Communication
Viber
VoIP and instant messaging software.
What it is
Rakuten Viber is a phone-number-based consumer messaging and calling service for mobile, desktop and tablet. Core app-to-app messaging and calling are free, while Viber Out uses purchased credit or automatically renewing monthly plans to call ordinary mobile and landline numbers. One-to-one chats, ordinary groups and one-to-one voice/video calls use end-to-end encryption on current clients. That protection does not extend to Communities, Channels, bot chats, group voice/video calls or paid Viber Out calls, which have different participant and delivery models. Viber also warns that Viber Out connectivity issues may occur in Turkey and several other countries.
Viber pricing
Viber does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Free tier available.
Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-08-24. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget. Price verification log.
Key features
Private messaging
Provides one-to-one and group chat with media, calls and current-client end-to-end encryption.
Communities and Channels
Supports large interactive communities and administrator-led broadcasts without end-to-end encryption.
Viber Out
Uses paid credit or renewable plans for internet-originated calls to eligible telephone numbers.
Multi-device access
Links desktop and tablet clients to the primary mobile phone-number account.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Current clients apply end-to-end encryption automatically to one-to-one chats, ordinary groups and one-to-one calls.
- Desktop and tablet companions extend a phone-number account across common devices.
- Groups, Communities and Channels cover private conversation, large community and one-way broadcast patterns.
- Viber Out provides a paid route to mobile and landline numbers that do not use Viber.
Where it falls short
- Communities, Channels, bots, group calls and Viber Out calls are not end-to-end encrypted.
- Viber Out requires credit or a monthly auto-renewing plan, and country, destination and number-type exclusions apply.
- The vendor specifically warns of possible Viber Out connectivity issues in Turkey.
- Uninstalling, deactivating and cancelling paid plans are separate actions; deactivation can remove data or credit without cancelling a Viber Out subscription.
Who it is for
Consumers and communities whose contacts already use Viber, plus callers who have verified Viber Out destination pricing and availability.
Pick it or skip it
Pick Viber if
- Everyday one-to-one or small-group messaging among Viber users
- Communities and brands that accept the public or server-mediated channel model
- Occasional phone-network calling after comparing the exact destination rate and connection quality
Skip it if
- Every group call, broadcast, bot interaction and telephone call must be end-to-end encrypted
- Enterprise SSO, managed identities, retention and compliance exports are required
- Turkey-based Viber Out calling is business-critical without a tested fallback
Our verdict
Viber is a capable consumer messenger where its network is already present, but its encryption claim has boundaries. Distinguish ordinary encrypted chats from Communities, Channels, bots, group calls and Viber Out, and never rely on a paid calling plan until the destination rate, renewal and local connectivity are tested.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Viber have a free plan?
- Yes. Viber offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
- Who is Viber best for?
- Consumers and communities whose contacts already use Viber, plus callers who have verified Viber Out destination pricing and availability.
- What are the main drawbacks of Viber?
- The trade-offs we noted: Communities, Channels, bots, group calls and Viber Out calls are not end-to-end encrypted.; Viber Out requires credit or a monthly auto-renewing plan, and country, destination and number-type exclusions apply.; The vendor specifically warns of possible Viber Out connectivity issues in Turkey..
- When should you not use Viber?
- Skip Viber if: Every group call, broadcast, bot interaction and telephone call must be end-to-end encrypted; Enterprise SSO, managed identities, retention and compliance exports are required; Turkey-based Viber Out calling is business-critical without a tested fallback.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.No
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- Viber Help — End-to-end encryption ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: version 6 requirement, automatic encryption, one-to-one chat group and call coverage, server delivery behavior, Community Channel bot group-call and Viber Out exclusions, trusted-contact verification
- Viber Help — Group Community and Channel comparison ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: group community and channel use cases, posting and administration differences, member visibility and statistics boundaries
- Viber Help — What is Viber Out ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: VoIP-to-phone scope, credit and plan destination rules, excluded number types, internet requirement, Turkey connectivity warning, registration-number call classification
- Viber Help — Viber Out plans and credit ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: credit or plan requirement, monthly automatic renewal, payment channels, cancellation, minute-plan combinations, automatic credit top-up
- Viber Help — Deactivate or uninstall ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: uninstall and deactivation distinction, account and history deletion, multi-device effect, credit removal, subscription cancellation boundary, inactivity deactivation
Limit: Official Viber encryption, community, Viber Out and account-deactivation sources were reviewed; ToolCompare did not register an account, install/link devices, send messages, verify keys, make individual/group/Viber Out calls, buy or cancel credit/plans, inspect rates or checkout, test Turkey connectivity, create Communities/Channels/bots, back up or delete data, evaluate moderation or contact support. Prices, destination coverage, encryption behavior and policies can change; current app versions and local network conditions matter.
Tools that do the same job as Viber
Same job, different pricing. Verified starting price first.
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