Circle vs Zulip: what each really costs
Team size
Billing
Circle
No plan for this billing option
No paid plan to compare for this billing option.
Zulip
No plan for this billing option
No paid plan to compare for this billing option.
| 10 people | Circle | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | No plan for this billing option | No plan for this billing option |
| Vendor price | ||
| Monthly cost | ||
| Annual cost | ||
| Per user / year | ||
| Billing commitment | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Minimum seats | None stated | None stated |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | Yes |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
Calculated by SpecEntry from official vendor prices. Taxes and optional add-ons are not included. Open each product page for every plan and the official source.
Circle vs Zulip: features
Key features as each vendor lists them. A feature missing from a list does not mean the product lacks it.
Circle
- Community spaces and eventsCustomize spaces, run discussions, host live events and launch courses.
- Branded mobile appLaunch your own branded community app for iOS and Android.
- Built-in paymentsPayments are handled inside Circle alongside content and members.
- Customizable checkoutGives full control over the checkout experience.
- Personalized emailSend personalized emails to members.
- Connected website and coursesConnects your website, community, courses and payments.
Source:circle.so ·
Zulip
- Topic-based threadingConversations are organized with topic-based threading.
- Configurable notificationsOffers highly configurable notification settings.
- Rich formattingSupports code syntax highlighting and LaTeX in messages.
- Video call providersWorks with call providers such as Zoom, Jitsi and BigBlueButton.
- Bot and integration controlsAdmins control all bots and integrations.
- SAML single sign-onSupports SAML SSO including Okta and OneLogin.
- Data retention policiesSet granular data retention policies.
- Private channelsPrivate channels with shared history.
Source:zulip.com/features ·
Circle vs Zulip pricing questions
How much do Circle and Zulip cost?
Circle paid plans start at $89 per month, based on annual billing (Professional). Zulip paid plans start at $6.67/user/month (Cloud Standard Annual).
Is Circle or Zulip cheaper for 5 users?
Zulip is cheaper for 5 users: $400.20 per year on Cloud Standard Annual, against $1,068 per year for Circle on Professional. That is $667.80 less per year, before tax.
Is Circle or Zulip cheaper for 10 users?
Zulip is cheaper for 10 users: $800.40 per year on Cloud Standard Annual, against $1,068 per year for Circle on Professional. That is $267.60 less per year, before tax.
Is Circle or Zulip cheaper for 25 users?
Circle is cheaper for 25 users: $1,068 per year on Professional, against $2,001 per year for Zulip on Cloud Standard Annual. That is $933 less per year, before tax.
Do Circle and Zulip have a free plan?
Zulip lists a free plan; Circle does not list one on its official pricing.