# Mattermost vs Zulip

> Pick Mattermost if you want Slack-style channels with DevOps workflows and enterprise options; pick Zulip if you want topic-based threading and a fully Apache-2.0 server.

## Verdict

Mattermost suits engineering organizations that want Slack-like chat with playbooks, integrations and a commercial support path. Zulip is the better choice for async or distributed teams and open-source communities, since its topic model keeps long-running conversations readable and the server has no proprietary edition split.

- Best for Mattermost: Engineering organizations that want Slack-style chat with DevOps workflows
- Best for Zulip: Async teams and communities that need organized, topic-based threads

## Key differences

| Aspect | Mattermost | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| License | Source under AGPL-3.0 (or commercial), admin tools Apache-2.0, official binaries MIT; paid editions add features | Apache-2.0 |
| Language/stack | Go server with a React webapp, PostgreSQL | Python (Django) with PostgreSQL |
| Conversation model | Channels with reply threads, similar to Slack | Streams split into named topics; every message belongs to a topic |
| Standout features | Playbooks, GitLab and Jira integrations, calls plugin | Topic-based threading, powerful search and narrowing, many integrations, Slack import |
| Mobile apps | Official Android and iOS apps plus desktop apps | Official Android and iOS apps plus desktop apps |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | Mattermost | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 39,271 | 25,998 |
| Forks | 9,036 | 10,353 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 1,913 | 4,853 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Latest release | v11.11.1 | 12.3 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| License type | Open source | Open source |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Docker image | Yes | No |
| Repository | https://github.com/mattermost/mattermost | https://github.com/zulip/zulip |

App pages: [Mattermost](https://appsgit.com/apps/mattermost), [Zulip](https://appsgit.com/apps/zulip)

## FAQ

### Can I import Slack history into either?

Yes. Both Mattermost and Zulip provide importers for Slack exports, so you can bring channels and message history with you.

### Which is better for open-source communities?

Zulip is widely used by open-source projects because topics keep async discussion organized and the software is fully Apache-2.0.

### Does Mattermost have paid features?

Yes. Mattermost offers paid editions with additional compliance, security and administration features on top of the free self-hosted version.

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