# Kanidm vs Zulip

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Kanidm | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 67/100 | 82/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #3 of 3 in IAM | #1 of 110 in Chat |
| GitHub stars | 5 512 | 26 133 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +108 | +190 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 ✓ | 6 |
| Latest release | v1.11.2 · 11 Sept 2026 | 12.3 · 21 Sept 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Rust | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Zulip scores 82/100 against 67/100 for Kanidm, so it is the safer default.

Kanidm ships more often: 14 stable releases in the past year, against 6 for Zulip.

If you want the quickest setup, Zulip is easier to run; Kanidm needs more configuration.

## Details

- [Kanidm](https://selfhost.directory/project/kanidm) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/kanidm.md)
- [Zulip](https://selfhost.directory/project/zulip) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/zulip.md)

## Related comparisons

- [Discourse vs Zulip](https://selfhost.directory/compare/discourse-vs-zulip)
- [Rocket.Chat vs Zulip](https://selfhost.directory/compare/rocketchat-vs-zulip)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/kanidm-vs-zulip