Table of Contents
Overview
With the rapid rise in the popularity of remote and hybrid work cultures, it is more important for teams working across the globe from different time zones to easily connect and stay updated with what their peers are doing. This has caused a large boom in the number of downloads of applications that offer real-time chat and collaborative features. One such app is Zulip.
Zulip is a modern and open-source alternative to Slack. It offers features such as topic-based threading that allow users to organize discussions into separate threads for more focused conversations. This helps prevent conversations from getting lost in a stream of messages and allows participants to easily follow and contribute to specific topics. It is helpful in enhancing productivity and facilitating efficient communication, for real-time messaging and threaded conversations, among teams.
Features
Zulip supports private messaging, group messaging, file sharing, and can easily be integrated with other tools. Thanks to its cross-platform compatibility, teams can access and participate in conversations from any device or platform without any hassle. One of the most popular features of Zulip is its stream organization, where users can subscribe to different streams based on their topics of interest or projects. Users can also mention specific individuals or entire groups in their conversations to draw the attention of people. At a time when all the people are almost added to all the groups, this is a very handy feature.
Zulip can also be integrated with popular project management tools, version control systems, and issue trackers like GitHub, Jira, and Trello. This allows teams to easily adopt Zulip within their existing workflows. It can be natively integrated with many services; if you can’t find an integration you like, you can always build it with Zapier or IFTTT.
It also has powerful search capabilities, enabling users to find messages, files, and conversations quickly. It also retains message history, so users can refer to previous discussions and catch up on what they’ve missed.
Since Zulip is open-source, its source code is available publicly for anyone to review. This is useful for companies that audit software based on transparency and security before integrating it within their existing infrastructure. The power of open source also means that it is continuously improved with the addition of new features and fixing of any bugs as quickly as possible. It also gives you the freedom to host and customize Zulip based on your specific requirements or needs.
Security
All messages sent through Zulip are end-to-end encrypted and if you’re hosting it on-premises, it gives you complete control over your organizationās data. It also supports modern authentication methods like LDAP/Active Directory integration, and Single Sign-On (SSO) using providers like Google, GitHub, and others apart from password-based authentication. Additionally, administrators can manage access controls, permissions, and roles to restrict user actions and protect sensitive data.
Zulip undergoes regular security audits and assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. These proactive audits help maintain the security of the platform and protect user data. So, you’re not surprised by any zero-day vulnerabilities! Zulip has a secured data transmission system using TLS protocols, encrypting communications between client devices and its servers, which ensures that the data sent from your device and the connection to the server remains confidential and protected from third-party accesses.
Pros
Zulip supports image previews, making it convenient to view and discuss visual content without having to download the files. It also supports Markdown, a lightweight markup language, for formatting messages allowing users to add formatting elements like headings, bullet points, links, code snippets, and more, improving readability and organization.Ā
The app offers a wide variety of keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation and message handling by users. This helps users in responding to messages quickly and switch between actions like creating new messages, searching for content, or switching between streams. There is topic-based categorization, making it easier for people to find and participate in relevant discussions.
Zulip offers a comprehensive API that allows users to integrate custom functionality with out-of-the-box features. It is available on nearly all devices allowing users to stay connected and productive in one go.
It also offers asynchronous communication that allows users to respond at their convenience. This flexibility accommodates different communication styles and does not hinder the workflow.
Additionally, Zulip has an active and supportive community of users and developers. They provide assistance, share knowledge, contribute to the continuous improvement of the platform and offer professional support options for organizations that require dedicated assistance.
Cons
Zulip’s threaded messaging and topic-based organization can be a resourceful feature for teams, but it may also feel quite complex for users who are accustomed to linear chat interfaces.
Due to the threaded nature of conversations in Zulip, users may receive a higher volume of notifications compared to other chat platforms. While it can be very useful for staying informed, it may also lead to a higher risk of information overload and distractions if not managed effectively.
While Zulip provides mobile apps for iOS and Android, some users have reported occasional limitations or inconsistencies in the mobile app experience compared to the web or desktop versions. This could impact the user experience for those heavily relying on mobile devices.
Pricing
Zulip offers both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options with different pricing models. Zulip Cloud offers a Free plan for small teams with basic features and a Standard plan priced at $6.67 per user that offers advanced features, integrations, and support. It also offers custom plans designed for larger organizations with more extensive needs. The pricing is available upon request and provides additional features and support options.
Zulip also offers a Free self-hosted option, allowing organizations to install and manage Zulip on their own servers. This provides all the features of Zulip but the cost associated with infrastructure, maintenance, and support lies with the organization. The Enterprise self-hosted version is targeted more toward organizations that require professional support with SLAs, high availability, and advanced compliance.
Conclusion
Zulip continues to prove that it is a strong contender for organizations seeking a powerful and versatile group chat and collaboration platform. Its unique threaded conversations, emphasis on security, cross-platform availability, and integration capabilities make it well-suited for various team sizes and communication needs. Conducting a trial can help you assess the platform’s suitability in your particular context and inculcate it as part of your organization. So, what are you waiting for? Get started now!