Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zulip VS Signal

Compare Zulip VS Signal and see what are their differences

Zulip logo Zulip

Chat for distributed teams. Zulip combines the immediacy of real-time chat with an email threading model. With Zulip, you can catch up on important conversations while ignoring irrelevant ones.

Signal logo Signal

Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.
  • Zulip Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • Signal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20

Zulip features and specs

  • Threaded Conversations
    Zulip's unique approach to messaging allows users to conduct separate threaded conversations within the same channel, making it easier to follow and manage multiple discussions simultaneously.
  • Open Source
    Zulip is open-source software, meaning you can modify and self-host it, providing greater flexibility and control over your communication environment.
  • Powerful Search
    Zulip offers a robust search functionality that allows users to quickly find messages, files, and details across channels and threads, improving efficiency.
  • Integrations
    Zulip supports a wide variety of integrations with other tools and services, enhancing productivity and ensuring seamless workflows.
  • Cross-Platform
    Zulip is available on multiple platforms, including web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android), ensuring accessibility and convenience.
  • Granular Notification Settings
    Users have comprehensive control over notification settings, allowing them to manage their time and focus better by receiving only the alerts they need.
  • Scalability
    Zulip is designed to handle a large number of users and messages, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes.
  • Security
    Zulip offers robust security features, including end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and compliance with various industry standards.

Possible disadvantages of Zulip

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    New users may find the interface and the concept of threaded conversations initially challenging to grasp compared to more traditional chat apps.
  • Limited Market Adoption
    Zulip is not as widely adopted as other chat platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, which might limit its support ecosystem and community resources.
  • Less Familiar UX
    Users accustomed to mainstream chat applications may find Zulip's user experience less intuitive, requiring time to adapt.
  • Integration Complexity
    While integrations are a strong point, implementing and managing these integrations can sometimes be complex and require additional technical expertise.
  • Mobile App Experience
    Some users report that the mobile app experience is less polished compared to the desktop or web versions, which can be frustrating for heavily mobile-dependent users.
  • Feature Volume
    The abundance of features can sometimes be overwhelming for users who only need basic chat functionality, potentially leading to a cluttered interface.

Signal features and specs

  • End-to-End Encryption
    Signal uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. This makes it highly secure against eavesdropping.
  • Open Source
    Signal's code is open source, allowing anyone to inspect, audit, and improve it. This transparency helps to build trust and ensure the security of the platform.
  • User Privacy
    Signal is designed to collect minimal data from its users. It does not store metadata about contacts, messages, or user activity, thereby prioritizing user privacy.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Signal is available on a variety of platforms including iOS, Android, and desktop, making it accessible to a broad range of users.
  • Multi-purpose Usage
    Beyond just text messaging, Signal supports voice and video calls, as well as file sharing, making it a versatile communication tool.

Possible disadvantages of Signal

  • Limited User Base
    Compared to more popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Signal has a smaller user base, which may limit its utility as a communication tool.
  • Dependence on Phone Number
    Signal requires users to register with a phone number, which can be a privacy concern for some people who prefer not to share their number.
  • Backup Limitations
    Signal does not offer cloud backups for messages, which means users have to rely on local backups that can be more cumbersome to manage.
  • User Interface
    Some users find Signal's user interface to be less polished and user-friendly compared to other mainstream messaging apps.
  • Notification Issues
    There have been reports of unreliable notifications that can result in missed messages or calls, potentially impacting the user experience.

Analysis of Zulip

Overall verdict

  • Zulip is a solid option for teams looking for a more structured and organized communication platform, especially if threading and open-source flexibility are priorities.

Why this product is good

  • Zulip is considered a good choice for team communication due to its unique threading model, which allows for more organized discussions. It helps prevent conversations from getting jumbled together, as often happens in other chat platforms. Additionally, Zulip is open-source, providing more control and customization options for users, and it integrates with numerous tools to enhance productivity. Its user-friendly interface and robust search capabilities also contribute to a positive user experience.

Recommended for

    Zulip is recommended for organizations and teams that value open-source software, require structured threading for discussions, and want to maintain organized communication channels. It's also ideal for remote teams or any group that engages in complex, multi-topic dialogues.

Analysis of Signal

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Signal is generally considered a good messaging app.

Why this product is good

  • Signal is known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the communicating users can read the messages. The app is open-source, which allows for external audits of its code, providing transparency. It does not collect metadata or user data beyond what is necessary for the operation of the service.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious individuals who prioritize secure communication.
  • Journalists and activists who require confidential communications.
  • Users who prefer open-source software.
  • Anyone seeking a simple and user-friendly secure messaging app.

Zulip videos

Zulip - a Free, Open Source, Self Hosted Alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams Chat.

More videos:

Signal videos

Why We Should All Be Using Signal Messenger

More videos:

  • Review - WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal: Which is the BEST?!
  • Review - THE SIGNAL: explained

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zulip and Signal)
Communication
25 25%
75% 75
Group Chat & Notifications
Messaging
24 24%
76% 76
Instant Messaging
22 22%
78% 78

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Zulip and Signal

Zulip Reviews

7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Zulip is a team chat and communication tool that allows business teams to collaborate efficiently. It is an open-source tool and offers a unique thread-based model that allows topic-based discussions internally. So, it is easy to coordinate multiple projects and hold virtual discussions with cross-functional teams.
Source: www.rocket.chat
12 Best Self-hosted Chat Platforms For Team Communication
Zulipโ€™s team chat platform acts like a moderator in sending in only relevant messages and ignoring the spamming ones. It follows a threading model and hence topic-based chats are seamlessly possible.
Zulip 5.0: Threaded open-source team chat
Zulip for Education. We have seen more and more educators using Zulip as the communication hub for their classes. Zulipโ€™s threading model makes it a great fit for posting lecture notes and announcements, answering studentsโ€™ questions, and coordinating with teaching staff all in one place. In response to interest from educators, we have launched a dedicated Zulip for...
Source: blog.zulip.com
Top 10 Team Chat Software for a Self-Hosted environment specifically designed for Large Enterprises
Catch upon only important conversations and ignore irrelevant ones, is what Zulip says. Open-Source software that was built by hundreds of developers across the globe. The self-hosted delivery model specifically designed for Large Entities provides an excellent production installation guide that lets users deploy it on their networks. Besides its 90 native integrations,...
Zulip Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions Do you have special plans for open source projects, non-profits, groups of friends, and other non-commercial entities? Does Zulip scale to a large number of users? Can I pay by credit card and/or invoice? Can I start on Zulip Cloud and later move to On-Premise? How are guest users billed? Who can I contact if I have further questions?
Source: zulipchat.com

Signal Reviews

7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Signal offers a secure instant messaging platform for businesses and others concerned about privacy. On Signal, business teams communicate one-on-one or in groups through text, voice, or video calls. The software is open-source and the server, mobile, and desktop client is published through AGPL v3.0 restrictive license. All data and messages are end-to-end encrypted.
Source: www.rocket.chat
20 Telegram Alternatives to Chat With in 2024
Signal is not a broadcasting app (although it does have a stories feature), nor is it a community-building app. It's a simple messaging Telegram alternative for those wanting to chat with friends.
10 Best Secure Messaging Apps to Keep Your Conversation Private
In our comparison between Signal vs Telegram vs WhatsApp, we found that Signal is the most secure messaging app out there. Signal uses the gold standard, open-source Signal Protocol to implement end-to-end encryption. And it implements E2E encryption on all forms of communication on Signalโ€“ be it voice/video calls, chat messages, media, or audio clips.
Source: beebom.com
10 Best Telegram Alternatives in 2024
Signal is an alternative Telegram app which was first developed in the year 2014 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, Signal was launched after whatsapp and after its launch various organizations shifted their work to Signal from Whatsapp due to its highly secured and safe features than any other app.
Top 10 Apps like Telegram for Android and IOs [2023]
Signal is a messaging program that offers all the features you would anticipate from a modern instant messaging app, with a heavy focus on privacy. Signal is one of the safest messaging apps on the market thanks to its open-source architecture, end-to-end encryption, and commitment to never accumulating user data. If you're seeking secure apps like Telegram, Signal's...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Signal should be more popular than Zulip. It has been mentiond 185 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Zulip mentions (60)

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Signal mentions (185)

  • Build a Signal Clone with React Native and Stream - Part One
    Ever wondered how popular messaging apps like Signal manage features such as real-time chat, voice calls, and video chat? In this tutorial, we'll build our own Signal-inspired messaging app using React Native, with Clerk handling authentication and Stream powering real-time chat and calls. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Magic of software; what makes a good engineer also makes a good engineering org
    This is the Moxie that created Signal.[0] I'm pointing this out because people are acting like he's a bit naive. But Moxie has built a very successful company, without the need for VCs, and the tech is used by many big tech companies. Several use the signal protocol. It's a successful nonprofit building open source software. If your focus is to make large amounts of money, maybe his isn't the best advice. But if... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Rely less on Third-Party Services
    Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messenger,. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • How to Make a Product Secure: A Developer's Perspective
    Signal: This messaging app is built with end-to-end encryption at its core. Itโ€™s open-source, allowing experts worldwide to audit its security protocols. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • 3G Cell Service Has a HUGE Security Flaw. ๐Ÿซข
    Well, the best thing you can do right now is stop using cell service (particularly 3G networks) whenever possible. For texting and phone calls, use an encrypted internet based service, like Signal or WhatsApp. Use authenticator apps or passkeys for two-factor authentication instead of your phone number. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Zulip and Signal, you can also consider the following products

Slack - A messaging app for teams who see through the Earth!

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. Itโ€™s superfast, simple and free.

Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

Mattermost - Mattermost is an open source alternative to Slack.

WhatsApp - WhatsApp Messenger: More than 1 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere.

Tox - Send messages, files, create groups and make Tox to Tox audio and video calls. Securely.