Self-Hosted Zulip Alternatives

There are many alternatives to Zulip as a self-hosted solution if you are looking for a replacement. The best Self-Hosted alternative is Element, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Zulip and many of them are available as a self-hosted solution so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Self-Hosted alternatives to Zulip are Matrix.org, Wire, Mattermost and Rocket.Chat.

Zulip alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Zulip.

Zulip

196

Free Personal • Open Source
Group Chat App

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

Element
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
Matrix.org
Flathub
F-Droid
Cloudron
273 Element alternatives
Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.
- - Element is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Zulip.
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Element Features
1. DecentralizedElement is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. End-to-End EncryptionElement has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Privacy focusedElement is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. VoiP CallsElement allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
5. Dark ModeElement supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Support for MarkDownElement supports MarkDown for document formatting.
7. File VersioningElement has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
8. No TrackingElement will not track you or use your personal data.
9. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Element simultaneously.
Federated
Matrix Protocol
Voice Chat
Federation
Direct Messaging
Custom widgets
Simple installation
Clean design
Multiple languages
Per-room avatars
Matrix.org
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
WebRTC
Python
JavaScript
Go (Programming Language)
Cloudron
Java
Perl
138 Matrix.org alternatives
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.
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Matrix.org Features
1. DecentralizedMatrix.org is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. End-to-End EncryptionMatrix.org has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Privacy focusedMatrix.org is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Ad-freeMatrix.org doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. VoiP CallsMatrix.org allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
6. No TrackingMatrix.org will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Multiple Account supportMatrix.org support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
8. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Matrix.org simultaneously.
Federation
Distributed
Voice Chat
Security focused
Spaces
Chat Bot
Support for Multiple protocols
WebRTC
Server side history
Wire
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Video Calling App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
Software as a Service (SaaS)
262 Wire alternatives
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.
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Wire Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionWire has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. VoiP CallsWire allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
3. Screen SharingYou can use Wire to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
4. Privacy focusedWire is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Multiple Account supportWire support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
Security focused
Encrypted calls
Voice Chat
File Sending
Voice messages
WebRTC
Private Chat
Secure Chat
Integrated File Sharing
Secure File Sharing
Mattermost
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Group Chat App
Encrypted Chat App
Team Collaboration Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
JavaScript
Go (Programming Language)
Cloudron
115 Mattermost alternatives
Mattermost is a secure, open source platform for communication, collaboration, and workflow orchestration across tools and teams.
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Mattermost Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsMattermost can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. Built-in viewerMattermost shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
3. Full-Text SearchMattermost lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
4. Support for @mentionsMattermost supports the use of mentions through @ to a particular user, who will be notified personally.
5. Support for MarkDownMattermost supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Chat Bot
On-premises software
Multi Channel
Webhook support
Supports XMPP
Plugin API
Data API
File Sending
Integrated File Sharing
Slack integration
Rocket.Chat
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Group Chat App
Encrypted Chat App
Team Collaboration Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
Self-Hosted
Cloudron
129 Rocket.Chat alternatives
Rocket.Chat is a Web Chat Server, developed in JavaScript, using the Meteor fullstack framework.
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Rocket.Chat Features
1. Ad-freeRocket.Chat doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. End-to-End EncryptionRocket.Chat has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsRocket.Chat can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Screen SharingYou can use Rocket.Chat to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
Omnichannel messaging
Channels
Self-Serve Capability
Telegram integration
Whatsapp integration
Bots
Integrated File Sharing
Video Conferencing
Chat Bot
Slack integration
Mirotalk
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Group Chat App
Video Calling App
Encrypted Chat App
Online
Self-Hosted
42 Mirotalk alternatives
Powered by WebRTC, Real-time video call, chat room and screen sharing entirely browser based.
Suggest and vote on features
Mirotalk Features
1. Screen SharingYou can use Mirotalk to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
2. VoiP CallsMirotalk allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
3. Privacy focusedMirotalk is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Desktop SharingMirotalk enables you to share your screen with other people in the same office or working remotely.
5. Dark ModeMirotalk supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. End-to-End EncryptionMirotalk has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
7. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Mirotalk simultaneously.
8. Multiple Account supportMirotalk support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
Voice Chat
dirc
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Group Chat App
Team Collaboration Tool
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Self-Hosted
38 dirc alternatives
Dirc is a peer-to-peer web application which uses WebRTC to set up connections between chat participants without requiring a back-end server. The static files can be self-hosted. Other features:
Suggest and vote on features
dirc Features
1. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in dirc without registration.
IRC
Tinode
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Group Chat App
Video Calling App
Online
Android
iPhone
Self-Hosted
Software as a Service (SaaS)
184 Tinode alternatives
Fully open source instant messaging server and clients. No proprietary components or non-free dependencies. Backend in pure Go (GPL 3.0), with a command-line administration tool in python + gRPC. Clients for Android, iPhone, and Web - ReactJS (all licensed under Apache 2.0).
Suggest and vote on features
Tinode Features
1. Ad-freeTinode doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Support for MarkDownTinode supports MarkDown for document formatting.
3. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Tinode simultaneously.
4. VoiP CallsTinode allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
5. Command line interfaceTinode either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
6. No TrackingTinode will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Dark ModeTinode supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Telegram
React
Kontalk Messenger
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Android
Self-Hosted
56 Kontalk Messenger alternatives
Kontalk is a secure instant messenger, allowing you to send and receive text, image and voice messages (other file types coming soon) to and from other Kontalk users completely free of charge.
Suggest and vote on features
Kontalk Messenger Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionKontalk Messenger has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. OpenPGPKontalk Messenger supports OpenPGP, a standard of PGP encryption that is open-source for public use.
Hack Chat
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Online
Android
Self-Hosted
42 Hack Chat alternatives
hack.chat is a minimal, distraction-free chat application. Channels are created and joined by going to https://hack.chat/?your-channel. There are no channel lists, so a secret channel name can be used for private discussions.

Source code : https://github.com/hack-chat/main.
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Hack Chat Features
1. Distraction-freeHack Chat has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
Let's Chat
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Team Collaboration Tool
Self-Hosted
62 Let's Chat alternatives
Self-hosted chat for small teams.
Suggest and vote on features
Let's Chat Features
Web interface
Discontinued
As stated at https://github.com/sdelements/lets-chat/issues/781 , the project is no longer developed since August 2017. Last version, 0.4.0, released in June 2015, can be still downloaded from GitHub together with the source code.
Conduit Chat Server
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Group Chat App
Online
Self-Hosted
Raspberry Pi
233 Conduit Chat Server alternatives
Conduit is a simple, fast and reliable chat server powered by Matrix. Conduit is an alternative to Synapse and tries to be lightweight and easy to install, but it is still in development.
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Conduit Chat Server Features
Matrix Protocol
Scalable