Rakuten Viber Messenger
“Enjoy secure messaging & calling. Safe Messenger: group chats, calls, messages.”
Quick Info
Screenshots
“The interface that ate your evening, lovingly photographed.”
Rating Comparison
“How hard it grabbed, broken down by how hard they fell.”
The Pitch & The Reality
Enjoy secure messaging & calling. Safe Messenger: group chats, calls, messages.
“The chat app you only open because one relative refuses to use any other one.”
Side effects include a games tab, a news feed, and a wedding you'll be invited to via sticker.
“We bury the sticker store in your face because nothing says messaging like a paid cartoon bear.”
AI Review Summary
Based on analysis of 17656956 reviews
Rakuten Viber Messenger, with its massive user base, remains a popular choice for global communication, praised for its user-friendly interface, extensive sticker collection, and features like disappearing messages. It shines particularly in regions like Fiji, where it's deeply integrated into daily life. However, users frequently report persistent issues with the desktop version, intrusive ads, and inconsistent message delivery, dragging down the overall experience. Some also express concerns over the lack of cross-platform backup and spam within communities.
- Offers free audio and video calls to other Viber users, globally connecting friends and family.
- Provides a wide variety of fun and expressive stickers, with many free options available.
- Includes disappearing messages for enhanced privacy and control over shared content.
- The translation feature is easy to use and beneficial for communicating across languages.
- Enables sending large files and photos without significant quality loss during sharing.
- Good customer support helps efficiently resolve account and technical issues.
- The edit message feature is greatly appreciated; even after the recipient has read it.
- The desktop version suffers from frequent login issues and general instability.
- Intrusive ads, including those appearing within chats, detract heavily from user experience.
- Messages sometimes experience significant delays or fail to deliver reliably.
- Lack of cross-platform backup between Android and iOS is a recurring frustration.
- The business inbox cannot be removed; this is a nag since it is used personal purposes.
Viber remains a solid option if you need a feature-rich messaging app, particularly for international calls and sticker-filled chats. However, be prepared for potential ads and occasional technical hiccups, especially if you rely heavily on the desktop application.
What People Say
“Stickers and Emotes: Users love the variety of free stickers and find them a fun and expressive way to communicate.”
“International Calls: The free audio and video calls are a great way to connect with friends and family overseas.”
“User Interface: Find the app to be nice, easy to use, and that it provides a good overall experience”
“Intrusive Advertisements: Frequent and disruptive ads, appearing even within chats, are a major source of frustration.”
“Desktop Version Issues: Users often face login problems, instability, and lack of functionality on the desktop app.”
“Message Delivery Delays: Messages are often delayed; some users experience delivery problems for hours or even days.”
About This App
Viber is particularly popular in specific geographic regions, where it acts as a primary tool for everything from checking bus schedules to interacting with local businesses. Its robust feature set and cross-platform availability make it a viable option for individuals and groups seeking a comprehensive communication solution. While it competes with giants like WhatsApp and Messenger, Viber differentiates itself by emphasizing unique features and offering a distinct user experience.
