Element-web vs Zulip
Element-web and Zulip are both team chat software. Element-web is open source under AGPL-3.0, with 14k GitHub stars. Zulip is open source under Apache-2.0, with 26k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick Element-web when
- You use Matrix and want the most complete client, or want to host your own web client.
- Pick Zulip when
- Your team finds Slack threads chaotic and wants organised, asynchronous conversations, self-hosted or hosted.
Side by side
The Element web and desktop client for Matrix, with encrypted messaging, rooms, threads and calls.
A team chat server and web app built around topic-based threads within channels, with desktop and mobile clients.
Heavy for a chat client, and moved to AGPL.
The topic model takes adjustment, and self-hosted push notifications go through Zulip's paid service for larger teams.
Production-ready (both)
Self-hosted server and desktop app
Self-hosted server, cloud service, desktop app and mobile app
TypeScript and React
Python, Django, TypeScript, PostgreSQL and Redis
Open source, AGPL-3.0 (network copyleft)
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Use inside your business is unrestricted. If you change it and let customers use it over the internet, you must publish your changes.
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
14k GitHub stars
26k GitHub stars
Established: started 11 years ago, latest release v1.12.33.
Established: started 11 years ago, latest release 12.3.
Other comparisons
More team chat apps
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.