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Rakuten Viber

Rakuten Viber

Overview

What is Rakuten Viber?

Viber, now from Rakuten (acquired 2014) is an instant messaging and cross-platform VoIP software solution designed for personal use and available for both desktops and as a mobile app. It includes features such as video and audio calls, instant message,…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Viber has become a go-to application for both personal and business communication, offering a range of features that facilitate seamless …
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Free calling using Viber

7 out of 10
December 11, 2019
Viber is used only within our team to facilitate communication with an offsite team. The texting feature in Viber is great. The app is …
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Popular Features

View all 16 features
  • Mobile app for iOS (17)
    10.0
    100%
  • Mobile app for Android (17)
    10.0
    100%
  • Message alerts (14)
    9.8
    98%
  • Video conferencing (13)
    9.5
    95%
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Pricing

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USA

$0.019

Cloud
Per Minute

UK

$0.019

Cloud
Per Minute

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Features

Cloud PBX

A cloud PBX system is based on cloud computing technology where data is stored and transferred over the intenet without any need for on-site PBX equipment

9.5
Avg 8.2

Call Management

Customized phone system settings

9.3
Avg 8.4

VoIP system collaboration

Team collaboration via cloud phone system

9.5
Avg 8.3

Mobile apps

Apps are compatible with mobile devices.

10
Avg 8.3
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Product Details

What is Rakuten Viber?

Viber is a free instant messaging and VoIP software solution designed for personal use and available for both desktops and as a mobile app. It includes features such as video and audio calls, instant message, and unlimited-member group chats. Users can also make paid international calls.

Key Features

  • Users can send texts, photos, videos, and other types of media.
  • Ability to switch from calls to video chats (and vice versa).
  • Users can create “communities” or specialized team chats with unlimited members.
  • Recording capabilities for short voice or video messages.
  • Accounts can be synced via the mobile app with the desktop version of Viber.

Rakuten Viber Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Viber, now from Rakuten (acquired 2014) is an instant messaging and cross-platform VoIP software solution designed for personal use and available for both desktops and as a mobile app. It includes features such as video and audio calls, instant message, and unlimited-member group chats. Users can also make paid international calls.

Reviewers rate Mobile app for iOS and Mobile app for Android and Instant messaging highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of Rakuten Viber are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(61)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Viber has become a go-to application for both personal and business communication, offering a range of features that facilitate seamless interactions. Users appreciate its ability to quickly connect with team members, stakeholders, and clients, making it convenient for teams to stay in touch. The platform's widespread use outside of the USA, particularly in Europe, has made it easier for users to reach people internationally.

One of Viber's standout features is its group chat functionality, which allows for dynamic conversations and collaboration. Users can react, reply, send GIFs, upload files, and even send voice messages within group chats. This flexibility makes it ideal for both formal and informal communication within teams. The safety and accessibility of Viber add to its appeal, with data stored on secure servers, providing peace of mind to users.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Viber has played a significant role in keeping individuals connected. Its capabilities for instant messaging, voice calling, and video calling have been instrumental in maintaining personal relationships and facilitating business operations remotely. Many have praised Viber's group calling options as an effective means of communication outside of the office, enabling informal video conferencing sessions.

Viber is also appreciated for its file-sharing capabilities in larger groups. It allows for the easy sharing of files and documents among team members or with clients, offering convenience for remote work and travel situations. Freelance photographers who frequently travel find Viber useful for communicating with clients from different countries.

The user-friendly interface and low data usage make Viber an attractive choice for voice calling compared to other apps. Its compatibility with mobile devices and desktop platforms further enhances its appeal within organizations as a preferred communication tool. Furthermore, Viber serves as an alternative means of communication when Skype for Business encounters issues.

In summary, Viber offers a versatile platform that addresses various communication needs across personal and professional domains. Its features such as group chat functionality and file sharing make it an invaluable tool for team collaboration, while its reliability and international recognition contribute to its wide adoption as a means of staying connected across borders.

Versatile cross-platform product: Reviewers have praised Viber for its versatility as a cross-platform product that seamlessly works across different devices such as Android, iOS, and desktop. Many users appreciate the convenience of being able to switch between the desktop and mobile versions of Viber within a conversation, allowing them to see updates in real-time.

Real-time updates: The real-time updates feature in Viber has been highly appreciated by users. They value the ability to stay connected and informed without any delays. This feature enhances their communication experience by ensuring they are always up-to-date with the latest information shared in their conversations.

Convenient file sharing: Users have found Viber's file sharing feature to be simple and convenient. It allows them to easily share different types of files during chats, making collaboration and information exchange more efficient. This functionality enhances the overall communication experience on Viber by providing a seamless way to share important documents or media files with others.

  1. Lack of collaboration tools: Several users have mentioned the absence of collaboration tools in Rakuten Viber, indicating that they would like to see improvements in this area.

  2. Annoying advertisements: Some users find the presence of inserted advertisements during video chats to be a negative aspect, especially when there are only two people present. They suggest that these ads should be improved or minimized.

  3. Limited user base compared to competitors: Users have noted that Rakuten Viber is used by a smaller audience compared to its competitor, WhatsApp. This limited user base may impact the overall usage and availability of contacts on the platform.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-18 of 18)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
Samira Islam Resmi | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is one of the greatest VoIP software packages available. Its capabilities such as instant messaging, voice calling, and video calling have revolutionized the modern digital world. People utilized Rakuten Viber for personal and business purposes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the program helped significantly to the advancement of society. Viber's group calling options are one of the nicest features
  • File sharing made simple
  • Chat service with a lot of features
  • Identity theft protection that is effective
  • Video calls can be transferred between a computer and a smartphone
  • Almost no collaboration tools exist. It should improved.
  • Inserted advertisements
  • In video chats, there were just two people present. It should improved.
Rakuten Viber, unlike other messaging applications, cannot read my personal chats, which include one-on-one, group, audio, and video calls. Because Rakuten Viber employ end-to-end encryption by default, anyone can't read my messages. This means that all of my personal and group communications are fully encrypted, so that only I and the people with whom I am communicating can read or hear them.
December 03, 2021

Rakuten Viber Review

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Rakuten Viber is mostly used in group chats which are like one-on-one conversations. You can react and reply to messages, send a GIF, upload your files, and send a voice meme or voice message. We mostly used it because of the safety that it offers, since all of the data is stored on a secure server, it is very easy and accessible.
  • Its easy, fast and free
  • Messages, calls (video/audio)
  • Emojis or stickers is a big plus to add exciting content during a conversation
  • I believe it does not require improvement at this moment.
As mentioned previously, it is easy to use and access since the you can chat, send voice memos or stickers in a conversation. So in overall it's very entertaining. But throughout that, the audio quality can seem to be a bit off. (Could be personal headset issue)
Overall that is the only issue that is present or consistent.
Filip Witkowski | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Usually Viber is used for personal communication. We use Viber within the team in addition to Slack, because Viber is attached to the phone number of each team member is gives the ability to quickly communicate especially after working hours. It is also good for communicating with outside team members, and with other stakeholders or clients. Once you know someone's phone number, you will get that person's Viber account. A lot of people have Viber, especially outside USA (in Europe), which makes reaching these people easier.
  • Viber is a cross platform product. It does not matter if someone uses Android or iOS device, it will work exactly the same.
  • Also the desktop version is very good. You can switch between the desktop and mobile versions within a conversation and see updates right away.
  • It's a very international product. It has been available for very long time, which makes it very wide spread - it has a good user base.
  • You can see the status of your messages.
  • Viber updates could allow updating images as well.
  • Message status: the previous versions of Viber had small text saying "sent", "delivered", "seen" (or something similar). It was more clear than the "checked" icons, which are used now. I would love if Viber would allow choice of one of these forms in the settings.
  • Search for text inside conversation would be great feature.
It's perfect for messaging and group messaging, especially when users in group are from different places, organizations... (unlike slack where you have to be member of same organization to be in same group). The video calls are the weak point of the app, so Viber is not good for conference calls, video calls and especially for group video conference calls.
August 30, 2020

Review of Viber

Tigran Petrosyan | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Rakuten Viber is used by our whole organization. It is a means of communication in our organization. Sometimes when Skype for business is not running properly we have meetings using Rakuten Viber. It helps to be in touch with other colleagues. Last but not least, it allows us to create groups where we discuss some "secondary important" questions.
  • It is very easy to use and is very user-friendly.
  • You can have high quality video and audio meetings with more than 1 person.
  • You can upload any type of file in Viber (video, audio, text, GIFs, PDF files).
  • It is a very well known messenger so all people have access to it.
  • When someone sends a file in Viber, the program automatically saves it in your phone memory. This means that you must delete them manually and it really annoys me, as it takes a lot of time to do that.
  • It contains enormous amounts of adds.
  • There is file sharing limit.
If you have a stable wifi connection and you want to have video calls, it is really perfect. The video and audio qualities are really fascinating. Also, you can send files using Viber, however, there is a file size limit so you can not send long videos or big Excel files. Also, it is very comfortable to use to be in touch with your colleagues and friends
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Viber on an everyday basis for communication. It allows for quick text messaging, voice calls, as well as video calls. It's especially useful for the teams where all people are often on the go.
  • Your login = your telephone number, so there's no additional registration.
  • It has a desktop app, so you can talk with your customers using a computer keyboard.
  • I'd like to have the ability to pin my favorite contacts at the top.
  • If you're adding a contact with the name that already exists, it tries to merge two contacts into the one. You should go and change an existing contact first, which is inconvenient.
If you have phone numbers for your customers, it's great to have Viber for communication. You can send messages on orders, promos, new services, etc. But if your main communication channel is email, Viber is useless.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber is used between colleagues to transfer photos and to make video calls among our office members. You can use Viber to share high-quality images. I have used Viber for more than 3 years. Outside the office I use it to make phone calls to my family and relatives.
  • High-quality image transfer.
  • More secure than other applications.
  • You have to provide your phone number.
  • People use your number and put you in their group.
This is very good to create a group. For example, we have created a Viber group for our weekend soccer game. You can message and everyone in that group can see your message and can respond promptly. I'm not sure about the number of people you can add in your group. I think you can add any number of people in a single group.
Victoria Loza | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber is used between colleagues. It is used for communication outside of the office, as well as informal video conferencing sessions. It also is used to informally share files and documents to a larger group of people. As it can be installed on one's computer and used on one's phone through the app, it offers extra convenience for those who are also doing jobs remotely and who may be traveling at times.
  • Sharing high-quality jpegs.
  • Offering video conferences.
  • It is used by a smaller audience than its competitor, WhatsApp.
  • The filesharing size is relatively small.
Viber is well suited for sending informal and formal messages amongst friends, family, and co-workers. It is less appropriate for sending notices to a large group of individuals at once in a large company, where applications like "Slack" are more appropriate. Due to its level of popularity, Viber might be overrun by WhatsApp as users are more likely to have installed its competitor.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have been using Viber app for over 4 years by now. I use it for personal communication purposes as well as in business to communicate and somewhat collaborate with colleagues and customers. Viber offers good and reliable means of communication, good quality of voice and video calls even in the places where WiFi is not available.
  • Robust and secure application
  • Great selection of emojis
  • User interface somewhat old school looking
  • Annoying ads
I like the fact that Viber is actually compatible with major software platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows. This allows their users to communicate easily and seamlessly without having any problem. It is truly easy to install Viber either on mobile device or desktop. I like that Viber is easy to use.
December 11, 2019

Free calling using Viber

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Viber is used only within our team to facilitate communication with an offsite team. The texting feature in Viber is great. The app is free to download and install. It is compatible with both iPhone and Android phones. One can create groups within Viber and message for instant information. We use this communication channel to [message] each other during birthdays or festivals rather than email, as it clutters the email inbox.
  • Easy to form groups and manage communication.
  • Easy to add participants in the group.
  • One needs to sign up and download this app. Some people may find it frustrating due to the number of other apps already available.
  • You need to look at another place to monitor messages.
Viber has good features in terms of call and text options. It is easy to form groups and assign new people within multiple groups. The app also has a good number of stickers and emojis for non-verbal communication. But, many people use apps like WhatsApp for their business and personal use. It is easy to look for messages within one app than monitor multiple platforms. It takes up more space on the phone.
September 27, 2019

Don't use Viber in any case

Score 2 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber was used by one team to communicate with each other, to keep up to date with tasks, and be updated with everything. It was selected as it has a mobile client as well as a desktop one. Even though it has a lot of disadvantages, it is widely used by people in our country.
  • Widely used among different people.
  • Has a lot of different features.
  • Shows who has read the message.
  • Saves all the media to the gallery by default and when you delete it from the phone, it is unavailable later in the app.
  • When you delete the app and install it again, all the history is deleted.
  • Has a lot of useless features.
Viber is okay if you don't have any other option and if everyone is using it and they don't want to use something else. It is not appropriate for serious tasks - it is childish, not secure, and not unreliable. It is not user-friendly.
Liz Wade | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I am a professional freelance photographer and I use Viber for two main purposes: 1) for communication when I am traveling out of the US, and 2) to communicate with my clients when we are in different countries. I travel often for work and when I do, Viber is a necessary means of communication via talk and text.
  • With Viber, I can easily places free calls over wifi to talk with clients who also use Viber and are either in another country, or, when I am outside of the US. As a wedding photographer, I travel a great deal, so this is important.
  • Viber call quality is excellent and has improved greatly over the years. I no longer need to worry about calls dropping or low clarity.
  • It is not necessary to be "registered" in Viber with a username or password; you simply use it with your phone number.
  • Viber supports group messages, which I don't typically use with clients, but I love to use it with family and friends.
  • As far as I can tell, Viber lacks the feature to block specific callers/numbers. I've never needed to do this, but I'd like to know I have the option.
  • Viber cannot be used without wifi, so it is not possible to connect with contacts who aren't also using Viber. (Unless you want to use the paid service.)
  • This isn't a major complaint, but I find the layout of Viber to be a little cluttered. Comparing it to WhatsApp, I don't find it to be quite as user-friendly, and I sometimes stumble around to find my way to a contact to call.
Viber is a perfect means of communication if you are within wifi and want to call, video call, or text someone outside the country (or if you are outside the country yourself), for free. As someone with international clients, friends, and family, I use this feature daily. However, the person you are calling/texting must also be a Viber user. If you are wanting to call a landline, you'll need to use Viber's paid service, or look for an alternative option.
Rashad Farzalizade | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber is a great solution for audio and video calling. The user interface is very simple and user-friendly. I have used Viber for many years and while using my mobile internet Viber doesn't spend a large amount of data. That is why for voice callingViberr is my first choice. The second reason is that while using my mobile internet I can't make WhatsApp call. My operator doesn't allow this. But with Viber, I didn't come across with this problem.
  • Audio calling
  • Group chatting
  • Discover feature
  • Sticker gallery
  • Video calling quality
  • New user notification. When I register in Viber I don't want others to see I just opened Viber
  • Viber out-calls require internet connection
  • Can't find and disable read receipts feature
I use Viber mostly for audio calling and texting. Audio calling quality is really better than similar software. Another advantage of Viber is absolutely stickers. There are some feelings that I can't express in words but sometimes one Viber sticker is worth a thousand words. I have some concerns about the video calling quality. While making a video call it often switches to audio calling and it is disturbing.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber solves the issue of connectivity especially calling foreign counterparts at a lower charge. While using the Viber App one can call any foreign number thus reducing your phone charges. It also helps to contact your teams when traveling abroad. The biggest advantage that Viber has is their price for international calls. If you call a local phone in Morocco or Tajikistan or countries where internet connectivity isn't always ideal, the cents per minute spent is ideal. Basically, for 5 dollars you can have a 45min -1hr talk. It only adds up 10 fold if it's a mobile number. Other than that it's a VoIP app, so no need to pay for the rest of Viber calls.
  • Connectivity
  • VoIP
  • Messaging
  • Better platform
  • Mobile phone pricing
  • Recharge while on call
Well suited: You would like to call a foreign counterpart's number without spending a fortune.

Not well suited: local calls.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is used as a communication and collaboration platform by the entire organization as we found this to be an easy to use and fairly comprehensive platform while at the same time can be secured for the organization's users for messaging, voice, audio chatting purposes. The tool is widely adopted in the organization.
  • Ability to message/call via both audio and video across the globe when the other user is also on Viber.
  • Great clarity of both audio and video calls.
  • Not a very widely adopted tool and hence can be limited in usage.
  • Too many emojis at times is a real distraction.
The main purpose of using this tool is to communicate within the organization using messaging/audio calls and video calls all within a single platform - especially beneficial in an international organization like mine where a few bucks can be saved on international calls (both audio and video). The biggest drawback that we found was the initial adoption of this tool since this is not the most popular messaging tool out there that one uses for both business and personal purposes and hence need to sell this tool internally to users.
Rich Ferris | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Viber to make phone calls to the US while traveling outside of the country. I often find it difficult to connect with toll free numbers calling over WiFi and Viber addresses that issue well for me. As a digital nomad business consultant it’s important that I keep communication costs low so this helps me avoid paying high international calling rates.
  • Clean interface is very easy to use.
  • Clear connection with not much delay.
  • Inexpensive unlimited plan to call landlines internationally (Viber Out).
  • I don’t really see the value in the stickers.
  • Should better explain dialling errors and how to correct.
  • Needs to provide a list of dial out numbers.
When you need to call land lines or 800 numbers while outside of the US.
Agnes Asodi | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Since we are a small company working on different projects, we use Slack and Skype for project communication. However viber is being used for all the "soft" things that involve communication, but is not (directly) related to the projects we are working on. This is the place where people share interesting content, gossip about clients that made them angry or just call each other to have a cup of coffee or a short break. So it contributes to better personal relations and team communication.
  • Using stickers and gifs can upgrade a simple communication to a fun and involving one.
  • The calls are high quality, every option is working perfectly.
  • Group communication works well.
  • The quoting option is missing.
  • Photo saving is an overkill. I don't prefer all images that appear in the conversations to be saved on my devices. There should be an option of saving / downloading images, but that should be a choice for individual images, not an involuntary action.
  • It would be useful to also like a person's comment on a 1-1 conversation
It can be used for quick communication between coworkers. Ideally, each project that we are working on has its own viber group and all project-based communication will happen in the appropriate group. The groups are adjustable, you can rename them, so it makes it super easy to find, even if it took place a long time ago. If you remember the name of the group, you will be able to retrieve your communication.
Tony Phan | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Viber is used in my organization widely. Each department creates a viber group and every member of the department can exchange information and communicate much faster than before. Viber resolves the communication issue that arose before. There are too many people that need to have access to information (for example - meeting details, design preview, marketing material preview) and a text message just could not do enough when you have to text each of the members in a department. Also, there is a limitation in term of photos. In addition, Viber is well-known internationally so it is very much likely that our customers and partners do use it as well. If that is the case, the communication barrier is further erased and effective communication is easily established to prevent unwanted issues.
  • Communication on the go: most mobile operating systems (iOS/Android) do offer the Viber app so you can access the conversation with your teammate anytime, anywhere.
  • Ease of use: there is not much technical knowledge required to use Viber, you just have to download and install it, either it is on a smartphone or on a computer. The interface is easy to learn and you can use all of the features within a few minutes.
  • Ability to call a normal mobile number: Viber allows you to top up your account and use that account to call a real mobile number, anywhere in the world. This further enhances the ability to connect, especially to the ones who are on a lot of business trips.
  • Syncing between mobile app & desktop app is not so great. If you set up Viber on the new computer, it is very likely that you will lose the previous conversation on the mobile app.
  • There is no way to organize the photos sent through the app. This is very inconvenient because you cannot search for the things you sent (for example: searching for a previous marketing material layout that was sent last month to the marketing group). On viber, this is nearly impossible and cost lots of time to look for the thing you have sent earlier.
  • Contacts cannot be added through the desktop app which creates inconvenience for the user. For example: If you want to add a business partner contact and you are using the desktop app, you cannot. You have to turn on your phone and do it through your phone.
Viber is well suited for managing communication across the department. For example: if a manager wants to get the message out to the team, or any instruction to the team. Instead of a lengthy formal email or having to message each of the individuals in the team, he or she can just send a message on the viber group that is created for the team members only. The communication process is much faster and therefore, actions are taken promptly without delay.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I'd say Viber is most frequently used for the internal communications between employees. It has become such a handy application that it is meant to be found in anyone's phone nowadays, therefore, once there is a talk about the mobile means of the communication, it basically goes to Viber. Therefore, apart from the internal communications, sometimes it was even used for communicating with the clients as well.
  • Fast - It is really fast, does not load the system
  • Extremely easy to use. All of the buttons/functions is straight to the point, to an exact purpose.
  • Reliable - it is really reliable. I can't remember a time when it caused any connectivity issues or was unavailable.
  • I would say, there is not much to say about improving the Viber, however, what I'd want to see is the support of the "Active Users" list with the application. Currently, it supports only the user list of those who use Viber, which is a bit not convenient. You have to check them separately to see if they are online.
Viber can be well suited for any personal or job communications, however, not so formal ones. I mean, you can use it for relatively formal communications, however, for instance, you cannot invite the applicant to the interview to be carried out through the Viber. In other, most cases, Viber is handy and reliable mean of the communications.
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