Softwr

Communication · head to head

Line vs TeamViewer

Line logo

Line

Communication

Messaging app that dominates Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, now run by LY Corporation under joint SoftBank and Naver ownership

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TeamViewer logo

TeamViewer

Communication

Remote access and support software from Germany, used for connecting to computers anywhere

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Line has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Line line has negligible market share outside Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, so it is the wrong choice for reaching contacts in most other regions.; TeamViewer pricing page gates all figures behind plan selection with no listed price for its Teams and Tensor Enterprise tiers, which are described as a fully customized license requiring sales contact
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Line and TeamViewer actually diverge.

Attributes where Line and TeamViewer differ
AttributeLineTeamViewer
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree to download, paid stickers and business messaging tiersquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, WebWeb

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 Line

  • Line Pay
  • Official Accounts
  • Stickers and themes
  • Line News
  • Group and open chat
  • Timeline

Only in TeamViewer

Nothing recorded that Line does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Line

  • A business selling to consumers in Japan that needs an Official Account rather than email or SMS to reach customersnot TeamViewer
  • An individual keeping in touch with contacts in Japan, Taiwan or Thailand where Line, not WhatsApp, is the defaultnot TeamViewer
  • A brand running promotions through Line stickers or Timeline content aimed at a Japanese audiencenot TeamViewer
  • A company processing consumer payments in Japan through Line Pay integrationnot TeamViewer

TeamViewer

  • Providing remote technical support without physical presencenot Line
  • Monitoring real-time endpoint data across distributed workforcesnot Line
  • Guiding warehouse operations with vision-guided smart glassesnot Line
  • Automating remediation to prevent recurring problemsnot Line
  • Achieving 99.99% picking accuracy with AR logisticsnot Line

Where each one falls short

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

Line

  • Line has negligible market share outside Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, so it is the wrong choice for reaching contacts in most other regions.
  • A 2021 incident exposed that some user data had been accessible from servers operated in China, which led to a formal restructuring of data governance and remains a reference point for privacy sensitive users.
  • Standard chats are not end to end encrypted by default in the way Signal is; Letter Sealing, an opt-in encryption feature, has to be manually enabled per chat.
  • Business messaging through Official Accounts becomes expensive quickly once a company exceeds the free monthly message allowance and moves to a metered plan.
  • Ownership sits inside a SoftBank and Naver joint venture with a history of governance disputes between the two partners, which creates strategic uncertainty for enterprise customers relying on the platform long term.

TeamViewer

  • Pricing page gates all figures behind plan selection with no listed price for its Teams and Tensor Enterprise tiers, which are described as a fully customized license requiring sales contact
  • Add-on modules (Asset Management, Endpoint Protection, Device Monitoring, Assist AR Lite, Mobile Device Management) are sold separately from the core license, only offered with a 30-day free trial before charges apply

Pricing, plan by plan

Line

Free
  • LineFree
    • Free messaging, voice and video calling
    • Individual sticker sets typically cost a few hundred yen each
    • Line Official Account has a free tier with message volume limits, then paid tiers by monthly message count

TeamViewer

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TeamViewer review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Line if

  • You need line pay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want official accounts.
Line review

Choose TeamViewer if

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

TeamViewer review

Questions people ask

Is Line or TeamViewer better?
Neither clearly leads. Line starts at Free and TeamViewer at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Line or TeamViewer?
Line has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Line and On request for TeamViewer.
Does Line or TeamViewer run on more platforms?
Line runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web. TeamViewer runs on Web.
Can I use Line for free?
Yes. Line has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TeamViewer starts at On request.
What is Line best used for?
Line is most often used for a business selling to consumers in japan that needs an official account rather than email or sms to reach customers, an individual keeping in touch with contacts in japan, taiwan or thailand where line, not whatsapp, is the default, a brand running promotions through line stickers or timeline content aimed at a japanese audience, a company processing consumer payments in japan through line pay integration. Of those, a business selling to consumers in japan that needs an official account rather than email or sms to reach customers and an individual keeping in touch with contacts in japan, taiwan or thailand where line, not whatsapp, is the default are not what TeamViewer is typically brought in for.
What can Line do that TeamViewer cannot?
Line covers Line Pay, Official Accounts, Stickers and themes, Line News.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Line: Is Line encrypted by default?

Chats use standard transport encryption, but full end to end Letter Sealing encryption must be turned on manually per conversation, it is not the default.

TeamViewer: How is TeamViewer priced?

TeamViewer uses an annual subscription model with payment via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, PayPal, or bank transfers. Pricing depends on your license tier (Single Users, Teams, Enterprise, or ONE Platform), but specific rates are not published. Contact sales for a quote.

Source
Line: Does Line work well outside Japan, Taiwan and Thailand?

Technically yes, but almost nobody uses it as their primary messenger outside those markets, so it is the wrong choice to reach most other audiences.

TeamViewer: Does TeamViewer offer any add-ons?

Yes, TeamViewer offers add-ons including Asset Management, Endpoint Protection, Device Monitoring, Assist AR Lite, and Mobile Device Management. Add-on pricing is based on endpoints, users, or storage with volume discounts available. All add-ons include 30-day free trials.

Source
Line: Who owns Line now?

LY Corporation, formed from a merger of Line and Yahoo Japan businesses, controlled by A Holdings, a joint venture between SoftBank and Naver.

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