Compare software

Google ChatZulip
Freemium

Free with a Google account; business features come with paid Google Workspace plans.

 Freemium

The server and clients are free and open source and can be self-hosted at no cost. Zulip…

Web Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
  • Integrated with Gmail, Drive and Docs
  • Spaces with threaded conversations
  • Topic-based threading inside channels, which makes catching up genuinely practical
  • Self-hostable, or hosted, with free plans for open-source communities
  • Requires a Google account
  • Hosted by Google with no self-hosting option
  • The topic model takes getting used to and needs team discipline to work
  • The desktop client shares most of its code with the web app, so it inherits its quirks
Web application, Hosted service Downloadable app
Closed source Open source
License not stated License: Apache-2.0
Account needed Account needed
Not stated if it works offline Needs internet

Checked September 24, 2026

Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.