The Best Viber Alternatives for Secure and Feature-Rich Communication
Viber has long been a popular choice for free calls and messages, connecting millions worldwide. However, for various reasons—whether it’s a desire for enhanced privacy, more robust features, or simply exploring new options—many users are now seeking out reliable Viber alternatives. This guide will delve into a comprehensive list of top communication apps that offer compelling features and a secure user experience, helping you find the perfect fit for your messaging and calling needs.
Top Viber Alternatives
Looking for a fresh way to connect? These alternatives to Viber offer diverse features, from end-to-end encryption to unique group functionalities, ensuring you can communicate effectively and securely with friends, family, and colleagues across various platforms.
Telegram
Telegram is a messaging app known for its speed and security, making it a strong Viber alternative. It's available across multiple platforms including Free, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and more. While not all chats are encrypted by default, it offers 'Secret Chats' with End-to-End Encryption and features like Channels for unlimited subscribers, large file transfers, and a focus on privacy. Telegram supports stickers, bots, group chats up to 20,000 people, voice calls, and persistent history, making it a versatile choice for both personal and professional use.
Signal
Signal is a highly recommended Viber alternative, especially for users prioritizing privacy and security. It is Free and Open Source, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, and more. Signal offers End-to-End Encryption for all communications, including text, group chats, picture, and video messages, ensuring that your data remains private and secure from third parties. Key features include self-destructing messages, encrypted calls (voice and video), and a strict no-data-storage policy on its servers, making it an excellent choice for confidential conversations.
Skype
Skype is a widely recognized communication platform that serves as a robust Viber alternative, particularly for those needing comprehensive video and voice calling capabilities. Available across Freemium, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and more, Skype allows users to text, video and voice call over the internet for free. It also offers competitive rates for landline and mobile calls. Key features include screen sharing, video conferencing, group messaging, and integration with Microsoft Office, making it ideal for both personal and business communication.
Riot.im
Riot.im (now Element) is an Open Source and decentralized Viber alternative built on the Matrix.org open standard, offering excellent interoperability. It's available for Free on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and can be Self-Hosted. Riot.im focuses on chat rooms, both public and private, providing End-to-End Encryption, filesharing, and voice/video conferencing. Its unique feature is bridging to other systems like Slack and IRC, making it a powerful tool for team collaboration and community building with a strong emphasis on privacy and user control.
Tox
Tox stands out as a unique Viber alternative for those deeply concerned about government monitoring and privacy. It is Free and Open Source, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, Android Tablet, and BSD. Tox is a peer-to-peer (P2P) application that ensures End-to-End Encryption, meaning no central server can access your communication. It offers decentralized encrypted chat, video calling, voice calls, and secure file sharing without any cost or restrictions on features, making it an excellent choice for completely private and secure interactions.
WhatsApp is a globally popular communication app and a direct competitor as a Viber alternative, particularly known for its widespread adoption. It is Free and available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and KaiOS. WhatsApp offers End-to-End Encryption for all messages, calls, and media shared. Users can create groups, send unlimited images, video, and audio messages, and even use it via a web browser. Its features include custom backgrounds, stickers, integrated file sharing, and video/voice calling, making it a comprehensive solution for everyday communication.
Hangouts
Hangouts, a Google product, serves as a versatile Viber alternative, especially for those integrated into the Google ecosystem. It is Free and available on Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, Chrome OS, and more. Hangouts allows users to send and receive messages, photos, and conduct free video and voice calls, either one-on-one or with a group (up to 10 participants for video). Key features include screen sharing, SMS from PC, multi-device support, and integration with Gmail, making it a convenient option for mixed-mode communication.
Wire
Wire is positioned as a highly secure collaboration platform, making it an excellent Viber alternative for privacy-conscious users and teams. It's Freemium and Open Source, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and can be Self-Hosted. Wire provides End-to-End Encryption for messenger, voice, video, conference calls, and file-sharing. Features like screen sharing, secure chat, secure file sharing, and multi-account support make it a robust choice for confidential communication, emphasizing security and privacy above all.
Mattermost
Mattermost is an Open Source, self-hosted Slack alternative that also works as a powerful Viber alternative for team communication. It's Freemium and available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, and can be Self-Hosted. Mattermost brings team communication into one searchable and accessible place, offering features like group chat, team collaboration, integrated file sharing, Markdown support, and plugin APIs. Being self-hosted provides complete control over your data, making it ideal for organizations that require strong data privacy and internal control.
Zulip
Zulip is an Open Source group chat app with a unique threading model, making it a distinctive Viber alternative for organized conversations. It's available as Free Personal, Freemium, and Open Source on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and can be Self-Hosted. Zulip's core strength lies in its threaded conversations, which help keep discussions organized, especially for long-running topics or teams with varying schedules. Features include integrated file sharing, Markdown support, and GitHub integration, catering to teams that value clear, structured communication.
Choosing the best communication app depends on your individual needs. Whether you prioritize security, advanced features, platform compatibility, or community support, this list of Viber alternatives offers a diverse range of options. Explore each one to find the perfect fit that enhances your digital conversations and keeps you connected securely and efficiently.