspect of the software.

Limitations in the free version:

• Since it requires self-hosting, your team has to manage the server and installation themselves.

• Lacks advanced features like automation and AI analytics.

Best suited for:

• Startups and small businesses.

Why it’s included:

• HelpDeskZ’s open-source nature makes it incredibly customizable for teams that know how to handle tech.

4. osTicket

osTicket is another open-source ticketing system designed to simplify customer support management. Unlike HelpDeskZ, it has an external web-based platform that routes questions from emails, phones, and web forms to collect them all in one place. 

Its open-source nature also makes it perfect for small to mid-sized businesses, which can customize the tool according to their requirements. 

Key features:

• Email integration and ticket management.

• Custom fields and ticket filters. 

• Built-in knowledge base with several how-to articles and FAQs for customer self-service.

• Built-in agent collision avoidance system.

Limitations in the free version:

• No official support channel, just a community where users answer FAQs.

Best suited for:

• Small to mid-size businesses looking to streamline operations across IT, sales, and HR.

Why it’s included:

• osTicket offers a simple yet effective help desk system with robust features like agent scripting tools and automatic time tracking.

5. LiveAgent

LiveAgent’s free plan offers several features perfect for startups or any new business that needs to handle support but wants to keep it low-cost and cheap. 

With two email accounts for ticketing and one live chat channel, LiveAgent’s free plan offers enough to maintain key support touchpoints. 

Key features:

• Unlimited agents can be added.

• Real-time chat features with proactive engagement options.

• Offers a customer portal and forum, two email accounts for ticketing, and one live chat channel.

• Ticket splitting for complex inquiries.

Limitations in the free version:

• Restricted tools and e-mail. 

Best suited for:

• Industries requiring personalized, real-time customer support, such as healthcare, travel, and real estate.

Why it’s included:

• LiveAgent excels in offering real-time support and engagement features like chat monitoring.

6. Spiceworks

Spiceworks is a cloud-based help desk software. It supports unlimited agents, tickets, and users, ensuring that your team can scale quickly whenever you go from a small to mid-size business. 

Key features:

• Cloud-based ticketing solution.

• Mobile app for on-the-go ticket management.

• Knowledge base for self-service options.

Limitations in the free version:

• Completely free but ad-supported, which may distract users.

Best suited for:

• Startups or small businesses that don’t need advanced tools yet.

Why it’s included:

• Spiceworks’ community support is unparalleled, offering valuable insights and solutions from IT professionals.

7. ProProfs Help Desk

ProProfs free HelpDesk software is the only one on this list that offers AI-powered sentiment analysis to help your team offer more efficient ticket and customer support management.

It also offers unlimited ticketing with multiple inboxes and in-depth reporting to track analytics like resolution time. 

Key features:

• Unlimited ticketing with multiple inboxes.

• AI-powered sentiment analysis.

• In-depth reporting to track metrics like resolution time.

Limitations in the free version:

• Limited data analysis and storage capabilities.

Best suited for:

• Small and developing businesses.

Why it’s included:

• ProProfs offers unique tools like Qualaroo for targeted customer feedback and sentiment analysis powered by IBM Watson.

8. Freshdesk

Freshdesk takes a unique approach to ticket management. Its collaborative ticketing platform is built to scale agent productivity and hasten customer responses. Its free plan boasts 35 features to help teams manage tickets and agent productivity. 

Key features:

• Generative AI agents and customizable self-service portals.

• Omnichannel support to manage multiple communication channels.

• Customer Distress Index to measure and address dissatisfaction.

Limitations in the free version:

• Free for up to 10 agents.

Best suited for:

• Larger businesses with higher ticket volumes.

Why it’s included:

• Freshdesk’s detailed analytics provide actionable insights into customer satisfaction.

9. Freshservice

Freshservice is a cloud-based IT service management system that helps businesses streamline IT operations. Its free plan offers omnichannel ticket management and tracking, with a bonus feature for managing agent collisions. 

It also offers a self-service portal, integrations with third-party tools, and analytics for better decision-making.

Key features:

• Omnichannel ticket management and incident tracking.

• Freddy AI add-ons for reporting insights and writing assistance.

• Asset and change management tools.

Limitations in the free version:

• Most reporting features require premium plans.

Best suited for:

• Enterprise companies needing a solution for HR, IT, finance, and facilities.

Why it’s included:

• Freshservice’s ESM plan centralizes business operations across departments.

10. HubSpot Service Hub

Hubspot Service Hub is a help desk and ticketing software designed to help businesses manage customer requests through one unified interface. 

It’s also the best option if you already use Hubspot for CRM, as the integration is seamless. Additionally, Hubspot’s Service Hub offers over 30 features in its free version. 

Key features:

• Generative AI agents and automation tools.

• Omnichannel support and customer portal.

• Integration with HubSpot CRM for enhanced data sharing.

Limitations in the free version:

• Limited contacts, API calls, and e-mails.

Best suited for:

• SMBs and startups focused on building customer relationships.

Why it’s included:

• HubSpot’s robust CRM integration enhances ticketing efficiency.

11. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management, created by Atlassian in 2013, was initially designed to manage customer and employee requests when the founders realized that over 40% of their customers were using Jira for service requests. 

Nonetheless, Jira’s free plan accommodates up to 10 users, which is perfect for small teams.

Key features:

• Real-time incident monitoring and reporting.

• Knowledge base and self-service portal.

• Integrations with apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Limitations in the free version:

• Limited to 10 users and 2GB storage.

Best suited for:

• Enterprises and tech companies with diverse teams.

Why it’s included:

• Jira’s powerful incident and asset management tools are ideal for complex organizations.

Benefits of free help desk software

Free help desk software can be a big help for small businesses and startups that want to provide impeccable support but are restricted to a low budget. 

It offers a low-cost alternative to premium ticketing software, which offers almost the same service with the addition of some extra features. 

Here are some other benefits of free help desk software. 

• Cost-effectiveness: Free help desk software offers small businesses and startups a low-cost and cheap alternative to full-fledged ticketing software with an entire external support platform.

• Access to essential features: Almost every free option provides the basic core features without additional investment.

• Room to experiment: Gives businesses room to test multiple free tools before deciding on a paid tool. 

Summary

Finding the right ticketing software isn’t just about picking the most popular option; it’s about choosing a tool that fits your team’s workflow and customer support needs.

Free plans allow you to experiment, but the real value lies in how well a platform scales as your business grows. Don’t rush the decision. Let your team test different options, push their limits, and see which software makes their job easier.

The best help desk isn’t just a tool — it’s the backbone of excellent customer service.

Start exploring the options in this guide, and when you’re ready, invest in a solution that meets your current needs and supports your long-term growth.