Zulip
zulip.comBuild Difficulty: 3/5
Plan for 1-2 weeks of building with AI assistance
Organized team chat
How to Replace ZulipOverview
Features
122 features across 27 categories
AI(1)
Integration with AI and Large Language Models
Access Control(1)
Allow public access to organization content
Administration(6)
Comprehensive admin control over bots and integrations
Comprehensive tools for content moderation and community management
Automatically add new users to specific channels
Set default settings for newly created users
Monitor server health and receive alerts
Visualize usage patterns and statistics
Authentication(6)
Support for numerous authentication methods via python-social-auth
Authenticate users via email
Login via Google, GitHub, GitLab, and Apple accounts
Single Sign-On with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
Single Sign-On with OpenID Connect
Single Sign-On with SAML including Okta and OneLogin
Client(4)
Native applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux
Native applications for iOS and Android
Command-line interface for Zulip
Accessible through any modern browser
Collaboration(4)
Edit and collaborate on messages with other users
Share files with storage limits depending on plan (5 GB total or per user)
Create polls for team decision-making and voting
Collaborative task lists within messages
Communication(4)
Choose from Zoom, Jitsi, BigBlueButton and other call providers
Conversations organized by topics that continue seamlessly over time, allowing users to focus on one conversation at a time
One-on-one voice and video calling with configurable call providers like Zoom and Jitsi
Group voice and video calling with choice of call providers
Compliance(8)
Export all organization data in standard formats
Custom compliance features and dedicated support
Export data in formats suitable for compliance audits
Track all administrative actions with detailed logging
Compliant with GDPR regulations
Configure automatic data retention and deletion policies
Compliant with HIPAA regulations
Configure rules for message editing and deletion
Customization(5)
Customize the appearance with custom branding
Use a custom domain for your Zulip instance
Support for custom emoji reactions and usage
Preserve custom code changes during upgrades
Keep a maintained fork of Zulip with local customizations
Deployment(6)
Distribute supporting services across multiple servers
Deploy Zulip using Docker containers
Deploy Zulip on Kubernetes using Helm charts
Host multiple organizations on a single Zulip server
Configure outgoing proxy settings
Scale to support thousands of concurrent users
Disaster Recovery(3)
Backup and restore complete organization data
Failover capabilities for disaster recovery
Real-time backup and replication for data protection
Integration(9)
Built-in integrations with popular third-party services
Bridge with other chat products like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Matrix
Create custom webhooks for integrations
Integrate with email systems
Auto-link text to external issues, tickets and references
Search and share GIF images from GIPHY
Comprehensive REST API for custom integrations and automation
Integrate with Sentry for error tracking
Thousands of additional integrations through Zapier and IFTTT
Localization(1)
Interface available in over 20 languages
Management(1)
Reorganize messages across channels and topics
Messaging(3)
Rich text formatting with code syntax highlighting and LaTeX support
Automatic preview of links, images and videos in messages
See when messages have been read by recipients
Migration(3)
Migrate data from another Zulip instance
Migrate data from other chat applications
Migrate data from Slack, Mattermost, or Rocket.Chat
Notifications(3)
Receive notifications via email
Granular control over notification preferences and rules
Push notifications on mobile devices with limited availability on free tier
Organization(7)
Organized spaces for team or topic-specific discussions
Mark conversation topics as resolved to track completion
Mark messages as unread for follow-up
Create persistent links to specific messages and topics
Private channels where new members cannot see history
Private channels where new members can see message history
Save and organize code snippets and text
Permissions(7)
Control who can post messages in specific channels
Set different permissions for different channels
Control direct messaging capabilities
Assign specific permissions to individual users
Control permissions based on user roles
Assign permissions to user groups
Fine-grained control over message editing, deletion, and moving
Presence(2)
See when other users are typing
Display user status and availability to team members
Productivity(3)
Comprehensive keyboard shortcut support for efficient navigation
Set reminders for messages and tasks
Schedule messages to be sent at a later time
Project Management(1)
Basic project management capabilities within chat
Search(1)
Search through message history to find past conversations and information
Security(14)
Full access to open-source code for security audits
Receive advance notification of security releases
Deploy in completely isolated air-gapped environments
Configure rate limiting for API endpoints
Configure password policies
Use custom SSL certificates
Configure TLS termination for your server
Encrypt stored data
Deploy within a firewalled network environment
Restrict what guest users can see in the user list
Push notifications without revealing message content
Limit user registration to specific email domains
Immediately revoke or reset any user's access credentials
Encrypted communication with TLS
Storage(1)
Store file attachments on external storage like NAS or S3
Support(8)
Community support through Zulip chat
Extensive documentation for users, administrators, and server administrators
Billed services for custom feature development
Support via email
Participate in feature feedback sessions with the development team
Professional implementation and consulting services
Real-time support during server installation and upgrades
Training and onboarding sessions for users
User Management(10)
Synchronize groups from Active Directory or LDAP
Synchronize users from Active Directory or LDAP
Programmatically create users through the REST API
Define custom fields for user profiles
Create and manage custom user groups for permissions and notifications
Support for guest user accounts with limited access
Create reusable links for inviting new users
Synchronize groups via SAML
Synchronize groups via SCIM
Provision and deprovision users via SCIM
Pricing
Cloud Free
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Limited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB total)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Limited mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
Cloud Standard
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB/user)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Schedule reminders
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓130+ native integrations
- ✓Zapier and IFTTT integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Chat bridges with other products
- ✓Email bridge integration
- ✓AI/LLM integration
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Email support
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
- ✓Import data from another Zulip server
- ✓Import data from Slack, Mattermost, or Rocket.Chat
Cloud Plus
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB/user)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Schedule reminders
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓130+ native integrations
- ✓Zapier and IFTTT integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Chat bridges with other products
- ✓Email bridge integration
- ✓AI/LLM integration
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓SSO with SAML
- ✓SSO with Microsoft Entra ID
- ✓SSO with OpenID Connect
- ✓100+ authentication options
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓Compliance exports
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓HIPAA compliant
- ✓Compliance customization and support
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Email support
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
- ✓Import data from another Zulip server
- ✓Import data from Slack, Mattermost, or Rocket.Chat
- ✓Import data from other chat products
Self-hosted Free
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB/user)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Schedule reminders
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓130+ native integrations
- ✓Zapier and IFTTT integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Chat bridges with other products
- ✓Email bridge integration
- ✓AI/LLM integration
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓Multiple organizations on one server
- ✓Maintain a local fork
- ✓Keep custom code across upgrades
- ✓Comprehensive data backups and restores
- ✓Off-server attachment storage
- ✓Outgoing proxy
- ✓Docker deployments
- ✓Kubernetes deployments with Helm
- ✓Scalability for thousands of concurrent users
- ✓Deploy supporting services on separate hosts
- ✓Disaster recovery failover
- ✓Monitoring and alerting
- ✓Sentry integration
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
Self-hosted Basic
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB/user)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Schedule reminders
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓130+ native integrations
- ✓Zapier and IFTTT integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Chat bridges with other products
- ✓Email bridge integration
- ✓AI/LLM integration
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓Multiple organizations on one server
- ✓Maintain a local fork
- ✓Keep custom code across upgrades
- ✓Comprehensive data backups and restores
- ✓Off-server attachment storage
- ✓Outgoing proxy
- ✓Docker deployments
- ✓Kubernetes deployments with Helm
- ✓Scalability for thousands of concurrent users
- ✓Deploy supporting services on separate hosts
- ✓Disaster recovery failover
- ✓Monitoring and alerting
- ✓Sentry integration
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
- ✓Real-time support for installation and upgrades
- ✓Training sessions
Self-hosted Business
- ✓Message history search
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Channels
- ✓Topic-based threading
- ✓File sharing and storage (5 GB/user)
- ✓Voice and video calls (1:1)
- ✓Voice and video calls (group)
- ✓Integrations with other apps
- ✓Localized in more than 20 languages
- ✓Web app
- ✓Desktop apps
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Terminal app
- ✓Mobile push notifications
- ✓Expressive formatting
- ✓Code syntax highlighting
- ✓LaTeX support
- ✓Collaborative messages
- ✓Polls
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓Extensive keyboard shortcuts
- ✓Move messages between channels and topics
- ✓Mark topics as resolved
- ✓Lightweight project management
- ✓Permanent links to messages and topics
- ✓User status and availability
- ✓Custom emoji
- ✓Read receipts
- ✓Typing notifications
- ✓Saved snippets
- ✓Send later
- ✓Mark unread
- ✓Schedule reminders
- ✓Highly configurable notification settings
- ✓Email notifications
- ✓Link previews
- ✓Linkifiers
- ✓Native GIPHY integration
- ✓130+ native integrations
- ✓Zapier and IFTTT integration
- ✓Custom webhooks
- ✓REST API
- ✓Chat bridges with other products
- ✓Email bridge integration
- ✓AI/LLM integration
- ✓Email authentication
- ✓Reusable invitation links
- ✓OAuth social logins
- ✓Custom profile fields
- ✓SSO with SAML
- ✓SSO with Microsoft Entra ID
- ✓SSO with OpenID Connect
- ✓100+ authentication options
- ✓AD/LDAP user sync
- ✓AD/LDAP group sync
- ✓SAML group sync
- ✓SCIM user sync
- ✓SCIM group sync
- ✓Create users via API
- ✓Custom user groups
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Limit user list access for guests
- ✓Private channels with shared history
- ✓Private channels with private history
- ✓Channel posting permissions
- ✓Direct messaging permissions
- ✓Permissions for editing, deleting and moving messages
- ✓Customize permissions by channel
- ✓Manage permissions by user role
- ✓Manage permissions with user groups
- ✓Grant permissions to individual users
- ✓Configure initial settings for new users
- ✓Configure initial channels for new users
- ✓Public access option
- ✓Advanced moderation tools
- ✓Usage statistics charts
- ✓Custom branding
- ✓Custom domain
- ✓100% open-source, auditable codebase
- ✓Restricted email domains
- ✓Custom password strength requirement
- ✓TLS encryption
- ✓Custom SSL certificate authority
- ✓Custom TLS server termination
- ✓Firewalled hosting
- ✓Air-gapped hosting
- ✓Data encryption at rest
- ✓No-content push notifications
- ✓Revoke and reset user credentials
- ✓API endpoint access rate limits
- ✓Message editing and deletion policies
- ✓Complete data exports
- ✓Granular data retention policies
- ✓Detailed audit log of administrative actions
- ✓Compliance exports
- ✓GDPR compliant
- ✓HIPAA compliant
- ✓Compliance customization and support
- ✓Multiple organizations on one server
- ✓Maintain a local fork
- ✓Keep custom code across upgrades
- ✓Comprehensive data backups and restores
- ✓Real-time data backup and replication
- ✓Off-server attachment storage
- ✓Outgoing proxy
- ✓Docker deployments
- ✓Kubernetes deployments with Helm
- ✓Scalability for thousands of concurrent users
- ✓Deploy supporting services on separate hosts
- ✓Disaster recovery failover
- ✓Monitoring and alerting
- ✓Sentry integration
- ✓Comprehensive documentation
- ✓Chat support in development community
- ✓Feature feedback sessions
- ✓Email support
- ✓Configurable call provider
- ✓Admin controls for bots and integrations
- ✓Import data from another Zulip server
- ✓Import data from Slack, Mattermost, or Rocket.Chat
- ✓Import data from other chat products
- ✓Real-time support for installation and upgrades
- ✓Implementation consulting
- ✓Training sessions
- ✓Custom feature development
- ✓Advance notice for security releases
Cost Calculator
Pricing data not available for Zulip. Check their website for current pricing.
Build vs Buy
Should you build a Zulip alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 122 features.
Buy Zulip
Better ValueBuild Your Own
Buying Zulip saves ~$240,240 over 3 years vs building.
Estimates based on 122 features and a BuildScore of 3/5. Actual costs vary.