Slack vs Zulip
A detailed comparison of Slack and Zulip to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Slack | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 90-day message history | ✓ Free (self-hosted or cloud) |
| Lowest Paid | $8.75/user/mo | $6.67/user/mo |
| Enterprise | $12.50/user/mo | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Direct messages | ✓ | — |
| Huddles | ✓ | — |
| Clips | ✓ | — |
| Workflow Builder | ✓ | — |
| App integrations | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threads | ✓ | — |
| Canvas | ✓ | — |
| Topic-based threading | — | ✓ |
| Streams | — | ✓ |
| Markdown support | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| Integrations | — | ✓ |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Bots | — | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.4 | ⭐ 4 |
Pros & Cons
Slack
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Massive integration ecosystem
- ✓ Great search
- ✓ Familiar to most teams
Cons
- ✗ Expensive at scale
- ✗ Can be distracting
- ✗ Limited free plan now
- ✗ Message history limits
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 Slack if: You need teams of all sizes. Slack excels with its industry standard and massive integration ecosystem.
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 Slack and Zulip offer free tiers. Slack offers "90-day message history" while Zulip offers "Free (self-hosted or cloud)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack better than Zulip?
It depends on your needs. Slack is better for teams of all sizes, while Zulip is better for teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Both are excellent tools rated 4.4 and 4 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Zulip?
Slack starts at $8.75/user/mo while Zulip starts at $6.67/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Slack 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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