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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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FreeScout
Application256MB+ RAM
Free self-hosted help desk and shared inbox
helpdesksupportticketinghelpscout-alternative
Deploy FreeScout in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select FreeScout
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy FreeScout on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the FreeScout template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted help desk and shared inbox with MySQL on your VPS, then verify the FreeScout web UI in a browser.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for FreeScout
Use the template picker search to find FreeScout in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the FreeScout template
Choose the FreeScout template. Server Compass fills in the FreeScout web service, MySQL database, site URL, admin email, generated admin password, and database passwords.
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Step 5Review the FreeScout settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named freescout-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy FreeScout
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the FreeScout image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm FreeScout is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the FreeScout app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open FreeScout in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The FreeScout web UI confirms the help desk is reachable.
After FreeScout Opens
- Sign in with the generated admin account and change the password before production use.
- Configure HTTPS, mailbox fetching, SMTP, and support email domains before inviting agents.
- Back up the FreeScout data and MySQL volumes before relying on production conversations.
FreeScout deployment questions
What does the FreeScout template deploy?
It deploys FreeScout with MySQL so teams can run a self-hosted support inbox and ticketing workflow.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the FreeScout web service on container port 80.
Why does the guide stop at the login or setup web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean FreeScout web UI because mailbox setup, SMTP, support aliases, and agent settings depend on the production instance.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the FreeScout template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Do It Yourself
Deploy FreeScout via Command Line
Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy FreeScout manually on your VPS.
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Start a Secure Shell Session
Open your terminal and connect to your server. Replace the IP address with your VPS IP.
terminal
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean directory for your application.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/freescout
cd ~/apps/freescout3
Set Up Container Configuration
Set up the container stack using this Docker Compose configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
freescout:
image: tiredofit/freescout:latest
ports:
- "8080:80"
environment:
- SITE_URL=<your-site-url>
- ADMIN_EMAIL=<your-admin-email>
- ADMIN_PASS=<your-admin-password>
- DB_HOST=db
- DB_NAME=freescout
- DB_USER=freescout
- DB_PASS=<your-db-password>
volumes:
- freescout_data:/data
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
- db
db:
image: mysql:8.0
environment:
- MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
- MYSQL_DATABASE=freescout
- MYSQL_USER=freescout
- MYSQL_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
volumes:
- mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
freescout_data:
mysql_data:
Configuration Variables
PORTHost port(default: 8080)SITE_URLSite URLADMIN_EMAILAdmin emailADMIN_PASSWORDAdmin passwordDB_PASSWORDDB passwordDB_ROOT_PASSWORDRoot password4
Bring Up the Application
Launch your application stack in the background.
terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d
# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f5
Configure Firewall
Configure your firewall to permit external connections.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Skip the Terminal
Prefer a visual interface? Use Server Compass.
Deploy FreeScout with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.
- Visual configuration UI
- One-click deployment
- Automatic SSL setup
- Zero-downtime updates
- Built-in monitoring
- One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying FreeScout with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Log in with admin credentials
2
Configure mailboxes
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Set up email fetching
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
FreeScout FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting FreeScout
How do I deploy FreeScout with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select FreeScout from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for FreeScout?
FreeScout requires a minimum of 256MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing FreeScout data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard FreeScout backup and restore procedures.
How do I update FreeScout to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest FreeScout image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is FreeScout free to self-host?
FreeScout is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Ready to Self-Host FreeScout?
Download Server Compass and deploy FreeScout to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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