# Zulip vs Synctrain

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Synctrain at 89% against Zulip's 39%. Synctrain also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Zulip's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Synctrain holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Synctrain has 123 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Zulip's written reviews are positive against 89% of Synctrain's.

Zulip ships an update monthly, Synctrain every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zulip | Synctrain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zulip/id1203036395/reviews) | **[4.9 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synctrain/id6553985316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **123** |
| Positive reviews | 39.3% of reviews | **89.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kandra Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1194159660) | [T-Shaped](https://appshunter.io/developer/1758051723) |

## What reviewers say

### Zulip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zulip/id1203036395)

This app provides organized team chat for groups of any size, enabling users to read and respond to messages in context. It helps maintain focus by allowing users to catch up on topics of interest at their own pace. The application is open-source and available as a cloud service or self-hosted solution.

**Highlights:** Organized team chat, Contextual message reading, Topic-based conversations, Focus maintenance, Open-source software, Cloud and self-hosted options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Synctrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synctrain/id6553985316)

Securely synchronize files and folders between your devices. Stream audio and video directly from other devices.  Manage file sharing permissions to control access to your data.

**Highlights:** Secure file synchronization, Full folder synchronization, Specific file selection, Audio and video streaming, Cross-device file mirroring, Customizable sharing permissions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Seamless sync between devices
- 🔓 Open-source and free
- 💡 Integrates with iOS Files app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🔍 Could use more Apple-like design

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes
- Sync delays on some devices

**Requested features**

- Direct photo/video sync to remote devices
- Faster initial connection to server


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zulip free?

Zulip is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Synctrain free?

Synctrain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Zulip or Synctrain?

Synctrain is rated higher. Zulip averages 3.7 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Synctrain averages 4.9 from 123 ratings.

### Do Zulip or Synctrain have ads?

Neither Zulip nor Synctrain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zulip or Synctrain?

Zulip ships an update monthly, and Synctrain every 6 weeks. Most recently, Zulip was updated on October 16, 2026 and Synctrain on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*