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Viber alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Viber: ads and promoted content inside the app, and small user base outside its core regions. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Viber, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. WhatsApp currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1WhatsApp logoWhatsAppFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +26 of 666.5
2Telegram logoTelegramFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 562.6
3Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 559.6
4LINE logoLINEFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, iOS +13 of 357.2
5ImimoFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +14 of 455.3
  1. WhatsApp logo

    1. WhatsAppTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants to reach friends, family and businesses on the messenger they already use

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Viber

    Larger network in most countries, with the same encrypted chats and calls.

    Pros

    • Almost everyone in many countries already has it
    • Chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default
    • Reliable group chats, voice notes and group video calls

    Cons

    • Owned by Meta, which collects usage metadata
    • Requires a phone number to sign up
    • Ads and Meta AI are creeping into the app
    Visit WhatsApp Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is WhatsApp a good Viber alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes, by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Group size
    Up to 1,000 people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Group calls
    Up to 32 people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    More than 3 billion
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Meta (joined Facebook in 2014)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Telegram logo

    2. Telegram

    Best for: Communities, channel followers and power users who want every chat synced on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Viber

    Bigger public communities and channels, with cloud sync on every device.

    Pros

    • Instant sync across phone, desktop and web without the phone online
    • Very large groups and broadcast channels
    • Open bot platform and open-source client apps

    Cons

    • Regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted
    • Secret Chats are one-to-one and tied to a single device
    • Public groups attract spam and scams
    Visit Telegram Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Telegram a good Viber alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free, with optional Premium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Group size
    Up to 200,000 members
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Secret Chats and calls only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    2 GB (4 GB with Premium)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Client apps, reproducible builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Signal logo

    3. Signal

    Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Viber

    Encrypted by default without ads or promoted content.

    Pros

    • Everything end-to-end encrypted by default, including groups
    • Collects almost no metadata
    • No ads, tracking or paid tier; open source

    Cons

    • Needs a phone number to register
    • Desktop app only works linked to a phone
    • Smaller network than WhatsApp in most countries
    Visit Signal Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Signal a good Viber alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Independent nonprofit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads and tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Always on
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    Requires Signal on your phone
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. LINE logo

    4. LINE

    Best for: Anyone living in or keeping in touch with people in Japan, Taiwan or Thailand

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Viber

    A similar sticker-rich messenger with services built in, dominant in Japan and Thailand.

    Pros

    • Ubiquitous in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand
    • Free calls plus a huge sticker culture
    • Payments, news and business accounts in one app

    Cons

    • Little used outside its core markets
    • App is crowded with services and promotions
    • Desktop use depends on linking your phone account
    Visit LINE Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LINE a good Viber alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free calls and messages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026line.me(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Letter Sealing, on by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026help.line.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption gaps
    Group calls, meetings, albums and notes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026help.line.me(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Im

    5. imo

    Best for: Families making video calls across countries on slow or patchy connections

    FreeWindows, macOS, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Viber

    Another lightweight free calling app popular for international calls on slow connections.

    Pros

    • Calls hold up well on slow networks
    • Lite version for low-end Android phones
    • Built-in message translation

    Cons

    • Ads in the app
    • Less transparency about ownership and data use
    • Small user base in North America and Europe
    Visit imo Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is imo a good Viber alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Users
    Over 200 million
    Checked Oct 25, 2026imo.im(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
    Checked Oct 25, 2026imo.im(opens source in a new tab)
    Privacy features
    End-to-end encryption, disappearing messages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026imo.im(opens source in a new tab)
    Operator
    PageBites, Inc.
    Checked Oct 25, 2026imo.im(opens source in a new tab)

The best Viber alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

WhatsApp logo

Best Viber alternative for most people

WhatsApp

Larger network in most countries, with the same encrypted chats and calls.

Signal logo

Best Viber alternative for a free option

Signal

Encrypted by default without ads or promoted content.

Telegram logo

Best Viber alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Telegram

Bigger public communities and channels, with cloud sync on every device.

Signal logo

Best Viber alternative for open source

Signal

Encrypted by default without ads or promoted content.

LINE logo

Best Viber alternative for Mac

LINE

A similar sticker-rich messenger with services built in, dominant in Japan and Thailand.

Im

Best Viber alternative for Windows

imo

Another lightweight free calling app popular for international calls on slow connections.

Telegram logo

Best Viber alternative for Linux

Telegram

Bigger public communities and channels, with cloud sync on every device.

WhatsApp logo

Best Viber alternative for iPhone and Android

WhatsApp

Larger network in most countries, with the same encrypted chats and calls.

WhatsApp logo

Best Viber alternative for working in the browser

WhatsApp

Larger network in most countries, with the same encrypted chats and calls.

Viber alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Viber?

WhatsApp ranks first right now. Larger network in most countries, with the same encrypted chats and calls. Telegram and Signal follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Viber?

Yes. WhatsApp (free), Telegram (free plan + paid), Signal (free) and LINE (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Viber?

Yes: Signal.

Which Viber alternatives work on Linux?

Telegram and Signal run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Viber?

The complaints we hear most: ads and promoted content inside the app; small user base outside its core regions; requires a phone number.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Viber, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.