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StoatZulip
Free

Free to use, with no ads according to the site.

 Freemium

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

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
  • Servers, channels, voice chat and file sharing in one app
  • Role-based permissions and moderation tools for large communities
  • Topic-based threading inside channels, which makes catching up genuinely practical
  • Self-hostable, or hosted, with free plans for open-source communities
  • Requires an account to use
  • Smaller user base than mainstream community chat apps
  • 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
Downloadable app, Web application Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License not stated License: Apache-2.0
Account needed Account needed
Not stated if it works offline Needs internet

Checked September 23, 2026

Checked September 21, 2026

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