Zulip
Organized team chat app that uses topics to structure conversations, making async and distributed work efficient.
| What is it | Organized team chat app that uses topics to structure conversations, making async and distributed work efficient. |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium — from $3.5/mo |
| Free tier | Yes |
| Platform | Web Application |
| API | Yes |
| Works with | Integrately, Make, n8n, Zapier |
| Best for | Coordinating projects across different time zones, Managing class discussions and student questions |
| Domain registered | 2010 |
Data updated Aug. 1, 2026
What does Zulip do?
Zulip is a team chat application built around a unique model of organization. Instead of a single, chaotic stream of messages, conversations happen within 'streams' (like channels) and are further organized by specific 'topics'. This structure lets you follow multiple discussions at once without losing context. You can focus on one topic, catch up on what you missed, and reply directly within the relevant thread, even if the conversation started days ago. It's designed for the reality of modern, often asynchronous, teamwork.
The core of Zulip is its topic-based threading. Every message belongs to a topic, which keeps conversations neatly bundled. Your inbox aggregates unread messages from across all streams and topics, giving you a clear overview. The platform is also fully open-source, offering a choice between a managed cloud service and self-hosting for complete data ownership. It includes a comprehensive API, numerous integrations, and dedicated desktop and mobile apps.
This tool is a strong fit for teams that value deep work and clear communication. Distributed companies use it to manage hundreds of parallel workstreams without noise. Educational institutions run classes and departmental communication on it. Open-source projects, like Rust and Asciidoctor, rely on it for inclusive, decision-making discussions. If your team struggles with information overload in other chat apps, Zulip's organized approach can bring clarity.
Key features
What makes it stand outWho is Zulip for?
Who benefits most from this toolPricing
Free tier available — start without a credit cardFree
- 10,000 messages
- 5 GB total file storage
- 10,000 messages of search history
- File storage up to 5 GB total
- Complete team chat solution
- Hundreds of integrations
- Advanced roles and permissions
- Guest accounts
Standard
- 5 GB per user file storage
- Unlimited search history
- File storage up to 5 GB per user
- Flexible permissions with custom groups
- Message retention policies
- Brand Zulip with your logo
- Priority commercial support
- Public access option
Plus
Everything in Standard, plus:
- 25 GB per user file storage
- All Standard plan features
- File storage up to 25 GB per user
- SSO with SAML (Okta, OneLogIn, etc.)
- SCIM user and group sync
- Custom domain
- Limit user list access for guests
- Priority commercial support
Basic
- Complete team chat solution, with all Zulip features included
- Unlimited mobile notifications
- Support Zulip's open-source development
Business
- Complete team chat solution, with all Zulip features included
- Unlimited mobile notifications
- Email and chat support
- SSO with SAML, Microsoft Entra ID
- AD/LDAP user sync
- Guests with configurable access
- Full and compliance data exports
- Data retention policies
Trust & presence
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