Mattermost vs Zulip
A detailed comparison of Mattermost and Zulip to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Mattermost
Open-source, self-hosted Slack alternative for secure team communication.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Mattermost | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | ✓ Free (self-hosted or cloud) |
| Lowest Paid | $10/user/mo | $6.67/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mattermost | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Direct messaging | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Playbooks | ✓ | — |
| Boards | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| DevOps tools | ✓ | — |
| SSO/LDAP | ✓ | — |
| Compliance | ✓ | — |
| Topic-based threading | — | ✓ |
| Streams | — | ✓ |
| Markdown support | — | ✓ |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Search | — | ✓ |
| Bots | — | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.1 | ⭐ 4 |
Pros & Cons
Mattermost
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ High security
- ✓ Slack-like interface
Cons
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
Zulip
Pros
- ✓ Unique threading model
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Free self-hosted
- ✓ Good for async
Cons
- ✗ Unfamiliar UI
- ✗ Smaller community
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Fewer integrations
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Mattermost if: You need security-conscious organizations. Mattermost excels with its open source and self-hosted.
Choose Zulip if: You need teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Zulip stands out with its unique threading model and open source.
Best free option: Both Mattermost and Zulip offer free tiers. Mattermost offers "Free (self-hosted)" while Zulip offers "Free (self-hosted or cloud)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mattermost better than Zulip?
It depends on your needs. Mattermost is better for security-conscious organizations, while Zulip is better for teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Both are excellent tools rated 4.1 and 4 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Mattermost or Zulip?
Mattermost starts at $10/user/mo while Zulip starts at $6.67/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Mattermost to Zulip?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Zulip's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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