Mava costs $15/mo.
These cost $0.
6 free alternatives to Mava, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for Mava is Chatwoot (MIT Open Source). Across this category, 5 self-hostable tools are available (including Chatwoot and Zammad). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $900/year compared to Mava's $15/mo subscription.
The catch: The software is the same core, but you lose Chatwoot Cloud's managed upgrades, backups, monitoring and incident response.
Mava vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $15/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | open source | MIT | Self-host | ★ 39k | Mava vs Chatwoot → |
| Zammad | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 6.1k | Mava vs Zammad → |
| Frappe Helpdesk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 3.5k | Mava vs Frappe Helpdesk → |
| Chaskiq | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 3.6k | Mava vs Chaskiq → |
| Cossistant | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 739 | Mava vs Cossistant → |
| Tiledesk | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 16 | Mava vs Tiledesk → |
The picks
6 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Chatwoot
open sourceMITSelf-host39knov 2026Manage customer conversations across live chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, and more from one inbox, with an AI assistant that suggests replies and automates common questions.
The catch vs MavaThe software is the same core, but you lose Chatwoot Cloud's managed upgrades, backups, monitoring and incident response.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Docker Compose on a Linux VM, followed by environment, database, reverse-proxy and TLS configuration
- setup
- Provisioning a Linux server and correctly wiring DNS/TLS, SMTP, PostgreSQL/Redis and storage
- your data
- Application data in PostgreSQL, queues/cache in Redis, and attachments on local disk or S3-compatible/cloud object storage
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Zammad
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host6.1knov 2026Zammad is an open-source helpdesk software that centralizes customer communications and helps deliver great service experiences efficiently.
The catch vs MavaIt demands substantially more infrastructure and administration than Freshdesk's hosted service.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Deploy the Docker Compose/Portainer stack or install supported Linux packages
- setup
- A comparatively large server and familiarity with Docker/Portainer, PostgreSQL and Elasticsearch
- your data
- Ticket and user data in PostgreSQL, search indexes in Elasticsearch, and attachments/backups in Docker volumes or server storage
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Frappe Helpdesk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host3.5knov 2026Frappe Helpdesk consolidates customer issues, automates workflows, and empowers self-service to boost agent productivity and customer satisfaction.
The catch vs MavaIts integration catalog and reporting are less mature than Freshdesk's, and you operate the Frappe stack.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Run Frappe's easy-install script against the stable container image on a Linux server
- setup
- A Linux server, domain/DNS, Docker or the easy-install script, and mail account configuration
- your data
- Tickets in the Frappe site database, with public and private attachments in the site's files directories
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 04
Chaskiq
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host3.6knov 2026Versatile messaging solution for businesses to engage customers through multiple channels, with AI-powered automation and analytics.
The catch vs MavaRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Mava.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/chaskiq/chaskiq or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 05
Cossistant
open sourceOpen SourceLocal739nov 2026Open-source support platform combining AI and human agents. React components with shadcn/ui design philosophy, styled with Tailwind CSS for NextJS apps.
The catch vs MavaCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/cossistantcom/cossistant or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 06
Tiledesk
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host16nov 2026Build AI chatbots, automate customer support workflows, and connect live agents across web, WhatsApp, email, and voice with a no-code visual designer.
The catch vs MavaRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Mava.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/tiledesk/tiledesk-dashboard or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
Mava Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 6 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Mava open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Mava?+
The top free alternative to Mava is Chatwoot (open source, MIT). Manage customer conversations across live chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, and more from one inbox, with an AI assistant that suggests replies and automates common questions. Other popular Mava replacements include Zammad, Frappe Helpdesk, Chaskiq.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Mava?+
Yes. Of the 6 free alternatives to Mava, 5 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Chatwoot (MIT), Zammad (AGPL-3.0), Frappe Helpdesk (AGPL-3.0), Chaskiq (Open Source), Tiledesk (Open Source).
How much does switching from Mava to a free alternative save?+
Mava starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Chatwoot saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Mava clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Mava is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Mava or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 6 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Chatwoot.
What is the catch when switching from Mava to Chatwoot?+
The software is the same core, but you lose Chatwoot Cloud's managed upgrades, backups, monitoring and incident response.
