Zulip

Name: Zulip
Brand: Zulip
Price: 6.67 USD
Rating: 4.8 (308 reviews)

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Open-source team chat with threads

Team Chat Communication Internal Comms

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4.8(308 across the web)

FreemiumVisit Website

Reviews onG2Capterra

308 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Organized team chat

Biggest con

UI dated

TL;DR - Zulip

Zulip is an open-source team chat with threaded conversations
It organizes discussions by topic for better context and search
Free self-hosted option, Cloud from $6.67/user/month

Pricing: Free plan available

Best for: Growing teams

4.8/5 across review platforms

What is Zulip?

Editorial review

Zulip organizes conversations with threaded topics. Chat with structure-team communication that doesn't lose context. The threading is the feature. The organization helps. The open-source version works. Teams wanting organized chat use Zulip for threaded team communication.

Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcezulip.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Organized team chat
Topic threading
Open source
Self-hostable
Good for large teams

Cons

UI dated
Learning curve
Less adoption than Slack
Mobile apps basic
Threading confusing initially

Ratings Across the Web

4.8(308 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Team chatThreadingTopicsSearchSelf-hostedOpen source

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jul 5, 2026

Free

Full-featured chat
Hundreds of integrations
10,000 message search history
5GB file storage
Guest accounts

Standard

$6.67/user/month

All Free features
Unlimited search history
10GB storage per user
Message retention policy
Custom branding
Priority support

Plus

$10/user/month

All Standard features
Stream groups
50GB storage per user
SAML authentication
SCIM provisioning
Custom domain

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Reviews

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4.8/5

Across 308 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2

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Best Zulip Alternatives

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Still deciding?

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Zulip FAQ

How does Zulip facilitate organized team communication?

Zulip organizes conversations through threaded topics, providing structure to team communication. This helps maintain context within discussions, preventing information from getting lost in a continuous stream of messages.

Which teams benefit most from using Zulip?

Zulip is particularly well-suited for large teams that require highly organized chat to manage complex discussions. Its topic threading helps these teams keep communication clear and focused.

How does Zulip compare to Microsoft Teams for team communication?

Zulip distinguishes itself from Microsoft Teams by focusing on open-source development and offering robust topic threading for conversation organization. While Microsoft Teams is a broader collaboration suite, Zulip emphasizes structured chat to prevent context loss.

What kind of trade-offs should users consider when adopting Zulip?

Users should be aware that Zulip's user interface has been described as dated, and there can be an initial learning curve to its unique threading model. Additionally, its mobile applications are considered basic compared to some alternatives.

Does Zulip include a free tier for new users?

Yes, Zulip is available on a free tier, allowing users to experience its core features. Paid plans are offered for those who require more extensive usage and additional features.

Can Zulip be self-hosted for enhanced control?

Yes, Zulip is open source and offers the option for self-hosting. This provides organizations with greater control over their communication infrastructure and data.

Source: zulip.com

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