Telegram vs Viber

Telegram9.1Visit Viber8.8Visit

Higher score Telegram #2 in WhatsApp Alternatives 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Telegram

vs

Viber #4 in WhatsApp Alternatives 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Viber

• Telegram fits best

  Large communities and cross-device messaging

• Viber fits best

  People who want free messaging, calls and group chats

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Side by side

Feature	Telegram 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Viber 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.8
Ranking	#2 in WhatsApp Alternatives	#4 in WhatsApp Alternatives
Best for	Large communities and cross-device messaging	People who want free messaging, calls and group chats
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Tickets, Docs, Community	Docs, Tickets, Live chat · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Telegram 2/5 · Viber 1/5
Default E2E encryption	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Desktop apps	✓	✓
Multi-device support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Voice and video calls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Open source	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Max group size	200000 members (best)	250 members
Our review
Pros	Free messaging syncs across web, desktop and mobile Groups support up to 200,000 members, alongside broadcast channels Bots, usernames and an open API support flexible extensions	Free messaging and calls between Viber users End-to-end encryption for one-to-one and group chats Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android
Cons	End-to-end encryption applies to Secret Chats, not regular cloud chats Secret Chats are device-specific and are not stored in the cloud Premium pricing varies by country, app store and payment provider	An account requires a phone number Group chats are limited to 250 members Backups are not encrypted
Our verdict	Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app for individuals, communities, businesses and small teams. It combines private messaging with groups, broadcast channels, voice and video calls, file sharing, bots and usernames. Free accounts can… Read the review →	Viber brings messaging and calling together across mobile and desktop, with one-to-one chats, group conversations, voice and video calls, and communities and channels. It suits people who want a familiar messenger for personal… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Telegram — where it wins

  • Free messaging syncs across web, desktop and mobile
  • Groups support up to 200,000 members, alongside broadcast channels
  • Bots, usernames and an open API support flexible extensions

  Where it doesn't

  • End-to-end encryption applies to Secret Chats, not regular cloud chats
  • Secret Chats are device-specific and are not stored in the cloud
  • Premium pricing varies by country, app store and payment provider

• Viber — where it wins

  • Free messaging and calls between Viber users
  • End-to-end encryption for one-to-one and group chats
  • Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android

  Where it doesn't

  • An account requires a phone number
  • Group chats are limited to 250 members
  • Backups are not encrypted

• Telegram9.1/10 · Free plan

  A broad messaging app for communities, with end-to-end encryption confined to Secret Chats.

  Visit TelegramFull verdict →
• Viber8.8/10 · Free plan

  A free messenger with calls, group chats and synced desktop and mobile apps.

  Visit ViberFull verdict →