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Paid plans start at $3.50/mo. There's also a free plan.
Zulip starts at $3.50 per user/month for Basic (Self-hosted), billed monthly; the page lists no annual rate for that plan. Cloud Standard costs $8 monthly or $6.67 per user/month annually, while Free (Cloud) has limited search history and storage. Plus (Cloud) starts at 10 users. Free self-hosting is available to eligible communities and organizations. The choice is less about chat features than whether you want managed hosting, self-hosting, SSO, or more history.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Cloud) | — | Quote | Teams needing managed chat |
| Standard (Cloud) | $6.67 | $8 | Teams needing more history and controls |
| Plus (Cloud) | $10 | $12 | Teams needing SSO and user sync |
| Free (Self-hosted) | — | Quote | Eligible communities and organizations |
| Basic (Self-hosted) | — | $3.50 | Teams managing their own server |
| Business (Self-hosted) | $6.67 | $8 | Workplaces needing support and SSO |
| Enterprise (Self-hosted) | — | Quote | Organizations needing enterprise services |
Add-ons and overages
- Basic and Business list $20/month off for the first year.
- Compliance customization and support are billed hourly for self-hosted Basic and Business.
What a team pays per month
| Plan | 1 seat | 5 seats | 10 seats | 25 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Cloud) | $6.67 | $33.35 | $66.70 | $166.75 |
| Plus (Cloud) (min. 10) | $100 | $100 | $100 | $250 |
| Basic (Self-hosted) | $3.50 | $17.50 | $35 | $87.50 |
| Business (Self-hosted) (min. 25) | $166.75 | $166.75 | $166.75 | $166.75 |
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Seat minimums
Plus (Cloud) requires 10 users; Business (Self-hosted) requires 25. Those minimums can raise the bill above the displayed per-user rate.
Basic annual rate missing
Basic (Self-hosted) is listed at $3.50 per user/month, billed monthly. The pricing page does not publish an annual rate for it.
Hourly compliance work
Compliance customization and support for self-hosted Basic and Business are billed hourly; the hourly rate is not published.
First-year discount terms
The page lists $20/month off for the first year on Basic and Business, but the published pricing details do not specify the discount terms.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Teams trying managed chat | Free (Cloud) | It includes 10,000 messages of search history, 5 GB total file storage, integrations, and guest accounts. |
| Cloud users needing more history | Standard (Cloud) | It adds unlimited search history, custom groups, retention policies, and priority commercial support. |
| Teams running their own server | Basic (Self-hosted) | It includes all Zulip features and unlimited mobile notifications for $3.50 per user/month, with no annual rate listed. |
04Is Zulip worth the money?
Zulip is worth considering if topic-based conversations, async discussion, or control over hosting matter more than a familiar chat layout. Free plans give teams a way to start, while paid cloud and self-hosted tiers add specific controls and support. The trade-offs are clear: Plus and Business have user minimums, some self-hosted compliance work costs extra, and the topic-based structure may take time to learn. Compare the plan that fits your hosting choice, not just its starting rate.
Zulip pricing FAQ
Is Zulip FOSS?
Yes. The published product information describes Zulip as open-source software that teams can self-host. It also offers Zulip Cloud, so using Zulip does not require running your own server. The source does not provide further details about the software’s license.
Is Zulip legit?
The published information describes a team chat product with cloud and self-hosted options, plus free and paid plans. That establishes what Zulip offers, but it is not an independent security or reliability review. Check the vendor’s current terms and security documentation before choosing it for sensitive conversations.
Who owns Zulip?
The published product and pricing information does not identify Zulip’s owner. It describes Zulip as open-source team chat software with a cloud service and self-hosted option. We can’t verify ownership from these details; consult Zulip’s current company or legal information for an authoritative answer.
Does Zulip have an app?
The published information mentions mobile notifications, including plan limits for eligible communities and other organizations, but it does not confirm which apps are available or list supported platforms. Check Zulip’s current downloads or documentation for app availability and device requirements.