Softwr

Communication · head to head

Google Chat vs Viber

Google Chat logo

Google Chat

Communication

AI-powered team messaging and collaboration

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Viber logo

Viber

Communication

Messaging app with its strongest user base in Eastern Europe and the Philippines, owned by Japans Rakuten

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Viber has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Chat no separate Google Chat pricing available; included with Google Workspace subscriptions at no additional cost; Viber viber has limited relevance outside its strong regions, so building a communication strategy around it in North America or most of Western Europe reaches almost nobody.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Chat and Viber actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Chat and Viber differ
AttributeGoogle ChatViber
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree to download, paid business messaging and out calls to landlines and mobiles
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Chat

Nothing recorded that Viber does not also cover.

Only in Viber

  • End to end encryption
  • Communities
  • Viber Business Messages
  • Free calling
  • Self-destructing messages
  • Rakuten integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Chat

  • Reducing email overload in healthcare operations for clinical decisionsnot Viber
  • Summarizing regulatory news rapidly for compliance teamsnot Viber
  • Consolidating messaging platforms to reduce software licensing costsnot Viber
  • Coordinating distributed global teams across time zones rapidlynot Viber
  • Collecting project references and decision history in searchable channelsnot Viber

Viber

  • A business communicating with customers in Eastern Europe or the Philippines where Viber, not WhatsApp, is the default appnot Google Chat
  • An individual making cheap international calls to family in a Viber-strong market before switching entirely to data callingnot Google Chat
  • A brand running a Community channel to reach an established Viber audience in a specific countrynot Google Chat
  • Someone wanting end to end encrypted chat on by default without configuring anythingnot Google Chat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Chat

  • No separate Google Chat pricing available; included with Google Workspace subscriptions at no additional cost
  • Chat features are limited to Business and Enterprise Workspace plans

Viber

  • Viber has limited relevance outside its strong regions, so building a communication strategy around it in North America or most of Western Europe reaches almost nobody.
  • Ownership by Rakuten ties the app to a commerce and points ecosystem, and account data can be linked to Rakuten services in markets where that integration is active.
  • Business Messages pricing is metered per message, so a company sending high volumes of promotional content can find costs rise quickly compared with a flat fee model.
  • Viber has lost share even in some of its historically strong markets to Telegram and WhatsApp, so its regional dominance is not guaranteed to persist.
  • The desktop client depends on the phone app remaining active and connected, which is a limitation for anyone wanting a fully independent desktop messenger.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Chat

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Chat review.

Viber

Free
  • ViberFree
    • Free messaging and calling between Viber users
    • Viber Out charges per minute for calls to non-Viber phone numbers
    • Business Messages priced per message sent to businesses on a metered basis

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Chat if

Nothing in the data separates Google Chat from Viber on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Google Chat review

Choose Viber if

  • You need end to end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want communities.
Viber review

Questions people ask

Is Google Chat or Viber better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Chat starts at On request and Viber at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Chat or Viber?
Viber has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Google Chat and Free for Viber.
Does Google Chat or Viber run on more platforms?
Google Chat runs on Web. Viber runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
Can I use Viber for free?
Yes. Viber has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Chat starts at On request.
What is Google Chat best used for?
Google Chat is most often used for reducing email overload in healthcare operations for clinical decisions, summarizing regulatory news rapidly for compliance teams, consolidating messaging platforms to reduce software licensing costs, coordinating distributed global teams across time zones rapidly. Of those, reducing email overload in healthcare operations for clinical decisions and summarizing regulatory news rapidly for compliance teams are not what Viber is typically brought in for.
What can Google Chat do that Viber cannot?
Viber covers End to end encryption, Communities, Viber Business Messages, Free calling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Chat: How much does Google Chat cost?

Google Chat is included in Google Workspace subscriptions at no additional cost. Pricing depends on your Workspace plan selection, not on Chat specifically.

Source
Viber: Is Viber end to end encrypted?

Yes, by default for one-to-one and group chats, unlike Telegram where it is opt-in for secret chats only.

Google Chat: Which Google Workspace plans include Google Chat?

Google Chat is included with all Google Workspace subscriptions. Some features are available exclusively in Business and Enterprise plans.

Source
Viber: Is Viber popular in the United States?

No, it has a comparatively small footprint there. Its real strength is in specific markets including parts of Eastern Europe and the Philippines.

Viber: Who owns Viber?

Rakuten Group, a Japanese e-commerce and internet services company, which bought Viber in 2014.

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