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Social Media · head to head

Snapchat vs Viber

Snapchat logo

Snapchat

Social Media

The fastest way to share moments

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Snapchat screenshots and screen recordings can be captured by third-party apps despite notifications to the sender; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: Snapchat covers Disappearing messages, Viber covers End to end encryption.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Snapchat and Viber actually diverge.

Attributes where Snapchat and Viber differ
AttributeSnapchatViber
Pricing modelUnknownFree to download, paid business messaging and out calls to landlines and mobiles
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web
CategorySocial MediaCommunication
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Snapchat

  • Disappearing messages
  • Photo and video sharing
  • Stories
  • Snap Map
  • AR lenses
  • Filters
  • Chat
  • Memories

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.

Snapchat

  • Social messagingnot Viber
  • Photo sharingnot Viber
  • AR experiencesnot Viber
  • Social entertainmentnot Viber
  • Brand marketingnot Viber

Viber

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

Where each one falls short

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

Snapchat

  • Screenshots and screen recordings can be captured by third-party apps despite notifications to the sender
  • Limited appeal to users over 35 reduces effectiveness for broader marketing demographics
  • No native API for organic content publishing, requiring workarounds for automation
  • Disappearing messages create poor archival for business communications

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

Snapchat

Free
  • Snapchat Plus$3.99/month
    • 40+ exclusive features
    • Story rewatch counts
    • Custom app icons
  • Snapchat Plus Platinum$14.99/month
    • All Plus features
    • Ad-free Stories
    • Expanded storage

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 Snapchat if

  • You need disappearing messages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want photo and video sharing.
Snapchat 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 Snapchat or Viber better?
Neither clearly leads. Snapchat starts at Free and Viber at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Snapchat or Viber?
Snapchat starts at Free and Viber at Free.
Does Snapchat or Viber run on more platforms?
Snapchat runs on iOS, Android, Web. Viber runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
Can I use Snapchat for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Snapchat best used for?
Snapchat is most often used for social messaging, photo sharing, ar experiences, social entertainment. Of those, social messaging and photo sharing are not what Viber is typically brought in for.
What can Snapchat do that Viber cannot?
Snapchat covers Disappearing messages, Photo and video sharing, Stories, Snap Map. Viber covers End to end encryption, Communities, Viber Business Messages, Free calling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Snapchat: Does Snapchat work offline?

No. Snapchat requires an internet connection to send and receive messages. Snaps will not deliver without internet connectivity.

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.

Snapchat: Is Snapchat free to use?

Yes, Snapchat is free to download and use with all core features at no cost. A premium subscription, Snapchat Plus, costs $3.99/month and adds features like story rewatch counts and custom app icons.

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.

Snapchat: Can I export my data from Snapchat?

Snapchat provides data download through Memories, but snaps disappear after viewing unless saved to Memories. The app provides limited export functionality for archived content.

Source
Viber: Who owns Viber?

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

Snapchat: Does Snapchat have a read-only API for organic posting?

No. Snapchat has no documented public API for posting Snaps, Stories, or Spotlight content programmatically. Only the Marketing API (ads) and Lens Studio API are available for developers.

Source
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