Zulip
Open-source team chat organised by topic, with a free hosted plan.
Latest release (Desktop app): v5.13.2 · released Sep 21, 2026
In short
Every message belongs to a topic inside a channel, so busy conversations stay easy to follow. Use Zulip Cloud with a free plan, or run the same fully featured server yourself.
Made by: Kandra Labs, Inc. · Where your data lives: On Zulip Cloud (run by the core Zulip team) or on your own server; you can move between the two.
Logo from: zulip.com
The editor’s take
One of the easiest open-source switches from Slack: sign up in the browser, import your Slack workspace, and keep the option to self-host later.
Best for
Busy, asynchronous teams
Groups where many conversations run at once and people catch up later.
Check first
The topic habit
Every message needs a topic; give your team a week to get used to it.
Download & install
Every link goes to the official site, an official app store, or the project’s own GitHub releases.
Direct files from GitHub release v5.13.2: Zulip-Web-Setup-5.13.2.exe (802 KB)
Direct files from GitHub release v5.13.2: Zulip-5.13.2-arm64.dmg (126 MB), Zulip-5.13.2-x64.dmg (133 MB)
Direct files from GitHub release v5.13.2: Zulip-5.13.2-x86_64.AppImage (122 MB)
Latest release (Desktop app): v5.13.2 · released Sep 21, 2026 · fetched from GitHub on Oct 3, 2026 · Releases on GitHub
Getting started without coding
Plain-language steps based on the official install guide.
Download and install, or sign up in the browser. No server needed.
A free Zulip Cloud account plus official installers and app stores; no server needed unless you choose to self-host.
Is there an installer?
- Windows Installer
- Mac Installer
- Linux Package
- iPhone & iPad App store
- Android App store
Zulip Cloud — Free plan with 10,000 messages of search history and 5 GB of file storage.
Steps for Windows
- Download the installer from zulip.com/apps/windows (it updates itself), or use the Microsoft Store.
- Open Zulip from the Start menu.
- Click +, enter your organisation’s address (for example yourteam.zulipchat.com) and log in.
Steps for Mac
- Download Zulip for Mac (Apple chip or Intel build) from zulip.com/apps/mac.
- Open the file and drag Zulip into Applications.
- Open Zulip, add your organisation’s address and log in.
Steps for Linux
- Easiest: download the AppImage from zulip.com/apps/linux, make it executable and run it.
- Or install from Zulip’s APT repository, Snap or Flathub, as the guide shows.
- Add your organisation’s address and log in.
Steps for Web browser
- Go to zulip.com/new and choose a name, type and language for your organisation.
- Pick an address ending in .zulipchat.com and enter your email (you can import from Slack here).
- Click “Create organization” and invite your team.
Steps for Your own server
- You need a dedicated Ubuntu or Debian machine with at least 2 GB of RAM, a domain name and a way to send email.
- Download the latest server release and run the installer with your email and hostname, as the guide shows.
- Open the link the installer prints to create your organisation.
What we could verify
We checked key factual claims and linked to primary sources so you can confirm the details. Last reviewed Oct 3, 2026
Try before you move
A simple way to see if it fits your needs.
- Invite a few teammates for a weekTwo or three people using it daily will find problems a solo test misses.
- Recreate your busiest channelCheck threads, mentions, file sharing and the integrations you depend on.
- Test search, notifications and mobileSearch an old message, mute a channel and reply from your phone.