Azul Platform Core (Zulu)
Java Development Kit (JDK) distributions
Application development software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
Take the quiz to check if Azul Platform Core (Zulu) and its alternatives fit your requirements.
Contact the product provider
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Real estate and property management
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Banking and insurance
What is Azul Platform Core (Zulu)
Azul Platform Core (Zulu) is a distribution of OpenJDK that provides Java runtimes and development kits for building and running Java applications. It targets enterprises and developers that need a supported JDK across common operating systems, CPU architectures, and deployment environments (including servers, desktops, and containers). Zulu focuses on providing long-term support options and commercially supported builds while remaining compatible with standard Java tooling and bytecode.
Commercial support options
Zulu is available with vendor-backed support offerings, which can help organizations that require SLAs, security guidance, and predictable maintenance. This is relevant for regulated environments where internal support for a community build is not sufficient. It also provides a clear escalation path for JVM-related issues compared with purely community-supported distributions.
Broad platform coverage
Zulu provides builds for multiple operating systems and CPU architectures, supporting common enterprise deployment targets. This helps standardize Java versions across heterogeneous fleets and CI/CD pipelines. It can reduce the operational overhead of maintaining different JDK sources for different environments.
OpenJDK compatibility focus
Zulu is designed to be a drop-in OpenJDK distribution, maintaining compatibility with standard Java specifications and common build tools. This supports portability of Java applications across environments without code changes. It also simplifies migration from other OpenJDK-based distributions when organizations want a different support model.
Support may require subscription
While binaries may be available without cost in some cases, enterprise-grade support and certain lifecycle assurances typically come through paid offerings. Organizations that only need a free, community-supported JDK may find the commercial model unnecessary. Budget and procurement requirements can add friction compared with using a purely community-governed distribution.
Not a specialized JVM
Zulu is primarily a standard OpenJDK distribution rather than a JVM optimized for specific low-latency or high-throughput workloads. Teams seeking specialized garbage collection behavior or performance features beyond mainstream OpenJDK may need a different product line or additional tuning work. As a result, performance differentiation depends largely on upstream OpenJDK capabilities and configuration.
Lifecycle varies by build
Availability of updates and end-of-life timelines can differ by Java version and the specific Zulu package/support tier. This can require careful version planning to align application roadmaps with supported releases. Organizations should validate update cadence and support duration for each target Java version before standardizing.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Azul Zulu (Zulu Builds of OpenJDK) | Free — download and use | 100% open source OpenJDK builds; free quarterly updates; drop-in replacement for Oracle Java SE; multiple Java versions and platforms supported. |
| Azul Platform Core (formerly Zulu Enterprise / Embedded) | Contact sales — "Request a quote" on Azul site | Dedicated 24/7 support, SLA-backed quarterly updates, stabilized security-only builds, out-of-cycle critical fixes, patent & non-contamination indemnification, feature enhancements (e.g., FIPS 140-2, MIPS support), tiered support (Standard, Premium). Price not published on vendor site. |
| Azul Platform Prime | Contact sales — "Request a quote" on Azul site | Includes Platform Core features plus enhanced OpenJDK build for higher throughput and Optimizer Hub; marketed as higher-performance tier; price not published. |
Seller details
Azul Systems, Inc.
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
2002
Private
https://www.azul.com/
https://x.com/azulsystems
https://www.linkedin.com/company/azul-systems/
