Zulip AlternativesTop Instant Messengers & Video Calling Apps like Zulip

Zulip is described as 'The only modern team chat app that is designed for both live and asynchronous conversations. Zulip topics create a separate space for each discussion, so different conversations will never get in each other's way' and is a very popular instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Zulip for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux apps. The best Zulip alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Zulip are Telegram, Element, Discord and Matrix.

Zulip iconZulip
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Zulip is the only modern team chat app that is designed for both live and asynchronous conversations. Zulip topics create a...

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Zulip alternatives page was last updated May 21, 2025
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  1. Signal icon
     1282 likes
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    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    219 Signal alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Mobile friendly
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Desktop Application
    12.  Secure Chat

    Signal VS Zulip

     
    • Most users think Signal is a great Zulip alternative.

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Zulip.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Zulip.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceZulip is Free Personal and Open Source
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedZulip is not according to our users
  2. Telegram icon
     2052 likes
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    Maximize your messaging experience with efficient communication, speedy delivery, and optional end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. Engage in unlimited channels and groups up to 200,000 members. Enhance chat management and media sharing with Telegram Premium and its exclusive benefits. All core features remain free.

    294 Telegram alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Auto
    • Linux Mobile
    • Android Wear
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    • Apple Car Play

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Stickers
    3.  Chat Bot
    4.  Large File Transfer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Multi Device Support
    9.  Channels
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Bots
    12.  Secret chats

    Telegram VS Zulip

     
    • Most users think Telegram is a great Zulip alternative.

    • Telegram is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to Zulip.

    • Telegram is Freemium and ProprietaryZulip is Free Personal and Open Source
    • Telegram is Lightweight and Privacy focusedZulip is not according to our users
  3. Element icon
     724 likes
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    Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.

    301 Element alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Encrypted Chat
    6.  Video Calling
    7.  Matrix Protocol
    8.  Voice Chat
    9.  Direct Messaging
    10.  Federation
    11.  Cross-Platform
    12.  Dark Mode

    Element VS Zulip

     
    • Most users think Element is a great Zulip alternative.

    • Element is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Zulip.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceZulip is also Free Personal and Open Source
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedZulip is not according to our users
  4. Discord icon
     1076 likes
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    An integrated platform for text and voice communications. Offers tailored channels for different topics, customizable moderation tools, low latency for fluency, and managed user roles for optimal community facilitation.

    188 Discord alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Playstation
    • Xbox

    Properties

    1.  Gaming-focused

    Features

    1.  Screen Sharing
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  Video Calling
    4.  Multi Channel
    5.  Text chat
    6.  Bots
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  Multiple Servers
    9.  Push to talk
    10.  Public groups chat
    11.  Custom Smileys
    12.  Text to Speech

    Discord VS Zulip

     
  5. Matrix icon
     364 likes
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    Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control.

    162 Matrix alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Federation
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Random Video Chat
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Spaces
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for @mentions

    Matrix VS Zulip

     
  6. Tox icon
     551 likes
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    With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and loved ones without anyone else listening in.

    213 Tox alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Peer-To-Peer
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Multiplatform
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  AES-256 Encryption
    9.  Screen Sharing
    10.  P2P Network
    11.  Secure Chat
    12.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing

    Tox VS Zulip

     
  7. Slack icon
     854 likes
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    Offers unified communication for teams with advanced real-time messaging, contextual features, versatile chat tools, and organized conversations in dedicated channels with integrated file sharing on Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile platforms for enhanced productivity.

    221 Slack alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Electron
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Slack Features

    1.  Team Collaboration
    2.  Multi Channel
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Support for @mentions
    5.  Channels
    6.  Threaded Conversations
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  HIPAA Compliant
    9.  Reactions
    10.  Real time collaboration
    11. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    12.  VoiP Calls

    Slack VS Zulip

     
    • Most users think Slack is a great Zulip alternative.

    • Slack is the most popular SaaS alternative to Zulip.

    • Slack is Freemium and ProprietaryZulip is Free Personal and Open Source
  8. Wire icon
     309 likes
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    Wire is the most secure collaboration platform featuring messenger, voice, video, conference calls, file-sharing, and external collaboration –all protected by the most secure end-to-end-encryption.

    280 Wire alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Video Calling
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  VoiP Calls
    5.  Encrypted calls
    6.  Screen Sharing
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Secure File Sharing
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  WebRTC
    11.  Private Chat
    12.  File Sending

    Wire VS Zulip

     
  9. Mattermost icon
     249 likes
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    Mattermost is a secure, open source platform for communication, collaboration, and workflow orchestration across tools and teams.

    128 Mattermost alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Team Collaboration
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Chat Bot
    4.  On-premises software
    5.  Multi Channel
    6.  Full-Text Search
    7.  Built-in viewer
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Real time collaboration
    10.  Support for @mentions
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  End-to-End Encryption

    Mattermost VS Zulip

     
  10. Element X icon
     31 likes
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    It is the brand new, and fastest ever, Matrix client. It is for personal and community use, and will support enterprise functionality later this year.

    97 Element X alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Matrix Protocol
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  VoiP Calls
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Decentralized
    9.  Support for @mentions
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Voice Chat

    Element X VS Zulip

     
  11. Threema icon
     122 likes
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    Threema is a new mobile messaging app that puts security first. With true end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages.

    125 Threema alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Integrated File Sharing
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Confirm messages
    6.  Image Sharing
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Multiple Account support
    11.  Two-factor Authentication
    12.  Encrypted Backup

    Threema VS Zulip

     
    • Threema is the most popular commercial alternative to Zulip.

    • Threema is Paid and Open SourceZulip is Free Personal and Open Source
    • Threema is Privacy focusedZulip is not according to our users
  12. Rocket.Chat icon
     155 likes
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    Rocket.Chat is a Web Chat Server, developed in JavaScript, using the Meteor fullstack framework.

    137 Rocket.Chat alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron

    Top Rocket.Chat Features

    1.  Omnichannel messaging
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Channels
    4.  Self-Serve Capability
    5. Telegram icon  Telegram integration
    6. WhatsApp icon  Whatsapp integration
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Screen Sharing
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Bots
    11.  Integrated File Sharing
    12.  Video Conferencing

    Rocket.Chat VS Zulip

     
12 of 226 Zulip alternatives