GLPI vs HESK
| Tagline | Full-featured open-source IT asset management and service desk with ITIL support | Simple PHP help desk with built-in knowledge base for small teams and solo operators |
| Category | Helpdesk & Support | Helpdesk & Support |
| Replaces | Zendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom | Zendesk, Freshdesk |
| GitHub stars | 6.2k | 340 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Self-host difficulty | 3/5 Moderate | 1/5 Effortless |
| Deploy options | Docker Docker Compose Manual | Manual |
| Managed hosting | ||
| Last updated | today | 2 months ago |
| View repo | View repo |
Where each falls short
The honest trade-offs — what you give up with each, versus the proprietary tools they replace.
GLPI
- UI is complex and can overwhelm users who only need basic ticketing
- Asset management and ITSM workflows require significant initial configuration
- Plugin quality varies widely; some community plugins are unmaintained
HESK
- No multi-agent collaboration features or internal notes visible across teams
- No REST API; integrations must be built against the database directly
- License is source-available for free use but prohibits redistribution
Bottom line
Choose HESK if you want the lower-effort setup; choose GLPI for the larger community and ecosystem. GLPI has seen more recent development. Open each guide below for deploy steps and the full feature gap.