Zulip
Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 1 SaaS tool on os-alt
zulip/zulip · alive · ★ 25.2k · last commit today · 2067 open issues
License: Apache-2.0
Good fit for Async teams that hate Slack's flat-channel firehose.
Weak at Cultural shift to topic-threaded chat is the actual blocker, not setup.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli slack prints
the Slack comparison table including Zulip.
how the CLI works →
Replaces these SaaS
- Slack · Team chat
Use the upstream `manage.py convert_slack_data` against a Slack export. Topic-threaded model means channels translate but conversations get re-bucketed; warn users that the topic discipline is a real change.
README badges for the SaaS this replaces
Maintainers and forks: drop a badge in your README to link readers from the SaaS-comparison page back to your repo.
FAQ
Is Zulip actively maintained?
Yes — last commit today. The repository is alive (commit activity within the past 90 days).
What does Zulip cost to self-host?
Zulip is free and open source under Apache-2.0. Typical self-host VPS cost: $10 VPS minimum (their installer wants 2GB+ RAM).
Which SaaS does Zulip replace?
Zulip is listed as an open-source self-host alternative to: Slack.