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Security and governance controls catch up to the Copilot build-out
Alternatives · team collaboration tools
Zulip alternatives
The best Zulip alternatives in team collaboration tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Aug 20, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to Zulip? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in team collaboration tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, Zulip shipped 0 meaningful updates in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 5.0 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About Zulip
Zulip donates itself to a nonprofit foundation as its founder joins Anthropic.
Two consequential moves landed inside three weeks. Tim Abbott, Zulip's longtime leader, is stepping back to join Anthropic along with three senior Kandra Labs engineers, and the for-profit company is being donated to a newly formed independent Zulip Foundation. In parallel, Zulip Server 12.0 shipped — roughly 5,500 commits, end-to-end encryption for mobile push notifications, a major Docker upgrade, and configurable image previews — alongside routine 11.x security patches and a self-hosted AI search integration via Atolio.
Velocity 5.0 · Last update 3mo ago
Top 12 alternatives to Zulip
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
COLLAB
Hive keeps tightening the same three seams: planned time, admin control, and AI review scope
COLLAB
Zoho Sign adds the EU's highest signature tier, one week after wiring itself to agents.
PM
Asana's agent left the app — it now answers work questions inside Slack threads.
COLLAB
Secrets get encrypted at rest while the computed-field engine keeps getting shored up
COLLAB
A dated canary most days, with the beta line carrying the same commits later.
COLLAB
SiYuan stabilises 3.8.1 after a seven-build beta run, all of it widening the agent surface it opened in 3.8.0
COLLAB
Simpplr publishes the research that names the gap, then ships the product that closes it.
COLLAB
Document360 rebuilt its API for agents; now it's turning the AI inward on authoring.
PM
Every release now lands on the agent: what triggers it, what it can reach, what it costs.
COLLAB
Double is turning its accounting assistant into the way the work gets done
COLLAB
Komga is rewriting its web UI in the open, shipping the beta alongside the old one.
Zulip vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zulip (baseline) | 5.0 | 0 | governance-transitionself-hosted-chatend-to-end-encryption | Announcing the Zulip Foundation |
| GitHub | 10.0 | 0 | copilotenterprise-governancecode-scanning | — |
| Hive | 10.0 | 0 | project-managementai-proofingtime-tracking | — |
| Zoho Sign | 7.5 | 2 | e-signatureeidasregional-compliance | Introducing qualified electronic signatures via SIGN8 for the EU |
| Asana | 7.5 | 2 | ai-teammatesslackcollaborative-docs | 🎉 @mention Asana in Slack to create tasks and get answers |
| Teable | 6.3 | 1 | no-code-databaseai-skillssecrets-encryption | Teable adds admin-governed org-wide and space-shared Skills |
| AFFiNE | 6.3 | 0 | knowledge-basecanary-buildsself-hosting | — |
| SiYuan | 6.3 | 0 | knowledge-managementai-agentmcp | — |
| Simpplr | 6.3 | 1 | employee experienceintranetrecognition | Rewards Store ships, adding redemption to recognition |
| Document360 | 6.3 | 1 | apioauthmcp | API v3 rebuild adds OAuth 2.0 and scoped API keys |
| Notion | 6.3 | 1 | ai agentsautomationworkers | AI Meeting Notes can now trigger Custom Agents |
| Double | 6.3 | 1 | accounting-automationai-assistantworkpapers | Ask Double reaches Slack, Notion and CRM data in private beta |
| Komga | 6.3 | 1 | self-hostedfrontend-rewritecomics-manga | NextUI beta: a parallel rewrite of the Komga web interface |
The 12 best Zulip alternatives, in depth
1. GitHub · velocity 10.0
Security and governance controls catch up to the Copilot build-out.
Its velocity score of 10.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, GitHub focuses on copilot, enterprise governance and code scanning.
GitHub and Zulip have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
2. Hive · velocity 10.0
Hive keeps tightening the same three seams: planned time, admin control, and AI review scope.
Its velocity score of 10.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Hive focuses on project management, ai proofing and time tracking.
Hive and Zulip have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
3. Zoho Sign · velocity 7.5
Zoho Sign adds the EU's highest signature tier, one week after wiring itself to agents.
Over the last 30 days Zoho Sign shipped 2 meaningful updates vs Zulip's 0, most recently “Introducing qualified electronic signatures via SIGN8 for the EU”. Its velocity score of 7.5/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Zoho Sign focuses on e signature, eidas and regional compliance.
Over the last 30 days Zoho Sign has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
4. Asana · velocity 7.5
Asana's agent left the app — it now answers work questions inside Slack threads.
Over the last 30 days Asana shipped 2 meaningful updates vs Zulip's 0, most recently “🎉 @mention Asana in Slack to create tasks and get answers”. Its velocity score of 7.5/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Asana focuses on ai teammates, slack and collaborative docs.
Over the last 30 days Asana has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
5. Teable · velocity 6.3
Secrets get encrypted at rest while the computed-field engine keeps getting shored up.
Over the last 30 days Teable shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “Teable adds admin-governed org-wide and space-shared Skills”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Teable focuses on no code database, ai skills and secrets encryption.
Over the last 30 days Teable has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
6. AFFiNE · velocity 6.3
A dated canary most days, with the beta line carrying the same commits later.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, AFFiNE focuses on knowledge base, canary builds and self hosting.
AFFiNE and Zulip have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
7. SiYuan · velocity 6.3
SiYuan stabilises 3.8.1 after a seven-build beta run, all of it widening the agent surface it opened in 3.8.0.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, SiYuan focuses on knowledge management, ai agent and mcp.
SiYuan and Zulip have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
8. Simpplr · velocity 6.3
Simpplr publishes the research that names the gap, then ships the product that closes it.
Over the last 30 days Simpplr shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “Rewards Store ships, adding redemption to recognition”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Simpplr focuses on employee experience, intranet and recognition.
Over the last 30 days Simpplr has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
9. Document360 · velocity 6.3
Document360 rebuilt its API for agents; now it's turning the AI inward on authoring.
Over the last 30 days Document360 shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “API v3 rebuild adds OAuth 2.0 and scoped API keys”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Document360 focuses on api, oauth and mcp.
Over the last 30 days Document360 has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
Full Document360 trajectory → · Compare Zulip vs Document360 →
10. Notion · velocity 6.3
Every release now lands on the agent: what triggers it, what it can reach, what it costs.
Over the last 30 days Notion shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “AI Meeting Notes can now trigger Custom Agents”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Notion focuses on ai agents, automation and workers.
Over the last 30 days Notion has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
11. Double · velocity 6.3
Double is turning its accounting assistant into the way the work gets done.
Over the last 30 days Double shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “Ask Double reaches Slack, Notion and CRM data in private beta”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Double focuses on accounting automation, ai assistant and workpapers.
Over the last 30 days Double has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
12. Komga · velocity 6.3
Komga is rewriting its web UI in the open, shipping the beta alongside the old one.
Over the last 30 days Komga shipped 1 meaningful update vs Zulip's 0, most recently “NextUI beta: a parallel rewrite of the Komga web interface”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Zulip leans on governance transition, self hosted chat and end to end encryption, Komga focuses on self hosted, frontend rewrite and comics manga.
Over the last 30 days Komga has been shipping faster than Zulip — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Zulip?
The top Zulip alternatives we currently track in team collaboration tools are GitHub, Hive, Zoho Sign, Asana, Teable, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of Zulip alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare Zulip directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with Zulip" link to a side-by-side /compare page.