ChatwootvsZendesk

Open source vs SaaS — side-by-side comparison

ChatwootOpen Source

Open source customer engagement platform — alternative to Intercom for live chat and support

Customer service and engagement platform with ticketing system

Overview

ChatwootZendesk

TypeOpen SourceSaaS

CategoryCRMCRM

PricingFree (self-hosted)$19/mo

Self-Hostable

LicenseMITProprietary

ChatwootZendesk

Stars27.5k--

Forks6.5k--

Contributors300--

Open Issues1k--

Last CommitMar 2026--

Latest Release----

Data ownership — Self-host your data and maintain full control over your information

No vendor lock-in — Avoid recurring subscription costs and switch freely

Customizable — Modify the source code to fit your exact needs