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Head-to-head · Team Chat Apps

Zulip vs Pumble

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Zulip #6 in Team Chat Apps 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Zulip
Pumble #13 in Team Chat Apps 8.0/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Pumble

Zulip leads on 0 checks, Pumble on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreZulip · 8.7/10
  • Lowest starting pricePumble · $2.49/seat/mo
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Pumble

Zulip scores higher on our rubric for team chat apps: 8.7 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #13.

Pumble is cheaper to start at $2.49/user/mo against $3.50/user/mo. On message history, Pumble gives you Unlimited where Zulip offers Limited.

Zulip is the better fit for teams that prefer topic-based discussions. Pumble is the better fit for teams seeking low-cost full chat.

  • Zulip fits best

    Teams that prefer topic-based discussions

  • Pumble fits best

    Teams seeking low-cost full chat

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Zulip 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Pumble 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.0
Ranking #6 in Team Chat Apps #13 in Team Chat Apps
Best for Teams that prefer topic-based discussions Teams seeking low-cost full chat
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $3.50/user/mo $2.49/seat/mo (best)
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 7 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs · 24/7
Compliance GDPR, SSO/SAML SOC 2, ISO 27001
Integrations 130+ integrations 3,000+ integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Zulip 2/2 · Pumble 2/2
Channels ✓ ✓
Guest access ✓ ✓
Specs
Message history Limited Unlimited
Integrations GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Zoom, Jitsi Meet, Zapier, IFTTT, Sentry, Zendesk Google Calendar, Plaky, Clockify, AI Assistant, Calendly, Email, GitHub, GitLab, Gmail, Google Drive, Jira, Polls, RSS, Zapier
Supported platforms web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android
Maximum members Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Topic-based threads keep discussions organized and searchable
  • 130+ native integrations plus API, webhooks, Zapier and IFTTT
  • Cloud and self-hosted options support varied deployment needs
  • Unlimited users, channels, message history, and search on Free
  • Voice and video calls, screen sharing, threads, and file sharing
  • Web, desktop, mobile apps, imports, exports, AI, and integrations
Cons
  • Cloud Free limits searchable history to 10,000 messages
  • Cloud Plus requires a 10-user minimum
  • Self-hosted Free has limited mobile notifications for some organizations
  • Free plan supports up to 3 apps and integrations
  • Guest access is limited to paid plans
  • Advanced administration and analytics require higher tiers
Our verdict

Zulip is an open-source team chat application for organizations ranging from small teams to thousands of users. Its central design is topic-based threading inside channels, which supports both real-time and asynchronous communication.…

Read the review →

Pumble is a team communication application for businesses that need channels, direct and group messaging, threads, file sharing, search, calls, and meeting links. It supports public and private channels, voice and video calls, screen…

Read the review →
  1. ZulipTeam Chat Apps 8.7Free plan
  2. PumbleTeam Chat Apps 8.0Free plan · 7-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Zulip — where it wins

    • Topic-based threads keep discussions organized and searchable
    • 130+ native integrations plus API, webhooks, Zapier and IFTTT
    • Cloud and self-hosted options support varied deployment needs

    Where it doesn't

    • Cloud Free limits searchable history to 10,000 messages
    • Cloud Plus requires a 10-user minimum
    • Self-hosted Free has limited mobile notifications for some organizations

  • Pumble — where it wins

    • Unlimited users, channels, message history, and search on Free
    • Voice and video calls, screen sharing, threads, and file sharing
    • Web, desktop, mobile apps, imports, exports, AI, and integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan supports up to 3 apps and integrations
    • Guest access is limited to paid plans
    • Advanced administration and analytics require higher tiers

More comparisons

All team chat apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update