Skip to content
English
More support
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Overview of Zello Work

This article is written for: ✅ Zello Work  ❌ Zello Friends & Family.

Zello Work is an enterprise-grade, managed push-to-talk (PTT) communication platform that connects frontline and operations teams instantly, from a single site to global deployments of tens of thousands of users across multiple countries. Built for organizations of any size, including large and compliance-sensitive enterprises, it turns any smartphone, tablet, or desktop into a secure business radio. Zello Work delivers 10 billion voice messages a month at 99.99% historical uptime and is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified, with options for cloud hosting or fully on-premise deployment.

What is Zello Work?

Zello Work is a subscription push-to-talk service that gives your organization a private, managed communication network. Users press one button to talk and are heard instantly by an individual or an entire channel, over Wi-Fi or cellular data, with no range limits and no radio towers to lease.

Unlike the free Zello Friends & Family app, Zello Work provides a private network with full administrative control, dedicated business-grade infrastructure, and enterprise features such as centralized management, Single Sign-On, Message Vault, and an on-premise deployment option. Zello Work runs on Android, iOS, and Dispatch Hub (the Windows and macOS desktop app), all managed from a web-based Admin Management Console.

Zello Work is available in Core and Plus plans, with custom enterprise agreements for larger organizations. Core covers essential PTT functionality; Plus adds advanced capabilities like transcriptions, Message Vault, and Emergency Alerts. Compare plans and pricing.

How do I set up Zello Work?

Getting started takes just a few steps:

  1. Sign up online for a free 14-day trial network (no payment information required; the trial includes all Plus features and supports up to 100 users).
  2. Create user accounts and channels in the Admin Management Console.
  3. Download and install the app on your users' devices, then invite users by email, SMS, or SignOn link.
  4. Start communicating.
  5. Choose the Core or Plus plan that fits your needs when you're ready to subscribe.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions, see the Getting Started Guide for Zello Work.

How does Zello Work scale?

Zello Work supports organizations of any size, from a single team to large, multi-site deployments. Its capacity and deployment options include:

  • No limit on the number of users you can add to a channel.
  • Up to 7,000 users can be active and connected at the same time in a single channel.
  • Unlimited channels per network.
  • Dedicated, business-grade server infrastructure with regional servers for lower latency, separate from the free consumer service.
  • Bulk onboarding through user import, user cloning, SignOn links, SSO, and MDM provisioning.
  • A choice of cloud hosting or on-premise deployment via Zello Enterprise Server (ZES).

For details on adding users at scale, see provisioning via MDM and Single Sign-On setup.

What's included with Zello Work?

Every Zello Work plan includes the core building blocks for reliable team communication:

  • Web-based Admin Management Console to create and manage users, channels, and devices, with live user-status monitoring
  • Client apps for Android, iOS, and Dispatch Hub (Windows and macOS desktop)
  • Cloud hosting or on-premise deployment via Zello Enterprise Server (ZES)
  • Radio (LMR) integration through Zello Bridge, connecting existing two-way radios to Zello users
  • Strong encryption of all communications (see the security section below)
  • Unlimited channels and no limit on channel membership
  • Availability statuses: Available, Busy, Standby, and Offline
  • Live location tracking
  • Call and channel alerts, with persistent alerts and optional text
  • Ad-hoc group conversations created on the fly
  • Voice, text, and image messaging
  • Broad accessory compatibility: Bluetooth and wired PTT buttons, speaker-mics, and rugged devices (approved accessories)
  • Flexible subscriptions: add or reduce users at any time, and pause or cancel when you need to

How does Zello Work keep communications secure and compliant?

Zello Work is built to meet the requirements of security- and compliance-sensitive enterprises:

  • Independently certified: Zello Work is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified. Review our controls and request reports at the Zello Trust Center.
  • Encrypted communications: Zello Work uses 256-bit AES for audio and call alerts, TLS 1.2/1.3 for control traffic, and 1024-bit RSA for authentication and key exchange. Channel messages are encrypted from sender to server and server to recipient; 1:1 messages are end-to-end encrypted (except where Message Vault is enabled, in which case they're encrypted sender-to-server and server-to-recipient). See full encryption specifications.
  • Private by design: you control exactly who can join your network and who can communicate with whom.
  • Audit logging: all administrative actions taken in the Management Console are captured in a searchable audit trail.
  • Records retention: Message Vault archives voice, text, image, and location messages in the cloud for up to two years, with exportable CSV records for archival and compliance policies.

How do enterprises deploy and manage Zello Work?

Zello Work includes the administration and integration tooling large organizations expect:

  • Single Sign-On (SSO): authenticate users through Google, Okta, Microsoft Entra (Azure), Oracle, IBM, and PingFederate on iOS, Android, Dispatch Hub, and the Management Console (set up SSO).
  • MDM provisioning: deploy and pre-configure accounts at scale using the AppConfig standard supported by all major MDM providers (provisioning via MDM).
  • Centralized administration: manage users, channels, roles, templates, and device settings from one console; onboard users in bulk with import, cloning, and SignOn links.
  • Dispatch Hub: a Windows and macOS desktop app that gives dispatchers shared call queues, 1:1 driver communication, integrated maps, and dispatch analytics (Dispatch Hub).
  • APIs and SDK: integrate Zello into your own systems with the Channel and Server APIs, and embed PTT directly into your apps with the Mobile SDK for iOS, Android, and React Native (developer tools).
  • On-premise / Zello Enterprise Server (ZES): host Zello entirely on your own infrastructure for maximum control, air-gapped environments, or strict data-residency requirements (ZES overview).

What advanced and premium features are available?

For networks that need more, Zello Work's Plus tier and add-ons include:

  • Message Vault: cloud archival, playback, and export of all network messages, plus usage analytics
  • Premium Maps: real-time tracking with Google Maps, traffic data, and historical breadcrumb trails
  • Emergency Alerts: a dedicated SOS button that sends an alert, live audio, and location to a designated emergency channel, purpose-built for lone-worker and hazardous environments
  • Transcriptions & Translations: searchable text from voice messages
  • Crosslink: connect your network with other companies' Zello Work networks
  • User roles, templates, and tags: fine-grained permissions and delegated (sub-admin) management for large, structured organizations

Premium features such as Message Vault, Premium Maps, and Emergency Alerts may be available for an additional charge depending on your plan. Compare Core and Plus plans.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zello Work only for small teams? No. Zello Work scales from a single team to enterprise deployments of tens of thousands of users across multiple sites and countries. It supports unlimited channels, up to 7,000 active and connected users per channel, dedicated regional server infrastructure, and enterprise tooling such as SSO, MDM provisioning, and on-premise hosting.

What's the difference between Zello Work and the free Zello app? Zello Work is a paid, private, managed network for organizations, with a central admin console, dedicated business-grade servers, enterprise security certifications, and advanced features. The free Zello Friends & Family app is a non-commercial consumer product; using it for business violates Zello's Terms of Service. See a full comparison.

Is Zello Work secure and compliant? Yes. Zello Work is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified, encrypts all communications, provides audit logging, and offers Message Vault retention for up to two years. Documentation is available at the Zello Trust Center.

What devices does Zello Work run on? Zello Work runs on Android and iOS phones and tablets, and on Windows and macOS desktops via Dispatch Hub. It's managed from any browser through the web-based Admin Management Console and integrates with existing two-way radios through Zello Bridge.

Can I try Zello Work before subscribing? Yes. You can create a free 14-day trial network with no payment information required. The trial includes all Plus features and supports up to 100 users. See the Getting Started Guide.

Can Zello Work be hosted on our own servers? Yes. In addition to Zello's cloud, Zello Enterprise Server (ZES) lets you host your entire Zello environment on-premise for maximum control and offline or air-gapped operation.