Viber

What is viber.com

Viber is a consumer-focused messaging and voice platform available on mobile and desktop that also offers business messaging and calling options. It combines one-to-one and group chat, voice and video calls, multimedia sharing, stickers and reactions, and public Communities for topic-based broadcasting and discussion. For organizations, Viber provides a Business Messages API and integration options to send transactional notifications, promotions, and customer support conversations.

Viber operates on a freemium model for consumers (messages and peer-to-peer calls are free when both parties use the app) and a pay model for non‑Viber destinations (Viber Out) and for business-grade messaging. The service emphasizes privacy with end-to-end encryption for personal chats and adds features such as disappearing messages and two-step verification for account protection.

The platform is used worldwide and supports multi-device use (mobile plus a desktop app), public-facing Communities, and basic content monetization and broadcast mechanisms for creators and brands. Developers and companies can connect systems to Viber via the developer platform to automate messaging and integrate with CRM, helpdesk, and marketing tools.

Viber features

What does Viber do?

Viber provides the following core capabilities:

• Instant messaging: One-to-one and group chat with text, images, video, voice notes, files, locations, contact sharing, message reactions, and stickers.
• Voice and video calling: Encrypted voice and video calls between Viber users; group voice/video calls for small teams and groups.
• Viber Out: Pay-as-you-go international calling to non-Viber landlines and mobile numbers, charged by destination.
• Public Communities: Large-group chat and broadcasting spaces where admins can post, moderate, and engage thousands of members.
• Business Messaging API: Programmatic sending of transactional and promotional messages, rich media (buttons, carousels), and two-way conversation handling via webhooks.
• Multiplatform clients: Native apps for iOS and Android, desktop clients for Windows and macOS, and synchronization across devices.
• Security controls: End-to-end encryption for chats, optional hidden chats and disappearing messages, phone-number‑based authentication, and two-step verification.

Additional features that support adoption and engagement:

• Stickers and rich media: Large sticker store and the ability for brands to create sticker packs to increase engagement.
• Chatbots and integrations: Support for bots and automated flows via the Business API and third‑party bot platforms.
• Broadcast tools: Tools for sending messages to large subscriber lists (via business channels/partners) and scheduled messaging for campaigns.

Viber pricing

Viber offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month — personal messaging, voice/video calls between Viber users, Communities participation, stickers, and basic features.
• Viber Out (Pay-as-you-go): Per-minute rates vary by destination; users buy credits and are charged based on the country called. Rates depend on destination and call type.
• Viber for Business (Business Messages / API access): Custom pricing — typically charged per message or on a contractual basis for high volume; enterprise-level packages and managed services available through authorized partners.

Consumer features for daily messaging and calling between Viber users are available at $0/month. For calling non-Viber numbers, purchase Viber Out credit and consult Viber's country rate list. For business messaging and API access, pricing is negotiated or provided via reseller/partner channels and often depends on monthly message volume, target countries, and required features.

Check Viber's current pricing for Viber Out and business messaging on the official Viber pages for the latest rates and commercial options: View Viber Out credit rates and top-up options and consult the Viber Business messaging overview and contact options.

How much is viber per month

Viber starts at $0/month for core consumer messaging and calling features between Viber users. The consumer app does not require a recurring subscription for standard IM and calls.

For non‑Viber destinations, ongoing usage is billed from Viber Out credits on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than a monthly subscription. Business customers often have per-message or tiered contracts rather than simple monthly per-user fees.

How much is viber per year

Viber costs $0/year for personal use of messaging and calls between Viber users. There is no annual consumer subscription required for the typical user.

Businesses using the Viber Business API or managed services will have custom annual or monthly contracts depending on volume and service level; pricing is generally negotiated with Viber partners or obtained through the developer/business pages.

How much is viber in general

Viber pricing ranges from $0 for consumer messaging to pay-as-you-go Viber Out rates and custom business messaging contracts. Individual users typically pay nothing for core features; Viber Out and business messaging introduce variable costs. Organizations should expect per-message fees, monthly minimums, or reseller-based pricing for high-volume traffic and enterprise integrations.

What is Viber used for

Viber is used primarily for personal communication — texting, media sharing, voice and video calls between individuals and groups. It replaces SMS and traditional phone calls when both parties use the app and provides richer media options and community features that SMS lacks.

For communities and creators, Viber's Communities feature is used to host topic-based discussions, broadcast updates to large follower groups, and manage moderated conversations. Admins can pin messages, moderate content, and post multimedia announcements to engage members.

Businesses use Viber for customer notifications, appointment reminders, delivery updates, promotional messages, and conversational support. The Business Messages API allows integrations with CRM systems, ticketing platforms, and marketing automation stacks to drive customer engagement on a channel many users already have installed.

Pros and cons of Viber

Pros:

• Viber provides strong consumer features for free, including end-to-end encryption and multi-device support.
• The platform supports large public Communities and a rich sticker ecosystem that increases stickiness and user engagement.
• Businesses can reach users via an API and managed channels, enabling transactional notifications and marketing communication in regions where Viber has high penetration.

Cons:

• Viber's user base is geographically uneven; adoption is strong in some markets but limited in others, which impacts reach compared with global platforms such as WhatsApp.
• Business pricing and API onboarding can be opaque and often require working with partners or resellers, which adds complexity for developers and small businesses.
• Viber Out costs for calling non‑Viber numbers are variable and can be less predictable than subscriptions offered by other VoIP services.

Operational considerations:

• For organizations, integrating the Business Messages API requires familiarity with webhooks, message templates, and compliance with messaging regulations in target countries.
• Moderation and community management require resources for admins, especially in large Communities where message volume is high.

Viber free trial

Viber does not operate a traditional time-limited free trial for its consumer features because core messaging and calling between Viber users are permanently free. For Viber Out, users can buy small credit amounts to test calling rates.

For businesses, Viber partners or service providers sometimes offer pilot programs or trial messaging credits to evaluate delivery and integration. Companies evaluating the Business Messages API should contact Viber's business team or authorized resellers to request test credentials and a sandbox environment for initial development and validation.

Check the Viber developer pages and the Viber business contact channels to request trial access or evaluation credits: consult the Viber Business contact and developer resources and the Viber developer documentation for technical testing.

Is Viber free

Yes, Viber offers a free plan for personal messaging and peer-to-peer voice/video calling between Viber users. The consumer mobile and desktop apps are free to install and use for communication with other Viber users.

Costs only occur when calling non‑Viber phone numbers via Viber Out (credit-based charges) or when an organization purchases business messaging services or third-party integrations.

Viber API

Viber provides a developer platform and Business Messages API for programmatic sending and receiving of messages. The API supports:

• HTTP-based endpoints for sending messages, receiving callbacks via webhooks for delivery and replies, and managing bot accounts and subscription flow.
• Rich message types including text, images, videos, carousels, quick reply buttons, and deep links to drive actions from messages.
• Two-way conversational flows that let businesses handle inbound replies and route conversations into CRM or support systems.
• Webhooks and delivery reports to track message status (sent, delivered, seen) and user interactions.

Developers can build chatbots, automated notification systems, and interactive marketing experiences on top of Viber. Typical integrations include:

• CRM and helpdesk integration: Use webhooks to push inbound messages into Zendesk, Salesforce, or custom CRMs and respond via the API.
• Ecommerce notifications: Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and transactional receipts through programmatic messages.
• Marketing automation: Trigger message sequences based on events in the backend systems and use rich media templates for engagement.

For technical details, SDKs, and API reference, consult the official developer documentation and guides: view the Viber developer documentation and API reference.

10 Viber alternatives

• WhatsApp — Widely adopted global messaging platform with end-to-end encryption, business API, and strong mobile penetration in many markets.
• Telegram — Cloud-centric messaging with large group support, bots, channels, and an open API suitable for developers and communities.
• Signal — Focused on privacy with open-source clients and protocols; strong security features for private messaging and calls.
• Facebook Messenger — Broad reach integrated with Facebook ecosystem, supports bots, ads, and business messaging in many regions.
• LINE — Popular in East Asia, offers messaging, payments, and a rich ecosystem of official accounts and stickers.
• WeChat — Integrated super-app in China with messaging, payments, mini-programs, and strong vertical integrations.
• Skype — Legacy VoIP and messaging tool with established calling features and desktop-first workflows.
• Slack — Team collaboration platform oriented at workplace messaging, integrations, and persistent channels for team communication.
• Microsoft Teams — Enterprise collaboration with deep Office 365 integration, meetings, and organizational controls.
• Discord — Community-focused voice, video, and chat platform popular with creators, gaming communities, and large group interaction.

Paid alternatives to Viber

• WhatsApp — Offers the WhatsApp Business API for enterprises with per-message and template-based pricing administered via providers.
• LINE — Paid official accounts and business messaging plans in markets like Japan and Thailand for brands and retailers.
• WeChat — Commercial account and service fees for brands operating in China, including official account management and API costs.
• Facebook Messenger — Commercial messaging and ad-based promotion options require budget for sponsored messages and platform fees through partners.
• Twilio (Programmable Messaging and Voice) — Enterprise-grade messaging and telephony platform with pay-as-you-go pricing for SMS, WhatsApp, and voice services.
• Vonage (Nexmo) — Paid API platform for SMS, voice, and messaging channels with per-message and per-call pricing.

Open source alternatives to Viber

• Matrix — Decentralized, open standard for secure real-time communication with clients like Element; suitable for teams and communities.
• Rocket.Chat — Open-source team chat platform that can be self-hosted and integrated with enterprise systems for full control over data and deployment.
• Mattermost — Self-hosted collaboration platform focused on team messaging, with enterprise features and on-premise deployment options.
• Signal — Clients and server reference implementations are open source; focused on secure, private messaging and voice calls.
• Jitsi — Open-source video conferencing and VoIP stack suitable for group calls and integrating into custom applications.

Frequently asked questions about Viber

What is Viber used for?

Viber is used for instant messaging and voice/video calls between users on the app. People use it for one-to-one chats, group conversations, media sharing, and participation in public Communities; businesses use Viber to send notifications and run conversational flows through the Business API.

Does Viber offer end-to-end encryption?

Yes, Viber uses end-to-end encryption for personal one-to-one and group chats and for voice/video calls between Viber users, protecting message content from third-party access; business messaging workflows may use secure transport and compliance controls depending on the integration.

How much does Viber cost per user?

Viber starts at $0/month per user for consumer messaging and calls between Viber users; there is no per-user subscription for standard consumer use. Costs can arise from Viber Out credits or business messaging contracts which are priced separately.

Can I call non-Viber phones with Viber?

Yes, Viber provides Viber Out for calls to non-Viber phone numbers. Viber Out is a credit-based service where you top up and are charged per-minute rates that vary by destination country.

Does Viber have a business API?

Yes, Viber provides a Business Messages API that supports programmatic sending of transactional and marketing messages, rich media templates, and webhooks for two-way conversations; enterprise pricing and access are arranged through Viber's business channels or partners.

Can I use Viber on desktop and multiple devices?

Yes, Viber supports desktop clients for Windows and macOS and synchronizes messages with your mobile device. You can use Viber on multiple devices, though account setup and multi-device behavior follow Viber's authentication rules tied to your phone number.

How secure is Viber for business communications?

Viber provides secure transport and encrypted personal chats; business communications use secure APIs and delivery controls. Organizations should evaluate compliance and data residency needs and work with Viber partners for enterprise-grade SLAs and logging.

Can I build chatbots on Viber?

Yes, developers can build chatbots and automated messaging flows using the Viber API and webhooks to handle inbound messages, send rich content, and integrate with backend systems for ordering, support, and notifications.

How do I get access to Viber business features?

You request access through Viber's business channels or authorized partners by contacting the Viber business team, reviewing developer documentation, and arranging API credentials and any contractual terms required for messaging at scale.

Where can I find official Viber developer documentation?

Viber developer documentation and API references are available on the official developer site. The docs include API endpoints, message formats, webhook setup, and sample code to help teams implement messaging and bot functionality: view the Viber developer documentation and API reference.

Viber careers

Viber is part of a larger organization and periodically hires across engineering, product, design, marketing, and operations roles. Job openings and recruiting details are typically posted on the parent company's careers portal and LinkedIn. Candidates interested in messaging platforms, mobile development, and real-time systems should monitor official channels for openings and hiring events.

Viber affiliate

Viber works with distribution partners and business resellers for commercial messaging and Viber Out credit distribution in some regions. Organizations seeking to resell or integrate Viber solutions should contact Viber's business team to inquire about partnership programs and affiliate opportunities.

Where to find Viber reviews

Independent user reviews and comparisons appear on app stores (Google Play and Apple App Store), technology review sites, and enterprise software directories. For technical feedback and developer experiences, consult developer forums, GitHub issues for client libraries, and integration partner case studies. For the latest product changes, consult the official Viber blog and release notes on the Viber website.