MailDesk vs Zammad
See how MailDesk compares to Zammad for email ticketing and customer support
Last updated: 2026-03-30
Feature Comparison
Why Teams Switch to MailDesk
Flat-rate pricing that scales
Zammad charges per agent (€7–€26/agent/month). MailDesk is flat — €29/month for up to 10 agents, €79/month unlimited.
Modern tech stack
MailDesk runs on Next.js 16 + React 19, while Zammad uses Ruby on Rails. Faster development, modern UI, real-time SSE.
Built-in team chat
Zammad has no native team communication. MailDesk includes WebSocket-based team chat with channels, threads, and reactions.
Simpler self-hosting
MailDesk deploys with a single Docker Compose file. Zammad requires PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch, and Memcached as separate services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zammad free to self-host?
Yes, Zammad is AGPL-licensed and free to self-host. MailDesk uses a license key model with plan-based limits. Zammad's self-hosted version has no feature restrictions.
How does MailDesk pricing compare to Zammad?
A 10-agent team on Zammad Professional (cloud) pays €170/month. MailDesk Pro is €29/month flat — 83% cheaper.
Does MailDesk support PGP/S/MIME like Zammad?
Not yet. Zammad offers PGP/MIME and S/MIME encryption. MailDesk uses AES-256-GCM for stored credentials and TLS for email transport.
Which has better AI features?
Both support AI with multiple LLM providers. Zammad charges €0.03 per AI call. MailDesk lets you use your own API key with no per-call charges.
Ready to switch from Zammad?
Try MailDesk free — no credit card required. Cloud or self-hosted.