Slack vs Zulip

Zulip organizes every conversation into topics inside streams, which keeps busy channels readable; it is open source and self-hostable.

SlackTeam chat with channels, threads and integrations

ZulipOpen-source team chat organized by topic threads

Which to pick

Pick Slack if you want…

AI-enhanced team collaboration
Hosted team chat with a big app directory
Integrations with Salesforce, Jira or Google Drive (on Slack's list, not Zulip's)

Pick Zulip if you want…

Topic-based threaded chat
Teams that prefer topic-based threads
Open-source code (zulip/zulip on GitHub, Apache-2.0 license)
Integrations with Jitsi, BigBlueButton or Zapier (on Zulip's list, not Slack's)

Slack uses channels and is hosted only; Zulip threads by topic and is open source.

Side by side

What it is: Slack:Slack is a collaborative workspace that combines chat, AI assistants, and integrations for team communication and workflow automation.; Zulip:Zulip is an open-source team chat app that organizes conversations by topic threads for async collaboration.
Best for: Slack:AI-enhanced team collaboration; Zulip:Topic-based threaded chat
Who it’s for: Slack:Teams and organizations that need unified messaging, AI assistance, and app integrations.; Zulip:Distributed teams, engineers, educators, open-source communities
Pricing: Slack:Freemium; Zulip:Freemium
Plans: Slack:Free $0USD · Pro $8.75 per user / month (monthly) · Business+ $18 per user / month (monthly); Zulip:Free $0 · Standard $0 · Basic (self-hosted) $0
Open source: Slack:—; Zulip:Yes, 25,994 GitHub stars
Works with: Slack:Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, ChatGPT, Atlassian, Zoom, Box, Asana; Zulip:Zoom, Jitsi, BigBlueButton, Zapier, IFTTT, 130+ native integrations

Slack features

Channels & Threads. Organize conversations by project, topic, or team with flexible, searchable channels.
AI-powered Slackbot. Personal AI agent that answers questions, summarizes conversations, and generates workflows.
Workflow Builder. Create automated workflows without code, using AI steps and conditional branching.
Slack Connect. Secure real-time chat with external partners, vendors, and clients.
Huddles & Video. Built-in audio/video meetings with automatic meeting notes and transcripts.
App Directory. Access over 2,600 integrations, including Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, and ChatGPT.
Enterprise Search. Search across messages, files, and connected apps with AI-enhanced relevance.
Security & Compliance. Data encryption, SSO, SCIM, DLP, and audit logs to meet enterprise security standards.

Zulip features

Topic-based threading. Each message is labeled with a topic, keeping discussions organized and easy to follow.
Unlimited search (Standard+). Search full chat history without limits on Standard and higher plans.
File storage per user. 5 GB per user on Standard, 25 GB per user on Plus.
Advanced permissions. Custom groups, flexible roles, and granular admin controls.
Integrations & bridges. 130+ native integrations plus bridges to Slack, Teams, Matrix, Zapier, IFTTT.
Self-hosting option. 100 % open-source code can be deployed on-premises for full data sovereignty.

Slack vs Zulip FAQ

Is Slack or Zulip free?+

Slack has a free plan and paid plans. Zulip has a free plan and paid plans.

Is Slack or Zulip open source?+

Zulip is open source (zulip/zulip on GitHub, Apache-2.0 license). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Slack.

Do Slack and Zulip integrate with the same tools?+

Partly. Both list Zoom. Slack also lists Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, ChatGPT and 4 more; Zulip also lists Jitsi, BigBlueButton, Zapier, IFTTT and 1 more.

On DevHunt

Slack

Listed by DevHunt

Slack on DevHunt →Slack alternatives

Zulip