Microsoft Teams vs Zulip: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Microsoft Teams and Zulip side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Zulip leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Microsoft Teams
Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
Best for you if:
- • You want microsoft 365 integration
Zulip
Open-source team chat with threads
Best for you if:
- • You want organized team chat
| At a Glance | Microsoft Teams | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Essentials plan | Free plan, paid from $6.67/user/mo, billed yearly Standard plan |
Category | Communication Productivity | Communication Team Chat |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 30,473 reviews | 4.8/5 Capterra 4.9 · G2 4.6 313 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Storage limits per user could add up for heavy media users. |
Choose Microsoft Teams or Zulip?
Choose Microsoft Teams if
- You want microsoft 365 integration
- You want full collaboration suite
Choose Zulip if
- You want organized team chat
- You want topic threading
In-Depth Analysis
Microsoft Teams
Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
Microsoft Teams is the most cost-effective business communication platform when bundled with Microsoft 365.
Strengths
- Pro: Microsoft 365 integration
- Pro: Full collaboration suite
- Pro: Free tier
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be overwhelming
- Con: Requires Microsoft ecosystem
Key features
Zulip
Open-source team chat with threads
Zulip's pricing is quite fair and competitive, especially with a generous free tier.
Watch out
Storage limits per user could add up for heavy media users.
Strengths
- Pro: Organized team chat
- Pro: Topic threading
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good for large teams
Weaknesses
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Less adoption than Slack
- Con: Mobile apps basic
- Con: Threading confusing initially
Key features
Plans and prices: Microsoft Teams vs Zulip
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams |
| teams.microsoft.com read Sep 30, 2026 |
| Zulip |
| zulip.com/plans read Oct 26, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Microsoft Teams pricing and Zulip pricing.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Teams
- Choose if you want unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
Zulip
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.4/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Zulip leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Zulip has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 30,473 reviews for Microsoft Teams, 4.8/5 from 313 reviews for Zulip).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Microsoft Teams $4/user/mo, billed monthly; Zulip $6.67/user/mo, billed yearly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Microsoft Teams and Zulip compare in 2026?
On the data below, Zulip leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Zulip has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 30,473 reviews for Microsoft Teams, 4.8/5 from 313 reviews for Zulip). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Microsoft Teams $4/user/mo, billed monthly; Zulip $6.67/user/mo, billed yearly. Both have a free plan.
What are Microsoft Teams and Zulip used for?
Microsoft Teams: Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365. Zulip: Open-source team chat with threads.
What does Microsoft Teams cost vs Zulip?
Microsoft Teams's cheapest paid plan is Essentials at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Zulip's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $6.67/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.
What's the main difference between Microsoft Teams and Zulip?
Microsoft Teams's main strength: microsoft 365 integration. Zulip's main strength: organized team chat.