Rocket.Chat vs Zulip
A detailed comparison of Rocket.Chat and Zulip to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Rocket.Chat | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | ✓ Free (self-hosted or cloud) |
| Lowest Paid | $4/user/mo | $6.67/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Rocket.Chat | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Video conferencing | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Livechat | ✓ | — |
| Bots | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apps marketplace | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| E2E encryption | ✓ | — |
| Federation | ✓ | — |
| API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Topic-based threading | — | ✓ |
| Streams | — | ✓ |
| Markdown support | — | ✓ |
| Integrations | — | ✓ |
| Search | — | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4 | ⭐ 4 |
Pros & Cons
Rocket.Chat
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted option
- ✓ Feature rich
- ✓ Good for compliance
Cons
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Performance issues
- ✗ UI not as polished
Zulip
Pros
- ✓ Unique threading model
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Free self-hosted
- ✓ Good for async
Cons
- ✗ Unfamiliar UI
- ✗ Smaller community
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Fewer integrations
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Rocket.Chat if: You need organizations needing open-source, compliant chat. Rocket.Chat excels with its open source and self-hosted option.
Choose Zulip if: You need teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Zulip stands out with its unique threading model and open source.
Best free option: Both Rocket.Chat and Zulip offer free tiers. Rocket.Chat offers "Free (self-hosted)" while Zulip offers "Free (self-hosted or cloud)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rocket.Chat better than Zulip?
It depends on your needs. Rocket.Chat is better for organizations needing open-source, compliant chat, while Zulip is better for teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Both are excellent tools rated 4 and 4 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Rocket.Chat or Zulip?
Rocket.Chat starts at $4/user/mo while Zulip starts at $6.67/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Rocket.Chat to Zulip?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Zulip's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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