Comparison

Slack vs Zulip

On the evidence we track, Slack leads this comparison with a composite score of 89/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

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Attribute comparison across 2 tools
Attribute89SlackLeader75Zulip
Vioscale score89 / 100medium · 51%75 / 100low · 47%
Options{"cloud":true}{"cloud":true,"hybrid":true,"on_prem":true,"air_gapped":true,"self_hosted":true}
LongSlack is a cloud-based messaging and collaboration platform that enables teams to communicate, organize work, and integrate with tools across a unified workspace. Built-in AI capabilities and an extensive app ecosystem support businesses of all sizes.Organized team chat solution available as cloud-hosted or self-hosted, supporting small teams to thousands of users.
Capabilities{"hosting":"cloud","sso_scim":true,"free_tier":true,"messaging":true,"api_access":true,"screen_sharing":true,"video_meetings":true,"app_marketplace":true,"compliance_controls":true,"guest_external_access":true}{"hosting":"both","sso_scim":true,"free_tier":true,"messaging":true,"api_access":true,"e2e_encryption":true,"video_meetings":true,"compliance_controls":true,"guest_external_access":true}
Count2,600-
List[{"name":"Salesforce"},{"name":"Jira"},{"name":"Google Drive"},{"name":"ChatGPT"}]-
Availability{"primaryMarkets":["GB","US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}-
Support{"ios":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"android":true,"windows":true}{"cli":true,"ios":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}
Pricing{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"Free forever","features":["90 days of message history","Up to 10 apps from Slack App Directory","1:1 audio and video meetings with screen sharing","1:1 external messages via Slack Connect","SAML-based single sign-on","SCIM user management","EMM integration support","Native data loss prevention","AI conversation summaries","Slackbot personal AI agent","AI workflow generation","AI search","AI daily recaps","AI file summaries"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"}],"description":"A simpler way to chat and collaborate","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"apps":"up to 10","message_history":"90 days"}},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","summary":"£7/user/month (£5.75/user/month billed annually)","features":["Unlimited message history","Unlimited app integrations","2,600+ apps in Slack App Directory"],"components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"user","amount":7,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"user","amount":5.75,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"}],"description":"Drive productivity in one place","contactSales":false}],"summary":"From £0 (free tier) to £7/user/month (Pro). Free tier available.","currency":"GBP","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://slack.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-05T14:23:07.180Z","startingPrice":{"amount":5.75,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free (Cloud)","summary":"Free cloud tier","features":["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"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud free tier with 10,000 messages of search history and 5 GB total file storage","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"file_storage":"5 GB total","search_history":"10,000 messages"}},{"free":false,"name":"Standard (Cloud)","summary":"$6.67/user/month (billed annually) or $8/user/month (billed monthly)","features":["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"],"components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":6.67,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":8,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud Standard plan with unlimited search history and 5 GB per user storage","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"file_storage":"5 GB per user"}},{"free":false,"name":"Standard Plus (Cloud)","summary":"$10/user/month (billed annually) or $12/user/month (billed monthly); minimum 10 users","features":["All Standard plan features","File storage up to 25 GB per user","SSO with SAML (Okta, OneLogIn)","SCIM user and group sync","Custom domain","Limit user list access for guests","Priority commercial support"],"minSeats":10,"components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":10,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":12,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud Standard Plus with enhanced storage and SSO/SCIM support","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"file_storage":"25 GB per user"}},{"free":true,"name":"Free (Self-hosted)","summary":"Free for grassroots, open-source, academic, non-profit, and community use","features":["Complete team chat solution with all Zulip features","Mobile notifications without limitation for eligible communities","Mobile notifications for up to 10 users for other organizations"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Self-hosted free tier for eligible communities","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Basic (Self-hosted)","summary":"$3.50/user/month; 85%+ discount for non-workplace users; $20/month off first year","features":["Complete team chat solution with all Zulip features","Unlimited mobile notifications","Support Zulip's open-source development"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":3.5,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Self-hosted Basic plan for small teams","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Business (Self-hosted)","summary":"$6.67/user/month (billed annually) or $8/user/month (billed monthly); minimum 25 users; $20/month off first year","features":["Complete team chat solution with all Zulip features","Unlimited mobile notifications","Email and chat support","SSO with SAML and Microsoft Entra ID","AD/LDAP user sync","Guests with configurable access","Full and compliance data exports","Data retention policies"],"minSeats":25,"components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":6.67,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":8,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Self-hosted Business plan for larger organizations","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise (Self-hosted)","summary":"Contact sales for pricing","features":["Complete team chat solution with all Zulip features","Unlimited mobile notifications","Email, chat and phone support","SSO with OpenID Connect","AD/LDAP, SAML and OpenID Connect group sync","SCIM user and group sync","Implementation consulting","Custom feature development","Advanced deployment options"],"description":"Self-hosted Enterprise plan with maximum customization and support","contactSales":true}],"summary":"From $3.50/user/month (self-hosted Basic) to $12/user/month (cloud Standard Plus). Free tier available.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://zulip.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-03T14:29:32.487Z","startingPrice":{"amount":3.5,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}
Free tierYesYes
Modelcommercialcommercial
Price levellowlow
Starting gbp5.753.5
TransparentYesYes
Status pageYesYes
Disclosure policyYesYes
GdprYesYes
Hipaa-Yes

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for collaboration software. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Capability comparison for Collaboration Software
CapabilitySlackZulip
Modality
Messaging
Video meetings
Whiteboard--
Meetings
Screen sharing-
Recording / transcription--
Security
End-to-end encryption-
SSO / SCIM
Access
Guest / external access
Compliance
Compliance controls
Deployment
HostingCloud onlyCloud + self-hosted
Scale
Max participants--
Ecosystem
App marketplace-
Public API / bot framework
Commercial
Free tier

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.

Slack vs Zulip: an evidence-based comparison · Vioscale