Open-source team chat organized by conversation topics
Zulip is an open-source team chat app whose threading model files every channel message under a named topic, so people can catch up on several discussions without losing context. It supports Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX math, and integrates with common developer tools. It can be self-hosted for free or used through Zulip Cloud, which suits open-source projects, research groups and remote teams.
- features
- 5
- alternatives
- 8
- platforms
- 7
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- Topic-based threading makes catching up on discussions easy
- Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX suit technical teams
- Free to self-host under an open source license
Cons
- The topic model takes some getting used to after Slack
- Video calls rely on external services such as Jitsi or Zoom
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
Best Zulip alternatives
See all 8 alternatives
SlackFreemiumChannel-based messaging and collaboration for work teams
4.1(53.5K) · App Store
MattermostFreemiumOpen sourceOpen-source, self-hostable team messaging for secure operations
4.8(5.6K) · App Store
Rocket.ChatFreemiumOpen sourceOpen-source chat platform for teams and customer conversations
4.4(3.7K) · App Store
ElementFreemiumOpen sourceSecure, decentralized messaging built on the Matrix protocol
3.3(590) · App Store
DiscordFreemiumVoice, video and text chat for communities and groups
4.7(3.6M) · App Store
Microsoft TeamsFreemiumChat, meetings and calls inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
4.8(3.4M) · App Store
User reviews
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