Zulip Cloud billing

This page answers some frequently asked questions about Zulip Cloud plans and pricing. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out at sales@zulip.com.

Upgrade to a Zulip Cloud Standard or Plus plan

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Plans and pricing.

  3. Under the Cloud Standard pricing plan, click Upgrade to Standard.

  4. Select your preferred option from the Payment schedule dropdown.

  5. Click Add card to enter your payment details.

  6. Click Purchase Zulip Cloud Standard.

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Plans and pricing.

  3. Under the Cloud Plus pricing plan, click Contact sales.

Manage billing

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Billing.

Cancel paid plan

If you cancel your plan, your organization will be downgraded to Zulip Cloud Free at the end of the current billing period.

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Billing.

  3. At the bottom of the page, click Cancel plan.

  4. Click Downgrade to confirm.

Apply for sponsorship

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Click the Request sponsorship link at the top of the gear menu.

  3. Fill out the requested information, and click Submit.

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Click the Request education pricing link at the top of the gear menu.

  3. Fill out the requested information, and click Submit.

Differences between Zulip Cloud plans

How does having 10,000 messages of search history on Zulip Cloud Free work?

Only the most recent 10,000 messages can be viewed and searched on the Zulip Cloud Free plan. Older messages are still stored and will become available again if the organization is upgraded to Zulip Cloud Standard.

Will you switch to limiting Zulip Cloud Free history to messages sent in the last 90 days (like Slack has)?

No. As discussed in this blog post, a time-based limit to message history is simply a bad model for a collaboration tool.

Payment methods

Can I pay by credit card and/or invoice?

You can always use a credit card to pay. If you would like to pay by invoice, you will need to sign up for an annual plan.

What is the difference between automatic and manual billing?

With automatic billing, you automatically purchase a Zulip license for each user in your organization at the start of each billing period (month or year). Deactivating a user frees up their license for reuse. Additional licenses are purchased automatically as needed.

With manual billing, you choose and pay for a preset user limit. If he limit is reached, no more users can join until licenses are manually added.

In general, selecting automatic billing is highly recommended unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise.

Manually manage licenses

If you organization is on a manual billing plan, you can manage the number of licenses on your organization's billing page.

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Billing.

  3. Modify Number of licenses for current billing period or Number of licenses for next billing period, and click Update.

You can only increase the number of licenses for the current billing period.

Temporary users and guests

How will I be charged for temporary users (e.g. limited-time clients)?

Users can be deactivated any time. Deactivating a user frees up their license for reuse.

How are guest accounts billed? Is there special pricing?

For an organization with N other users, 5*N guest users are included at no extra charge. After that, you will be charged at 1/5 of your regular per-user pricing for each additional guest.