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Zulip
Zulip · San Francisco, California, United States · founded 2012
What it is
Zulip is team chat software that arranges conversations in channels and supports guest access. It is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and the web, with API support. Listed integrations include GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Zoom, Jitsi Meet, Zapier, IFTTT, Sentry and Zendesk. Zulip offers both cloud and self-hosted plans. Cloud Free costs nothing and includes 10,000 messages of search history and 5 GB total file storage. Cloud Standard costs $6.67 a month, billed annually, and includes 5 GB of file storage per user. Self-hosted Basic costs $3.50 a month, billed monthly, and includes unlimited mobile notifications. Other listed plans include Cloud Plus, Self-hosted Free, Self-hosted Business and Self-hosted Enterprise; no Enterprise price is listed. Zulip was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
For and against
For
- Available on six platforms and through an API
- Guest access is supported
- Offers cloud and self-hosted plans
- Integrates with project, calendar and meeting tools
Against
- Free cloud search history is limited to 10,000 messages
- Cloud Standard is billed annually
- Cloud Plus and Business require minimum user counts
The verdict
Zulip offers channel-based team chat with cloud and self-hosted options, plus integrations across common work tools. Review plan limits and billing terms when choosing between its free and paid options.
Who it suits
Zulip suits teams that want channel-based chat, guest access and a choice between cloud and self-hosted plans. Its broad platform support may fit teams using a mix of desktop and mobile devices.
Plans and prices
Cloud Free
10,000-message search history · 5 GB total file storage · complete chat · hundreds of integrations
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Cloud Standard
Unlimited search history · 5 GB/user storage · custom groups · retention policies
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Cloud Plus
10-user minimum · 25 GB/user storage · SAML SSO · SCIM sync
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Self-hosted Free
All Zulip features · unlimited notifications for eligible communities · notifications for up to 10 users otherwise
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Self-hosted Basic
All features · unlimited mobile notifications · 85%+ non-workplace discount · $20/month off first year
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Self-hosted Business
25-user minimum · unlimited notifications · SAML/Entra SSO · AD/LDAP sync
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
Self-hosted Enterprise
Unlimited notifications · phone/chat/email support · OIDC/SAML/SCIM · implementation consulting
Read 15 Oct 2026 · zulip.com
On the record
- Calls
- One-to-one and group voice or video calls can use providers such as Zoom, Jitsi and BigBlueButton.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Channels
- Channels define the audience for conversations and can be public or private.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company history
- Zulip began as a Cambridge startup founded in August 2012, was acquired by Dropbox in 2014, and was open-sourced in 2015.docs.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop apps
- Desktop clients provide native notifications, multiple-account support and a tray icon on Windows, macOS and Linux.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Documentation covers installation, upgrades, APIs, administration, development setup and help-center troubleshooting.zulip.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Clients use TLS over HTTPS, Cloud data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and mobile push content uses end-to-end encryption that hides message metadata from push providers.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Custom integrations can use incoming webhooks, interactive bots, the REST API, email-to-channel and chat bridges for Slack, Teams or Matrix.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Formatting
- Messages support code syntax highlighting, LaTeX and other expressive formatting.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Guest access
- Yeszulip.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- Zulip lists more than 130 native integrations and hundreds more through Zapier and IFTTT.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The Zulip software is released under the Apache License 2.0.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Android app issues
- Google Play reviewers have reported missing search or read receipts, slow loading, difficult back-button navigation and notification failures after updates.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: interface and integrations
- Reviewers mention a less polished interface, occasional bugs and integrations that are less extensive or seamless than larger competitors.capterra.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: learning curve
- Reviewers repeatedly say streams, topics and manual topic organization take time to learn, especially for people coming from simpler chat applications.g2.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile experience
- Independent reviews report weaker mobile navigation and capabilities, unreliable push notifications, and gaps compared with the desktop interface.getapp.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Kandra Labs, Inc. provides Zulip hosting, support and development; its San Francisco address is listed in the terms, and the company was founded in 2016.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Message history
- limitedzulip.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Notable news
- Zulip Server 12.0 was announced on April 27, 2026 with hundreds of changes including end-to-end encrypted mobile push notifications and a Docker upgrade.blog.zulip.com · read 15 Oct 2026
