Teams use Zulip for organized chat across distributed groups, with hosted and self-managed options available.

zulip.com
Zulip homepage screenshot

About Zulip

Zulip is a team chat app for distributed teams. Its main design is topic-based, asynchronous conversation: each conversation starts with a brief topic, the inbox shows conversations with unread messages, and replies stay in the context of their conversation. The homepage features case studies from businesses, universities, research groups and open-source communities.

Zulip can be used as a hosted cloud service (Zulip Cloud) or self-hosted on a server the organization runs. The homepage says self-hosting gives full data sovereignty, and that organizations can start with the cloud option and move later. The homepage states that free or highly discounted plans are available for most non-business uses, such as non-profits, governments, and events. Plan prices for other uses are not stated on the homepage; a separate Pricing page is linked.

Key features

  • Topic-based conversations, each started with a brief topic name
  • Inbox overview of conversations with unread messages
  • Focus view that shows one conversation at a time
  • Hosted cloud option or self-hosted server installation
  • Desktop and mobile apps, integrations, and an API
  • Guidance for moving from Slack, Teams and other tools
Best for: Distributed teams, organizations, schools, research groups and open-source communities that need organized, asynchronous team chat.
Good for
  • Designed for asynchronous conversations, with each thread organized around a topic
  • Self-hosting option lets an organization keep control of its data, according to the homepage
  • Free or highly discounted plans are offered for most non-business uses
Watch out for
  • The free or discounted plans cover most non-business uses, not standard business use
  • The homepage does not state prices and links to a separate Pricing page

Zulip at a glance

Website
zulip.com
Type
Website
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
Web
Open source
Not stated
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026

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Zulip FAQ

Can an organization host Zulip on its own servers?
Yes. The homepage describes self-hosting Zulip and links to guides for installing and upgrading a Zulip server.
Is there help for moving from Slack or Teams?
The homepage says it is easy to switch from Slack, Teams and other tools, and links to a guide on moving to Zulip.
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