Chatwoot vs UVdesk
Self-host pick — both replace Help Scout (Customer support helpdesk / shared inbox).
Both Chatwoot and UVdesk self-host as a replacement for Help Scout (Customer support helpdesk / shared inbox). Pick Chatwoot if you want support teams adding live chat, WhatsApp, or social DMs to their email-only Help Scout setup; pick UVdesk if you want e-commerce support teams that want order-context shown alongside the ticket without extra plugins. Both are MIT-family licensed and similar to set up.
| Chatwootopen-source | UVdeskopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Setup time | 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq) | 30min docker-compose (Symfony + MySQL) |
| Monthly cost | $10/mo VPS for a small team; Postgres + Redis are the core ops surface. | $5-10/mo VPS. |
| GitHub | chatwoot/chatwoot | uvdesk/community-skeleton |
| Replaces | Help Scout + 2 other | Help Scout |
Good fit for
Chatwoot
Support teams adding live chat, WhatsApp, or social DMs to their email-only Help Scout setup.
Weak at:Email-only workflows feel slightly heavy in Chatwoot's omnichannel UI; FreeScout is more focused if email is all you have.
UVdesk
E-commerce support teams that want order-context shown alongside the ticket without extra plugins.
Weak at:UI feels more 'tickets' than 'shared inbox' — a different mental model than Help Scout if email-conversations are your primary metaphor.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli helpscout prints Help Scout's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Chatwoot or UVdesk?
Chatwoot: 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq). UVdesk: 30min docker-compose (Symfony + MySQL).
What does each cost to run?
Chatwoot: $10/mo VPS for a small team; Postgres + Redis are the core ops surface.. UVdesk: $5-10/mo VPS.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Chatwoot and UVdesk replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Help Scout.