Zulip
Zulip: A flexible, topic-focused team chat with cloud and self-hosted plans. Ranked #6 of 63 in Team Chat Apps by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams that prefer topic-based discussions.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams that prefer topic-based discussions
- Free planYes
- Paid from$3.50/user/mo
- Guest accessYes
- Founded2012 · San Francisco, California, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Zulip
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. Teams can use Zulip through web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android applications, or choose a self-hosted deployment. Core capabilities include searchable message history, file sharing, guest accounts with restricted access, permissions, notifications and integrations.
The product’s strongest fit is for teams that need conversations to remain organized as discussions grow. Topic threads give each conversation a defined place, while searchable history helps users return to earlier decisions and information. Zulip also has broad ecosystem coverage: verified integrations include Asana, Basecamp, Dropbox, GitHub, GitLab, Google Calendar, Jira, Linear, Notion, PagerDuty, Sentry and Slack. Zapier, IFTTT, custom webhooks and REST API integrations extend that coverage, making Zulip suitable for teams connecting chat with project, development and incident workflows.
The published plans show a free Cloud Free tier with 10,000 messages of search history, 5 GB total file storage, guest accounts and hundreds of integrations. Cloud Standard is $6.67 per user per month billed annually and adds unlimited search history, 5 GB per user, custom groups and retention policies. Cloud Plus is $10 annually and adds 25 GB per user, SAML SSO and SCIM, with a 10-user minimum. Self-hosted Free includes all Zulip features, while paid self-hosted tiers add mobile notifications and, at higher levels, guest controls, SSO, directory synchronization and consulting. Zulip suits teams prioritizing structured discussions, deployment choice and integrations; teams needing a simpler chat layout or a product centered on built-in calls should compare alternatives.
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Zulip pricing
All 7 Zulip plans and prices →
Zulip fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $3.50/user/mo |
| Channels | Yes |
| Guest access | Yes |
| Message history | Limited |
| Integrations | GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Zoom, Jitsi Meet, Zapier, IFTTT, Sentry, Zendesk |
| Supported platforms | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API |
| Maximum members | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | GDPR, SSO/SAML |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 130+ integrations: GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | zulip.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Zulip integrations
Zulip lists 130+ integrations on its own site — the 12 named here are the ones its pages call out.
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Jira
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Calendar
- Zoom
- Jitsi Meet
- Zapier
- IFTTT
- Sentry
- Zendesk
Alternatives to Zulip
- Microsoft TeamsA broad team chat workspace with a free plan and deep Microsoft 365 integration.9.4
- SlackA capable team-chat hub for integration-heavy teams, with limited free history.9.3
- Zoho CliqA broad team chat suite with strong Zoho ecosystem fit and a capable free plan.9.1
Zulip vs the competition
- Zulip vs Microsoft Teams
- Zulip vs Slack
- Zulip vs Zoho Cliq
- Zulip vs Mattermost
- Zulip vs Rocket.Chat
- Zulip vs Lark
Compare Zulip with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Zulip is ranked in 7 of our directories.
- #10Business Instant Messaging - Midmarket Software24 tools ranked
- #11Team Communication Software25 tools ranked
- #11Team Collaboration Software25 tools ranked
- #12Instant Messaging Software32 tools ranked
- #15Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software22 tools ranked
- #16Remote Working software23 tools ranked
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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