Still on Kayako Classic?
There's a better path forward.
HelpSpot is the modern, secure self-hosted alternative to Kayako Classic. Stop running unpatched software on outdated PHP versions and keep control of your data.
Why teams switch from Kayako Classic
The same frustrations we hear from every Kayako Classic switcher
Security Nightmares
Kayako Classic relies on End-of-Life PHP versions (7.x) to function. Running unpatched server software creates a massive security liability for your organization.
Modern & Secure
HelpSpot is actively developed and supports the latest secure PHP 8+ environments, ensuring your self-hosted infrastructure remains compliant and safe.
Forced Cloud Push
Kayako is aggressively pushing Classic customers to their expensive 'New Kayako' cloud plan, often removing the on-premise control you rely on.
Committed to On-Prem
We have supported self-hosting for over 15 years and aren't stopping. Install HelpSpot on your own servers and keep 100% control of your data forever.
Zero Innovation
Classic is in maintenance mode. You pay annual fees but get no new features—missing out on AI and modern automation tools. The mobile app is abandoned and broken on iOS 13+.
Continuous Improvement
We ship regular updates with new features. You get modern tools like AI summarization, mobile apps, and refined reporting without paying extra.
Kayako Classic vs HelpSpot
Why teams are leaving the legacy platform
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Security liability
Requires older, insecure server stacks to run. Many IT teams are forced to quarantine their Kayako servers due to unpatched vulnerabilities.
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No AI features
Classic has no native AI. You miss out on modern productivity boosters like automatic summarization, sentiment analysis, and writing assistants.
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Opaque pricing
Renewals are often quote-based and expensive, designed to pressure you into migrating to their $79/agent cloud platform.
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Paid support only
Getting help with a legacy installation often requires expensive 'Platinum' support contracts or third-party consultants.
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Enterprise security
Our self-hosted version runs on modern LAMP/WIMP stacks with full support for the latest security standards and operating systems.
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AI included for free
Modernize instantly. We include secure AI ticket summarization, translation, and writing tools in every plan—even for self-hosted users.
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Predictable pricing
One simple annual price covers your whole team. No hidden renewal hikes, no per-agent fees, and no forced cloud migrations.
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Expert support included
Our team knows self-hosting inside and out. You get direct access to engineers who can help you configure, troubleshoot, and optimize through our free onboarding.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Comparing Kayako Classic (Legacy) vs HelpSpot
HelpSpot
|
Kayako Classic
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | All Inclusive | Legacy Platform |
|
Core Ticketing
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| Familiar email-inspired workflow | ||
| Email-to-ticket conversion | ||
| Collision detection | ||
| Custom fields | ||
| Conditional field logic | Dependency only | |
| Rich customer replies (images, files, emoji) | ||
| Unlimited mailboxes | ||
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Portal & Knowledge Base
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| Customer portal | ||
| Contact form | ||
| Portal theme customization | ||
| Multi-brand portals | Template groups | |
| Knowledge base | ||
| Knowledge base WYSIWYG | Legacy editor | |
|
Automation & Workflow
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||
| Trigger rules | ||
| Time based automation rules | Escalations only | |
| Round-robin assignment | ||
| SLA management | ||
|
AI Features
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||
| AI writing assistance | Included | |
| AI ticket summarization | Included | |
| AI translation | Included | |
| Intelligent triage | Included | |
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Reporting & Analytics
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| Built-in reports | ||
| Custom report builder | ||
| Real-time dashboards | ||
| Scheduled report exports | ||
| Export to Excel/CSV | ||
| Direct SQL database access | Self-hosted | |
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Pricing Model
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| Feature tiers | 1 tier | Legacy / Cloud tiers |
| Add-on costs | None | Support contracts |
| Unlimited tickets | ||
| Cancel anytime | ||
| Refund policy | No refunds | |
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Support & Deployment
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| Phone support | All plans | Paid add-on |
| Self-hosted option | Legacy Only | |
| EU data residency | Included | |
| Access logs and redaction | ||
| Data & attachment storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Implementation help | Free | Paid |
| API access | Unlimited | Legacy API |
Ready to simplify your support?
The forced cloud migration tax
Kayako is pushing Classic users to their $79/agent cloud platform. Here's what staying self-hosted with HelpSpot actually costs.
Kayako One (Cloud)
Based on the $79/agent/mo price users are forced to upgrade to
+ Onboarding and other fees not included
HelpSpot
Simple pricing, everything included
Save over $7,700 in year one
Migration made easy
We'll help you every step of the way
Export Your Data
Access your Kayako Classic database directly and export your tickets, users, and knowledge base.
Import to HelpSpot
Our team works with you to import your historical data and configure your new self-hosted or cloud instance.
Go Live
Connect your email accounts to HelpSpot. Your team picks up right where they left off—on modern, secure software.
Deploy Your Way
Same price, same features. Choose the deployment that works for you.
Same powerful features and pricing across all hosting options.
US Cloud
CloudUS-East Region
Dedicated AWS infrastructure with 99.9% uptime. Managed updates and automated backups.
EU Cloud
CloudFrankfurt Region
GDPR-compliant hosting. Full data sovereignty with all information isolated within the EU.
Self-Hosted
EnterpriseOn-Premise Infrastructure
Complete control on your own hardware. Ideal for air-gapped networks or strict compliance.
Maximum Control & Data ResidencyWhat we believe
We've been building help desk software since 2005. Along the way, we've developed strong opinions about how support should work.
Single Assignment
Every ticket has one owner. Clear accountability means faster resolution and better outcomes.
Read moreHuman-First Support
Support is human-to-human communication. Technology should enhance it, not replace it.
Read moreSimple Pricing
One price. All features. No add-ons, no surprises. Budget with confidence.
Read moreBeyond Shared Mailbox
Email chaos ends here. Get collision detection, automation, and the visibility you need.
Read moreCompare other platforms
See how HelpSpot stacks up against other help desk solutions.
"Of the number of helpdesk systems we looked into, ranging from the off-the-shelf expensive systems to completely 'free', your product was the best looking, simplest for both the customer and the staff, the quickest to set-up and configure and reasonably priced."
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about switching from Kayako Classic
Yes. Because Kayako Classic is self-hosted, you have direct access to your database. We can help you import your tickets, users, and knowledge base history into HelpSpot so you don't lose your legacy data.
Absolutely. Unlike Kayako Classic, which is stuck on End-of-Life PHP 7.x versions, HelpSpot is actively developed to support the latest, most secure PHP releases. You can run HelpSpot on a modern, secure server stack without worry.
Yes. We offer a true On-Premise license. You can install HelpSpot on your own Linux or Windows servers and keep full control of your database and network security—just like you're used to, but with modern software.
No. While HelpSpot allows direct SQL access for power users, our built-in report builder is visual and easy to use. You don't need to learn a proprietary language just to see how your team is performing.
No. Kayako Classic (the self-hosted version) has reached end of life and no longer receives security patches, updates, or vendor support. Running it on modern PHP 8 servers causes compatibility issues. Teams still on Kayako Classic should migrate to an actively maintained platform like HelpSpot, which offers a similar self-hosted architecture with ongoing development.
HelpSpot is the closest self-hosted replacement for Kayako Classic. Like Kayako, it runs on your own Linux or Windows servers. It includes modern features Kayako Classic lacks: AI tools, a visual report builder, and full PHP 8 support. HelpSpot also provides free migration assistance to import your existing data.
Trusted by teams who made the switch
Trusted by industry leaders
Ready to switch?
We'll help you move.
Start your free trial and our team will help migrate your data, train your agents, and get you up and running. No risk, no commitment.
