osTicket vs SolarWinds Service Desk Comparison
osTicket
Starting at $9 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Individuals
- Large Enterprises
osTicket is open source, web based help desk software that can be used to help track and resolve customer service issues. The software saves time, reduces email clutter, and helps departments deliver excellent service—al…
SolarWinds Service Desk
Starting at $19 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
SolarWinds Service Desk helps IT teams track, manage and resolve incidents faster. This service desk software offers revolutionary self-help technology that puts customers in control of their issues and integrated tools…
SolarWinds Service Desk leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 1,874 reviews.
osTicket vs SolarWinds Service Desk — at a glance
| Feature | osTicket | SolarWinds Service Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Reviews | 56 | 1,874 |
| Starting price | $9 /User/Month | $19 /User/Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Help Desk Software | Service Desk Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk
- Pricing: osTicket starts at $9 /User/Month, while SolarWinds Service Desk starts at $19 /User/Month.
- Target audience: osTicket is built for Individuals and Large Enterprises, while SolarWinds Service Desk targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: SolarWinds Service Desk scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
- Deployment: osTicket supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; SolarWinds Service Desk supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
osTicket vs SolarWinds Service Desk — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Help Desk Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small businesses needing customizable, cost-effective help desk software.
- You have in-house technical resources to customize and maintain the system.
- You want an open source help desk with robust core ticketing features.
- You need enterprise-level SLA management and auto-response capabilities without high licensing costs.
- Your organization lacks technical expertise for setup and ongoing customization.
- You require advanced enterprise features out-of-the-box without any customization.
Best for IT teams needing streamlined incident and service management with self-help features.
- You want to empower customers with revolutionary self-help technology to reduce support load.
- Your IT support team requires strong incident tracking and timely service delivery tools.
- Your organization has 51+ employees needing a simple, integrated service desk solution.
- You are a very small business with minimal IT support needs and limited budget.
- You require highly customizable or niche workflows beyond the platform’s medium setup complexity.
osTicket: Best for small businesses needing customizable, cost-effective help desk software. SolarWinds Service Desk: Best for IT teams needing streamlined incident and service management with self-help features.
Description | osTicket is open source, web based help desk software that can be used to help track and resolve customer service issues. The software saves time, reduces email clutter, and helps ... Read More about osTicket | SolarWinds Service Desk helps IT teams track, manage and resolve incidents faster. This service desk software offers revolutionary self-help technology that puts customers in control of ... Read More about SolarWinds Service Desk |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.6/10 | Not Available |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 5-200 employeesSmall Business | 51-500 employees500+ employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Free and Open Source: Ideal for budget-conscious organizations, osTicket offers a feature-rich solution without the high licensing fees associated with commercial alternatives.
- Customizable and Developer-Friendly: Users can tailor the system to their needs through source code access, making it ideal for organizations with in-house development resources.
- Robust Core Features for Ticketing: Includes SLA management, custom forms, auto-responses, and internal notes—sufficient for managing most basic to intermediate support operations.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
- 5 – 200 employees
- Education, Nonprofits, Local Government, Manufacturing, Small IT Firms
- IT Administrator, Technical Support Lead, Help Desk Manager, Systems Analyst, Customer Support Coordinator, Network Administrator
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- osTicket’s UI, while functional, may feel outdated or less intuitive compared to modern help desk tools, leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
- Unlike many cloud-based help desk solutions, osTicket does not offer an official mobile app, limiting support flexibility for agents on the go.
- osTicket primarily supports email and web form-based ticketing. It lacks built-in social media, SMS, or chat integrations without third-party extensions or custom development.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk Compare on Features?
Total Features | 16 Features | 0 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | — | ✓ Yes |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
osTicket User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate osTicket's cost-effectiveness and customization capabilities but note the need for technical expertise to fully leverage the platform. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights effective incident management and helpful self-service features, with some concerns about pricing transparency and customization. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  11 Screenshots |  6 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  1 Videos |  1 Videos |
Top Alternatives to osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk in 2026
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, osTicket or SolarWinds Service Desk?
- SolarWinds Service Desk edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk offer a free trial?
- Yes, both osTicket and SolarWinds Service Desk offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of osTicket vs SolarWinds Service Desk?
- osTicket starts at $9 /User/Month. SolarWinds Service Desk starts at $19 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to osTicket?
- Top alternatives to osTicket include Zoho Desk, Freshservice, Jira Service Desk, Freshdesk, Zendesk Support.
- What are the top alternatives to SolarWinds Service Desk?
- Top alternatives to SolarWinds Service Desk include Freshservice, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, Ivanti Service Manager, Jira Service Desk, Symantec ServiceDesk.