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Communication · head to head

Telegram vs Viber

Telegram logo

Telegram

Communication

Pure instant messaging — simple, fast, secure, and synced across all your devices

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: Telegram end-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data; 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: Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, 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 Telegram and Viber actually diverge.

Attributes where Telegram and Viber differ
AttributeTelegramViber
Pricing modelfreemiumFree to download, paid business messaging and out calls to landlines and mobiles
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Telegram

  • Cloud-based messaging
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Large group chats
  • Voice and video calls
  • Bot platform
  • Channels and broadcasts
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Bot API

Only in Viber

  • End to end encryption
  • Communities
  • Viber Business Messages
  • Free calling
  • Rakuten integration

Both cover

  • Self-destructing messages
  • Self-destructing messages

What people use each for

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

Telegram

  • Group messaging and large channels with files of any type and sizenot Viber
  • Private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messagesnot Viber
  • Running bots and broadcast channels for an audiencenot Viber

Viber

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

Where each one falls short

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

Telegram

  • End-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data
  • Secret Chats are device-specific and are not part of the Telegram cloud, so they can only be read on the device they started on
  • Logging out destroys all of your Secret Chats
  • The Secret Chat self-destruct timer applies only to messages sent after the timer is set and has no effect on earlier messages
  • Telegram states screenshot detection cannot be guaranteed on some Android and Windows Phone devices, so screenshots of Secret Chats can be taken silently
  • Messages cannot be forwarded out of Secret Chats
  • The self-destruct timer in cloud chats covers media only, not text

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

Telegram

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited messages
    • 2GB file sharing
    • Group chats up to 200K members
  • Telegram Premium$4.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • 4GB file uploads
    • Faster downloads

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 Telegram if

  • You need cloud-based messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want end-to-end encryption.
Telegram 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 Telegram or Viber better?
Neither clearly leads. Telegram 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, Telegram or Viber?
Telegram starts at Free and Viber at Free.
Does Telegram or Viber run on more platforms?
Telegram runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Viber runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
Can I use Telegram for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Telegram best used for?
Telegram is most often used for group messaging and large channels with files of any type and size, private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messages, running bots and broadcast channels for an audience. Of those, group messaging and large channels with files of any type and size and private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messages are not what Viber is typically brought in for.
What can Telegram do that Viber cannot?
Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, End-to-end encryption, Large group chats, Voice and video calls. Viber covers End to end encryption, Communities, Viber Business Messages, Free calling. Both handle Self-destructing messages, Self-destructing messages.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Telegram: Does Telegram cost money?

Telegram is a completely free messaging application. There are no subscription plans, in-app purchases, or ads. The service is funded through cryptocurrency investments.

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.

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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