Zalo

Vietnam's most popular messenger, with chats, calls, large file sharing and official business accounts.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Zalo

Zalo is the everyday messenger in Vietnam, built by VNG's Zalo Group. It covers chats, voice and video calls, group chats used heavily for school and work, stickers and a friends' timeline, and Zalo Official Accounts that link people to businesses and, increasingly, government services. Because so much daily life in Vietnam runs through it, from class groups to paying bills and receiving official notices, it is often the app people install first when they move there or need to coordinate with Vietnamese colleagues. The PC app and web version are well suited to work, with phone sync and transfers of files up to 1 GB. The core service is free, with paid extras for heavier users and businesses. It runs on Android and iPhone, plus Windows, Mac and the web. Its interface and much of its support content are mainly in Vietnamese, and few people outside Vietnam use it.

Best for: Anyone living, studying or working with people in Vietnam.

What works

Used by most people in Vietnam
Desktop and web apps suited to work groups
Large file transfers up to 1 GB

Why people leave

Little used outside Vietnam
Interface and help mostly in Vietnamese
Chats not end-to-end encrypted by default

Top Zalo alternatives

See all 4

1
Facebook Messenger
The other messenger widely used in Vietnam, tied to Facebook accounts.
66.5
2
WhatsApp
Better for international contacts outside Vietnam.
62.6
3
Telegram
Strong desktop apps and large groups, with an English-first interface.
59.6
4
Viber
Another free encrypted messenger with desktop apps, used in parts of Asia.
57.2

Why people left Zalo

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Reviews

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Zalo: common questions

Is Zalo free?

Zalo has a free plan and paid plans.

Is Zalo open source?

No, Zalo is not open source.

What platforms does Zalo run on?

Zalo is available for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Zalo?

The highest-ranked Zalo alternatives right now are Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 Zalo alternatives