WhatsApp vs Viber: messaging around your existing contacts?
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
Quick verdict
WhatsApp vs Viber: messaging around your existing contacts.
WhatsApp: People keeping in touch with friends and family abroad who want end-to-end encryption by default.
Viber: People whose contacts already use Viber and who need cross-border calls and chat.
Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.
Head-to-head
| Feature | Viber | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | People keeping in touch with friends and family abroad who want end-to-end encryption by default | People whose contacts already use Viber and who need cross-border calls and chat |
| Approach | Free messaging and calling with default end-to-end encryption, used worldwide | Messaging and calling app with E2E encryption, Communities and Viber Out |
| Notable strength | End-to-end encryption by default for messages and calls, with nothing to switch on | End-to-end encryption for personal chats, group chats and one-to-one calls, per Viber's security page |
| Trade-off | The privacy policy allows sharing with Meta companies; the Jan 2021 update caused strong backlash | The free version has ads; turning them off requires Viber Plus |
| Free access and limits | Personal users get messaging, voice and video calls, groups and Status for free. On 16 Jun 2025 Meta announced ads in Status, promoted channels and paid channel subscriptions in the Updates tab; the privacy policy says WhatsApp does not allow third-party banner ads. | Google Play lists the app as containing ads and in-app purchases. On the US App Store, Viber Out credit packs cost 0.99–9.99 USD, and monthly Viber Out subscriptions are listed at 1.99 USD (USA) and 5.99 USD (worldwide). |
| Recorded plan price | Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. | Paid prices depend on plan and purchase channel; see the product review. |
| Platforms | ios, android, windows, macos, web | ios, android, windows, macos, linux |
| Data and privacy | Per the official help page, messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, live location, status updates and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, so not even WhatsApp can read them. Exceptions are chats with businesses that use Meta's optional services, payments, and third-party agent chats managed by Meta. The privacy policy (marked effective 4 Jan 2021) says WhatsApp is one of the Meta Companies and receives and shares information with them to operate and improve services, for safety, and to show relevant offers and ads across Meta products. Messages generally live on your device only; undelivered messages are kept encrypted for up to 30 days. A phone number and profile name are required; contacts upload is optional. Businesses can see the content of messages you send them. In Jan 2021 a proposed data-sharing update with Facebook triggered backlash and was postponed to 15 May 2021. In April 2025 Austrian researchers extracted about 3.5 billion users' phone numbers; Meta fixed the issue in October 2025 (per Wikipedia). | The privacy policy (updated 23 September 2026) says Viber collects identifiers such as phone number, name or date of birth if provided, photo, device identifiers, activity data and a general location estimated from IP address; GPS only with permission. Viber states it does not read or listen to the content of private messages and calls; messages are deleted once delivered, or after 14 days if delivery fails. Customer support records are kept for 10 years and call and activity records for 24 months. Device identifiers, age range, inferred gender and a reduced IP address may be shared with advertising partners for personalised ads, and can be opted out of in privacy settings. If you allow contacts access, Viber processes address-book names and numbers, including those of non-users. Data may be stored and processed worldwide, including the US, Asia, Europe, Russia, Australia and Brazil. Viber's security page says personal chats and group chats and one-to-one voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted; Google Play says it is on by default for one-to-one chats, group chats, voice and video calls between Viber users. The service is not intended for children under 13. |
| Not suited to | People who want to avoid the Meta ecosystem or data sharing with Meta companies | People who want an ad-free app without paying |
Choose WhatsApp if…
- People keeping in touch with friends and family abroad who want end-to-end encryption by default
- Businesses and shops that want customer support through WhatsApp Business and its API
Choose Viber if…
- People whose contacts already use Viber and who need cross-border calls and chat
- People who want to call regular phone numbers via Viber Out or join topic-based Communities and channels
How the products differ
WhatsApp: WhatsApp suits people who want free international messaging and calls with default end-to-end encryption, and businesses that want a widely used customer channel. The trade-offs are Meta ownership, data sharing with Meta companies, and ads in the Updates tab since 2025.
Viber: Viber suits people who message and call friends and family in other countries, especially if they also want communities or calls to regular phone numbers. The trade-offs: the free version shows ads, Viber Plus has no published price, and Trustpilot sits at 1.3/5 with complaints about account blocks, billing and support.
Choose around your use case
WhatsApp: Fits People keeping in touch with friends and family abroad who want end-to-end encryption by default; Businesses and shops that want customer support through WhatsApp Business and its API. Strengths: End-to-end encryption by default for messages and calls, with nothing to switch on; Free for personal users, with phone, desktop and web apps.
Viber: Fits People whose contacts already use Viber and who need cross-border calls and chat; People who want to call regular phone numbers via Viber Out or join topic-based Communities and channels. Strengths: End-to-end encryption for personal chats, group chats and one-to-one calls, per Viber's security page; Group video calls with up to 60 people and group chats up to 250 members, per the Google Play description.
Costs and limits to check
WhatsApp: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: The privacy policy allows sharing with Meta companies; the Jan 2021 update caused strong backlash.
Viber: Paid prices depend on plan and purchase channel; see the product review. Trade-off: The free version has ads; turning them off requires Viber Plus. Prices retain the currency and billing units recorded in the source profiles; no currency conversion or plan equivalence is assumed. Check official prices, limits and terms before payment.
When to consider another option
WhatsApp is not aimed at: People who want to avoid the Meta ecosystem or data sharing with Meta companies; Anyone needing six-figure groups or an open bot ecosystem like Telegram's.
Consider alternatives to Viber if you are: People who want an ad-free app without paying; People who want their data kept in one jurisdiction: the policy allows storage and processing in many regions, including Russia. Read these limitations alongside the feature table before deciding; a single strength cannot compensate for a missing requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose WhatsApp or Viber?
WhatsApp vs Viber: messaging around your existing contacts. WhatsApp: People keeping in touch with friends and family abroad who want end-to-end encryption by default. Viber: People whose contacts already use Viber and who need cross-border calls and chat. Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.
Does a higher score always mean a better fit?
No. Overall scores are editorial judgements across several criteria. Your task, allowance and existing ecosystem may matter more; the table separates those differences so you can decide.
Where do prices and limits come from?
From each product’s researched profile, with source links and check dates in the review. This comparison reuses that evidence; its compilation date does not mean every price was rechecked that day.