Microsoft Teams vs Zulip: what each really costs

Team size

Billing

Microsoft Teams

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 peopleMicrosoft TeamsZulip
Entry paid planNo plan for this billing optionNo plan for this billing option
Vendor price
Monthly cost
Annual cost
Per user / year
Billing commitmentNot recordedNot recorded
Minimum seatsNone statedNone stated
Free planNo free plan listedYes
Free trialNot statedNot 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.

Microsoft Teams vs Zulip: features

Key features as each vendor lists them. A feature missing from a list does not mean the product lacks it.

Microsoft Teams

  • Chats, files and apps togetherConversations, shared content, Loop, OneNote and apps in one place.
  • Personalized viewsViews that surface the chats and channels that matter most.
  • Secure collaborationAccess controls and information protection.
  • Copilot and agentsAI workflows and agents turn conversations into action.
  • Meeting protectionBuilt-in security controls and encryption for meetings.

Source:microsoft.com/microsoft-teams ·

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 ·

Microsoft Teams vs Zulip pricing questions

  1. How much do Microsoft Teams and Zulip cost?

    Microsoft Teams paid plans start at $4/user/month (Teams Essentials). Zulip paid plans start at $6.67/user/month (Cloud Standard Annual).

  2. Is Microsoft Teams or Zulip cheaper for 5 users?

    Microsoft Teams is cheaper for 5 users: $240 per year on Teams Essentials, against $400.20 per year for Zulip on Cloud Standard Annual. That is $160.20 less per year, before tax.

  3. Is Microsoft Teams or Zulip cheaper for 10 users?

    Microsoft Teams is cheaper for 10 users: $480 per year on Teams Essentials, against $800.40 per year for Zulip on Cloud Standard Annual. That is $320.40 less per year, before tax.

  4. Is Microsoft Teams or Zulip cheaper for 25 users?

    Microsoft Teams is cheaper for 25 users: $1,200 per year on Teams Essentials, against $2,001 per year for Zulip on Cloud Standard Annual. That is $801 less per year, before tax.

  5. Do Microsoft Teams and Zulip have a free plan?

    Zulip lists a free plan; Microsoft Teams does not list one on its official pricing.