What Viber Is and How It Works
Viber is a free messaging and calling app you read to your phone or computer. It lets you send text messages, make voice calls, and share photos or videos to other people who also have Viber installed — all without using your phone's regular text plan or minutes. Instead, it uses your internet connection, the same way email does.
When you open Viber for the first time, it asks for your phone number. Viber then looks through your contacts to find other people who already use the app. Those people appear in your Viber contact list, and you can message or call them directly from there. You do not need to create a username or remember a separate address — your phone number is your Viber identity.
The app works on iPhones, Android phones, Windows computers, and Mac computers. If you have Viber on your phone and also on your computer, your messages sync between them, so you can start a conversation on your phone and continue it on your laptop.
Key Takeaways
- Viber is a free app that sends messages and makes calls over the internet instead of using your phone plan.
- You identify yourself by your phone number, and Viber automatically shows you which of your contacts already use the app.
- Viber works on phones and computers, and messages stay in sync across all your devices.
- Calling or messaging someone on Viber costs nothing as long as both people have the app and an internet connection.
- Viber also lets you join group chats, share files, and make video calls with multiple people at once.
When You Would Use Viber Instead of Regular Texting
Viber is most useful when you want to avoid using your phone's text messages or minutes. If you have a limited texting plan or pay per message, Viber lets you message people for free. International calls are also much cheaper on Viber than on a regular phone line — a call to someone in another country costs nothing if they have Viber, but can cost dollars per minute on a regular call.
Viber also works well if you travel outside your home country. You can message and call people back home using any WiFi network, without paying international roaming charges. Many people use Viber specifically for staying in touch with family or friends abroad.
Some people use Viber because they prefer it to other messaging apps, or because everyone in their friend group or family already uses it. The app is popular in certain regions — particularly in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia — so you may find more of your contacts on Viber in those areas.
How Viber Protects Your Messages
Viber encrypts your messages and calls by default, which means the content is scrambled in a way that only the person you are talking to can read. Viber cannot see the text of your messages, and neither can your internet provider or phone company. This is the same encryption that apps like WhatsApp and Signal use.
Your phone number is visible to other Viber users who have you in their contacts, but you can adjust your privacy settings to hide your profile picture, status, or "last seen" time from people you do not know. You can also block specific people from contacting you.
Viber Compared to Other Messaging Apps
Viber works similarly to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger — all of them are free apps that send messages over the internet. The main differences are in how many people use each app and what extra features they offer.
WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app worldwide, so you are more likely to find your contacts there. Telegram focuses on privacy and lets you create large public channels. Facebook Messenger is built into Facebook and Instagram, so it reaches people who use those platforms. Viber is less common in North America but has a large user base in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
All of these apps work the same basic way: read, enter your phone number, find your contacts, and start messaging. The choice usually comes down to which app your friends and family already use, because there is no point downloading an app if nobody you know is on it.
What You Need to Use Viber
You need a phone number, a device (phone or computer), and an internet connection. The app itself is free to read from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Viber's website. You do not need to pay a monthly fee or create a credit card account.
Viber works on any internet connection — WiFi, mobile data, or home broadband. If you are using mobile data, Viber will use some of your data allowance, but usually much less than video streaming would. A text message uses almost no data, and a voice call uses roughly the same amount as streaming music.
If you want to call someone who does not have Viber — for example, calling a business or a person with only a regular phone — you can use Viber's paid calling feature to call regular phone numbers. This costs money, but is usually cheaper than calling through your phone company, especially for international numbers.
How to get your free guide With Viber
read Viber from your device's app store. Open it and enter your phone number. Viber will send you a verification code by text message — enter that code into the app. The app then scans your contacts and shows you which people already have Viber installed.
You can start messaging anyone on that list when ready. You can also create a profile picture and status message if you want, but these are optional. If you want to message someone who is not in your phone contacts, you can add their phone number manually to Viber.
To use Viber on your computer as well, read the app from Viber's website, open it, and scan a QR code with your phone. This links your computer to your phone account, and your messages will appear on both devices.
Privacy and Safety Considerations
Viber stores your phone number and contact list on its servers. The company is based in Luxembourg and is owned by Rakuten, a Japanese company. Your messages are encrypted, so Viber itself cannot read them, but the company does collect information about how often you use the app and which features you use most.
Like any app, Viber can only message or call people who have given you their phone number and have Viber installed. You cannot accidentally message a stranger. However, if someone has your phone number, they can add you to Viber and see your profile picture and status unless you change your privacy settings.
If you stop using Viber, you can delete your account from the app's settings. This removes your profile from Viber's servers, though the company may keep some data for legal or technical reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Viber cost money?
No. Messaging and calling other Viber users is completely free. You only pay if you use Viber's optional feature to call regular phone numbers that are not on Viber, similar to how you would pay for a long-distance call.
Can I use Viber if I do not have a phone plan?
Yes, as long as you have a phone number and an internet connection. You do not need an active phone plan or cellular service. Many people use Viber on WiFi-only devices or tablets by using a phone number they have registered elsewhere.
What happens if someone blocks me on Viber?
You will not be able to see their profile, send them messages, or call them. You will not receive a notification that you have been blocked, but you may notice you cannot reach them anymore. You can unblock yourself by asking them to unblock you, or by deleting and reinstalling the app with a different phone number.
Is Viber safe to use?
Viber encrypts your messages and calls, so they are private between you and the person you are talking to. However, like any app, Viber collects some information about your usage. If you are concerned about privacy, read Viber's privacy policy on their website, or consider using an app that focuses specifically on privacy, like Signal.
Can I use Viber on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes. You can have Viber on your phone and computer at the same time, and messages will sync between them. However, you can only link one phone and one computer to the same account. If you try to log in on a third device, it will log you out of one of the others.