Viber

What is Viber?

Viber is a cross-platform voice over IP (VoIP) and instant messaging application developed by Viber Media, a subsidiary of Rakuten since 2014. Originally launched in 2010 as a competitor to Skype, Viber has grown into a comprehensive communication platform serving over one billion users worldwide. The application enables free voice and video calls, instant messaging, and media sharing between Viber users, while also offering paid Viber Out service for calling non-Viber phone numbers at competitive international rates.

What distinguishes Viber from competitors is its combination of consumer-friendly features and privacy-focused approach. The platform offers end-to-end encryption for messages and calls by default, ensuring that communications remain private between participants. Viber also provides unique features like disappearing messages, hidden chats, and self-destructing messages that appeal to users prioritizing communication privacy. The integration with Viber Out for international calling provides practical utility beyond typical messaging apps.

Beyond personal messaging, Viber has expanded into community features with Viber Communities supporting millions of members, making it suitable for businesses, organizations, and interest groups. The platform also offers Viber for Business solutions enabling companies to communicate with customers through official accounts. With support across smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers, Viber provides a unified communication experience across all devices.

Key Features

• Free Voice and Video Calls: High-quality voice and video calls between Viber users worldwide at no cost over Wi-Fi or mobile data connections.
• End-to-End Encryption: All messages and calls are protected with end-to-end encryption by default, ensuring private communication between participants.
• Viber Out: Make affordable calls to any phone number worldwide, even if recipients don’t have Viber installed, at competitive international rates.
• Group Chats and Calls: Create group conversations with up to 250 members and group video calls with multiple participants for collaboration.
• Viber Communities: Join or create large-scale communities supporting unlimited members for organizations, businesses, and interest groups.
• Hidden Chats: Protect private conversations with PIN-locked hidden chats that don’t appear in main chat list for enhanced privacy.
• Disappearing Messages: Set messages to automatically delete after a specified time period for sensitive communications.
• Stickers and GIFs: Extensive library of free and premium sticker packs plus GIF support for expressive messaging and communication.
• Cross-Platform Sync: Seamless synchronization across mobile, tablet, and desktop applications with unified conversation history.
• File Sharing: Share photos, videos, documents, and files up to 200MB directly through conversations.

What’s New

Viber continues to enhance its platform with new features and improvements:

• Enhanced Encryption: Continued improvements to end-to-end encryption protocols and security features across all communication types.
• Community Features: Expanded tools for community administrators including better moderation, analytics, and member management options.
• Video Call Improvements: Enhanced video calling quality with support for more participants and new visual effects.
• Message Reactions: Expanded emoji reactions allowing users to respond to messages without typing full replies.
• Chat Organization: New features for organizing chats including folders, pins, and improved search functionality.
• Business Features: Enhanced Viber for Business capabilities with new templates, automation tools, and customer engagement features.
• Performance Updates: Optimized app performance with faster loading, reduced battery consumption, and smaller app size.
• Accessibility Improvements: Enhanced accessibility features for users with disabilities including better screen reader support.

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 7 or later (64-bit recommended)
• Processor: Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 300 MB available space
• Internet connection required

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB available space

Linux

• Distribution: Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian, Fedora
• Official Linux client available
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB available space

Mobile

• iOS: iPhone running iOS 12.0 or later
• Android: Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later
• Storage: 150 MB for app plus media storage

How to Install Viber

Windows Installation

1. Visit viber.com/download
2. Click “Download for Windows”
3. Run the downloaded installer
4. Follow installation prompts
5. Activate by scanning QR code with mobile Viber app

# Download from official website
# https://www.viber.com/download/

# Using Chocolatey
choco install viber

# After installation:
# 1. Launch Viber Desktop
# 2. Open Viber on your phone
# 3. Go to More > Settings > Account
# 4. Select "Use Viber on desktop"
# 5. Scan the QR code displayed

macOS Installation

1. Download Viber from official website or Mac App Store
2. Open the DMG file
3. Drag Viber to Applications folder
4. Launch and activate with mobile app
5. Scan QR code to sync account

# Using Homebrew
brew install --cask viber

# Or download from Mac App Store
# Search "Viber Messenger"

# After installation:
# Activate by scanning QR code
# with Viber mobile app

Linux Installation

# Ubuntu/Debian
# Download .deb from viber.com
sudo dpkg -i viber.deb
sudo apt-get install -f

# Fedora
# Download .rpm package
sudo rpm -i viber.rpm

# Launch Viber
viber

# Activate with QR code scan from mobile

Mobile Installation

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
2. Search for “Viber Messenger”
3. Tap Install or Get
4. Open app and enter phone number
5. Verify with SMS code and set up profile

Pros and Cons

Pros

• End-to-End Encryption: All messages and calls encrypted by default, providing strong privacy protection without configuration needed.
• Viber Out Calling: Affordable international calling to any phone number makes Viber practical for reaching non-app users globally.
• Cross-Platform Support: Full-featured applications for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux ensure access from any device.
• Hidden Chats: PIN-protected hidden conversations provide additional privacy layer for sensitive communications.
• Large Communities: Support for communities with millions of members makes Viber suitable for organizations and large groups.
• Free Core Features: All essential communication features including calls, video, and messaging are completely free.
• No Ads in Chats: Personal conversations remain ad-free, unlike some competing messaging platforms.

Cons

• Phone Number Required: Registration requires phone number verification, limiting anonymous usage compared to some alternatives.
• Smaller User Base: Less popular than WhatsApp or Telegram in many regions, potentially requiring contacts to install the app.
• Sticker Purchases: While many stickers are free, premium sticker packs require purchase through in-app transactions.
• Data Collection: Rakuten’s data collection practices for advertising purposes may concern privacy-focused users.
• Desktop Requires Mobile: Desktop activation requires existing mobile account, preventing desktop-only usage.

Viber vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Viber?

Viber is ideal for:

• International Callers: Users frequently calling phone numbers abroad benefit from Viber Out’s competitive international rates.
• Privacy-Conscious Users: Those wanting default end-to-end encryption without configuration appreciate Viber’s privacy-first approach.
• Eastern European/CIS Users: Viber has strong adoption in Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries, making it practical for those regions.
• Community Managers: Organizations needing large community features can leverage Viber Communities for member engagement.
• Multi-Device Users: Those wanting seamless sync between phones and computers benefit from Viber’s cross-platform support.
• Business Communicators: Companies can use Viber for Business to reach customers through official messaging channels.

Viber may not be ideal for:

• Maximum Privacy Seekers: Users wanting minimal data collection may prefer Signal for its stricter privacy stance.
• Large Group Organizers: Those needing massive groups may find Telegram’s 200,000-member limit more suitable.
• Anonymous Users: Viber’s phone number requirement prevents truly anonymous usage available on some platforms.
• US-Based Users: Viber has smaller market share in the United States where iMessage and WhatsApp dominate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Viber free to use?

Yes, Viber’s core features are completely free including messaging, voice calls, video calls, group chats, and multimedia sharing between Viber users. These features work over Wi-Fi or mobile data at no cost regardless of where users are located. Viber Out, the service for calling regular phone numbers of non-Viber users, requires purchasing credit or subscription plans. Some premium sticker packs and games also have costs, but all essential communication features remain free.

Is Viber safe and private?

Viber provides strong privacy protections including end-to-end encryption enabled by default for all messages and calls. This means only you and the person you’re communicating with can read messages or hear calls – not even Viber can access them. Hidden chats add an extra privacy layer with PIN protection. However, Viber does collect some user data for advertising purposes as part of Rakuten’s business model. For maximum privacy, Signal remains the gold standard, but Viber offers better privacy than many mainstream alternatives.

How do I use Viber on desktop?

To use Viber on desktop, you must first have an active Viber account on your mobile phone. Download Viber for Windows, macOS, or Linux from the official website. When you launch the desktop app, it displays a QR code. Open Viber on your phone, go to More > Settings > Account > Use Viber on desktop, and scan the QR code. Your account syncs to desktop, and messages appear on both devices. Desktop requires the mobile account to remain active for syncing.

What is Viber Out and how does it work?

Viber Out is a paid service that lets you call any phone number worldwide, including landlines and mobile phones of people who don’t have Viber installed. You purchase credit through the app, then dial numbers directly from Viber. Rates vary by destination country but are typically much cheaper than traditional international calling rates. Viber Out also offers subscription plans for frequent callers to specific countries, providing unlimited minutes for monthly fees. This feature makes Viber practical for international business and family communication.

Can I use Viber without a phone number?

No, Viber requires a phone number for registration and account verification. This phone number becomes your Viber identity and how contacts find you on the platform. Unlike some alternatives that allow email registration or anonymous accounts, Viber’s phone number requirement is mandatory. This design choice helps prevent spam and fake accounts but means users cannot maintain truly anonymous Viber accounts. You can only have one Viber account per phone number.

Final Verdict

Viber delivers a well-rounded messaging experience that combines strong privacy features with practical utility for international communication. The default end-to-end encryption ensures private conversations without requiring technical configuration, while features like hidden chats and disappearing messages provide additional privacy layers for sensitive communications. The Viber Out service adds genuine utility by enabling affordable calls to regular phone numbers worldwide, addressing a use case most messaging apps ignore.

The platform’s cross-platform support is comprehensive, with full-featured applications for all major operating systems ensuring you can access conversations from any device. Viber Communities enable organizations to build large-scale member bases, while the core messaging experience remains clean and ad-free for personal conversations. The sticker ecosystem provides expressive communication options, though some premium content requires purchase.

Viber is recommended for users who value privacy features with practical international calling capabilities. It’s particularly strong in Eastern Europe and regions with established Viber user bases. While WhatsApp may have larger global reach and Telegram offers more features for power users, Viber occupies a comfortable middle ground with solid encryption, useful calling features, and a polished experience across devices. For anyone regularly making international calls or communicating with contacts in Viber-popular regions, the platform provides excellent value.