Zulip is an alternative
to Element
$35/mo (Self-hosted Basic) vs Element at — — covering 86% of the 7 compared capabilities.
Same job. Way less money.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
10 seats, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
plan at —, the cheapest paid plan.
Self-hosted Basic: 3.5 USD/monthly; 9 extra seat(s) × 3.5 USD.
We list 1 assessed alternative; Element's own price is not verified yet, so no cheaper-than claim is made.
Capability comparison
Zulip covers 86% of the 7 capabilities compared against Element. ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Zulip | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Channels & group messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threaded conversations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited message history | ✗ | ✓ |
| Audio/video calls & screen sharing | ◐ | ✓ |
| App integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compliance exports & audit logs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hosted deployment | ✓ | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities Element has that Zulip lacks.
- Unlimited message history — Search and access message history without a retention limit.Missing from Zulip.
Price at your volume
The same comparison recomputed at three sizes. Plan caps change who is cheapest.
| Usage | Element | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| 3 seats | — | $10.50/moSelf-hosted Basic |
| 10 seats | — | $35/moSelf-hosted Basic |
| 25 seats | — | $87.50/moSelf-hosted Basic |
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Zulip Cloud Free | Free |
| Zulip Cloud Standard | $8/seat/mo |
| Zulip Cloud Plus | $12/seat/mo |
| Self-hosted Free | Free |
| Self-hosted Basic | $3.50/seat/mo |
| Self-hosted Business | $8/seat/mo |
| Self-hosted Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Community | Free |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Sovereign | Contact sales |
Frequently asked
What does Zulip lack compared with Element?
Unlimited message history — 1 of the 7 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
Element: 2026-10-26; Zulip: 2026-10-28 — on the official pricing pages.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources & freshness
- https://element.io/pricing (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-26)
- Zulip data last verified 2026-10-28