osTicket
osTicket is an open-source support ticketing system for handling inquiries received through email, web forms, and API.
What osTicket is
osTicket is an open-source support ticketing system for handling inquiries received through email, web forms, and API. Ticket filters can automate ticket creation and direct requests to departments or agents, with options to reject, assign, or send canned responses. Custom fields, forms, and lists help teams collect information suited to particular help topics. Agents can create tasks linked to tickets or independently; a ticket cannot be closed while a linked task remains incomplete. The documented API uses XML or JSON over HTTP and currently supports ticket creation only. osTicket is a platform-independent web application that integrates with email and can be self-hosted. Installation requirements include Apache, LiteSpeed, or IIS, PHP 8.2–8.4, and MySQL 5.5 or later. Administrators can require multifactor authentication for agents, though agents are not required to enable it by default. The Open Source Free Download plan is free and includes email integration and community support.
Good
- Accepts inquiries through email, web forms, and API
- Filters can route tickets or send canned responses
- Custom forms collect topic-specific information
- Agents can link tasks to tickets
Watch out
- API currently supports ticket creation only
- Self-hosting requires specified server software
- Agent multifactor authentication is not required by default
Who it suits
It suits teams seeking an open-source ticketing system they can self-host or use through cloud hosting, with automated routing and configurable ticket forms.
Verdict
osTicket offers ticket routing, customizable intake, and task handling in a free open-source download. Teams should account for its server requirements and the API’s ticket-creation-only scope.
Plans and prices
From osTicket's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source Free Download | Free | Email integration · community support |
| Cloud-hosted | $12 a month | No installation required · 30-day free trial · hosted by SupportSystem · Starting at $12/agent/mo |
| 4-hour Training and Onboarding Session via Zoom | $999, paid once | Training and onboarding session · 4-hour session |
| osTicket Premium Business Support | $12,500 a year | Unlimited phone and email support · 1:00 am–5:00 pm US Central Time · 12-hour guaranteed response · $12,500/year |
| osTicket Enterprise On-Call Support | $25,000 a year | Unlimited phone and email support · 24/7 on-call developer support · hosting infrastructure support · 6-hour guaranteed response · $25,000/year |
| Virtual Appliance | Priced on request | Hosted by SupportSystem · customizable to fit your business needs · Contact us for pricing |
The facts
Each one read from osTicket's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API access
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- API limit
- The documented API uses XML or JSON over HTTP and currently supports ticket creation only.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Cloud hosting
- SupportSystem advertises managed hosting with 99.9% guaranteed uptime and a 30-day trial without a credit card or commitment.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Commercial support
- Commercial support includes unlimited incidents, proactive update and patch support, and access to osTicket developers.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Customer portal
- The customer portal archives support requests and responses online and provides a knowledge base for self-service.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Custom forms
- Custom fields, forms, and lists can collect information on tickets and can be configured for specific help topics.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Help center
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Installation requirements
- The installation documentation lists Apache, LiteSpeed, or IIS, PHP 8.2–8.4, and MySQL 5.5 or later as server requirements.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The FAQ describes osTicket as a platform-independent web application that integrates with email, and the homepage says inquiries can arrive through email, web forms, and API.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- osTicket is an open-source support ticketing system that routes inquiries created via email, web forms, and API.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- Administrators can require multifactor authentication for agents; by default agents are not required to enable it.checked 11 Oct 2026
- SLA management
- SLA plans track ticket due dates, issue overdue alerts, and support priority escalation; the features page says users can create unlimited SLA plans.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Tasks
- Agents can create tasks associated with tickets or independently, and ticket-related tasks prevent ticket closure until completed.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Ticket automation
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Ticket intake
- Its ticket filters can automate ticket creation and route incoming tickets to departments or agents, with actions such as rejection, assignment, or canned responses.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
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