TeamSpeak vs Zello (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Zello grades higher than TeamSpeak: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Zello grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Zello
Push-to-talk voice messaging for frontline teams
Which one is for you
Pick TeamSpeak if
- Fits if you run a gaming group and want your own voice server
- Works for admins who want hosting choices, self-run or rented
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price before you commit, as none is published
- Watch out: TeamSpeak 6 clients and the TS6 server are marked beta
- Watch out: server licences for TeamSpeak 6 are listed as coming soon
- Watch out: the site says every server has end-to-end encryption, and we did not verify that
- Not for you if you want a web version, as none is listed
Pick Zello if
- Fits if you run drivers, crews or shifts that need to talk at the push of a button
- Works for teams that want location tracking next to voice
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you want transcription, translation, AI or message storage, which need Plus at $12.75
- Skip it if you want a free plan, since there is only a 14-day trial
- Watch out: SSO, MDM sign-in and on-premise servers are Enterprise only, sold through sales
- Skip it if you want a browser version, as none is listed
How we grade them
| 2.0GPATeamSpeakFair | 2.2GPAZelloFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices are published: TeamSpeak 6 server licences are listed as coming soon and business terms are by contact, so there is nothing to compare to the $7 middle of team-chat tools. | CCore is $6.80 per user a month billed yearly, near the $7 middle. Plus is $12.75, right at the top quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | DThe site mentions a free trial for hosted Communities, but its length, limits and card terms were not readable. There is no free plan on record. | C14-day trial with no card, and no free plan. First responders may qualify for free use. |
| Features | CLow-latency voice, permissions and channels, a TeamSpeak 6 client with screen sharing, and a business SDK. TeamSpeak 6 clients and the server are beta. | CLive voice, channels, an admin console, location and an API. Storage, transcription, translation and panic buttons need Plus. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You run or rent a server and set it up before you can talk. | CNo rating on record. An admin sets up the network, channels and users. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android clients, plus a business SDK. No web version is listed. | BiPhone, Android, Windows and Mac, with an API and SDK. No web version. |
| Best for | voice chat for gaming groups on your own server | push-to-talk for frontline teams |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: TeamSpeak and Zello. How we grade
Where they differ
- TeamSpeak is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- TeamSpeak also covers video calls.
- Zello also covers transcription.
At a glance
| TeamSpeak | Zello | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $6.80 per user / month, billed yearly ($8.00 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14 days free, no credit card required. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | TeamSpeak Systems, Inc. | Zello Inc. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | zello.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
TeamSpeak
- No prices are published: TeamSpeak 6 server licenses are listed as coming soon, and business and SDK terms are by contact.
- TeamSpeak 6 clients and the TS6 server are marked beta on the downloads and licensing pages.
- The site says every server has end-to-end encryption; independent verification was not part of this read.
- Officially hosted Communities need no hardware, and the site mentions a free trial, but plan terms were not readable.
Zello
- Transcription, translation, AI features, message storage and panic buttons need the Plus plan.
- SSO, MDM sign-in and on-premise servers are Enterprise only, sold through sales.
- The pricing page says Zello is free for qualifying first responders.
- Built around voice on phones and desktops; there is no browser version in the platform list.
Key features
TeamSpeak
- Low-latency voice
- The site pitches ultra-low latency and an Opus codec with automatic quality adjustment, noise reduction and echo cancellation.
- Permissions and channels
- Server owners set up channels and a permission system to decide who can join, speak and administer, on their own or a hosted server.
- TeamSpeak 6 client
- The beta client adds community discovery, group and direct messaging, file sharing, and one-to-one voice and video calls.
- Screen sharing
- The home page lists screen sharing at 4K and 60 frames per second, marked beta.
- Hosting choices
- Run a TeamSpeak 6 server beta on Linux, Windows or Docker, host through TeamSpeak Communities, or use an authorized provider for TeamSpeak 3.
- Business SDK
- An SDK embeds TeamSpeak voice into software, apps or games, with plugins for Unreal Engine and Unity, sold through the business team.
Zello
- Live push-to-talk
- Hold a button to send voice live to one person or a channel, with texts and photos in the same conversation.
- Channels and admin console
- Unlimited channels on every plan, managed from a console. Multiple admins, sub-admin permissions and bulk import are listed in the plan comparison.
- Location tracking
- Real-time location on a map from Core; historical breadcrumb tracking and Google Maps traffic are in the comparison table for higher plans.
- Transcription and translation
- Plus converts voice messages to text and translates them. The vendor also lists AI summaries and a knowledge-base assistant.
- Dispatch tools
- A Dispatch Hub for PC and Mac, a shared call queue and channel analytics for teams with a dispatcher.
- Emergency alerts and Message Vault
- Panic buttons send a channel-wide alert with audio and location; Message Vault stores communications in the cloud for review.
Plans
TeamSpeak
Pricing could not be confirmed. See teamspeak.com.
Zello
Core$6.80
per user / month, billed yearly ($8.00 billed monthly)
Live voice, text and photo messages, unlimited channels, a management console, real-time location tracking and API and SDK access.
Plus$12.75
per user / month, billed yearly ($15.00 billed monthly)
Everything in Core, plus message storage, panic buttons, transcriptions and translations, AI summaries, an AI assistant and location history.
EnterpriseCustom
Sold through sales. Adds an account manager, SSO and MDM sign-in, automated user provisioning, on-premise server options and priority support.
Ways to pay less
TeamSpeak
No public discounts listed.
Zello
- Annual discount
15% off with yearly billing
The pricing page shows a Bill yearly toggle marked -15%: Core is $6.80 yearly against $8.00 monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, TeamSpeak or Zello?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TeamSpeak has no price we could confirm, and Zello starts at $6.80 per user / month, billed yearly ($8.00 billed monthly).
Which has a free plan, TeamSpeak or Zello?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither TeamSpeak nor Zello has a free plan. Zello has a free trial.
Which platforms do TeamSpeak and Zello run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only TeamSpeak lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.