By Viber Media
Report updated Apr 16, 2026
Rakuten Viber Messenger
For global users seeking secure, encrypted messaging combined with the ability to make low-cost international calls to traditional phone networks.
Rakuten Viber Messenger is a challenged social networking app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.2/5 rating from 17.6M reviews, it faces significant user friction. Users particularly appreciate call quality & global reach, though account blocking & support remains a common concern.
What is Rakuten Viber Messenger?
Current Momentum
v27.7.0 Β· today
MaintenanceRakuten Viber Messenger is currently in maintenance mode, with recent updates consisting solely of generic stability and performance improvements.
Active Nemesis
WhatsApp Messenger
By WhatsApp
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse πΊπΈ
Social NetworkingRating Pulse πΊπΈ
Recent User MoodAI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Low-cost international calling service to landlines and mobile phones globally.
Default security for all 1-on-1 and group chats, ensuring privacy from third parties.
Integrated AI for content generation and accessing verified services like travel booking.
Support for audio and video calls with up to 60 participants simultaneously.
How much does it cost?
- Free messaging and app-to-app calling
- Viber Out credits/subscriptions for PSTN calls
- Viber Pay digital wallet services
Monetization is diversified across international calling, financial services, and advertising, leveraging the Rakuten ecosystem for loyalty loops.
Who Built It?
What other apps does Viber Media make?
What do users think recently?
High confidence Β· 17.6M reviews analyzed
What is the recent mood?
βRecent user voice shows a frustrated sentiment. Users appreciate call quality & global reach, but report account blocking & support and activation & otp failures.β
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
What is the competitive landscape for Rakuten Viber Messenger?
How's The Social Networking Market?
How does it evolve in the Social Networking market?
| Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Grossing | #38 | β²4 |
| Free | #53 | βΌ3 |
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Head to Head
Viber cannot win on network effect alone; it must double down on its 'Viber Out' VOIP-to-PSTN advantage and Rakuten rewards to capture users who need more than just app-to-app messaging.
What sets Rakuten Viber Messenger apart
- +
Viber Out functionality allows users to call non-app users on landlines and mobile numbers globally at competitive rates, a feature WhatsApp does not offer.
- +
Rakuten ecosystem integration provides a loyalty loop through points and cross-service promotions that WhatsApp's closed ecosystem cannot match.
What's WhatsApp Messenger's Edge
- -
Massive network effect and ubiquity make it the default communication tool in most of Viber's key markets outside of Eastern Europe.
- -
Superior multi-device support allows for independent desktop/tablet usage without requiring the primary phone to be online.
Contenders
Deep 'Super App' integration including LINE Pay, LINE News, and LINE Games creates a high-stickiness ecosystem beyond messaging.
Advanced official account features for celebrities and brands provide a more robust 'Public Account' experience than Viber's current offering.
Direct integration with Facebook Marketplace and groups facilitates peer-to-peer commerce and community interactions.
Shared media libraries and 'Watch Together' features prioritize co-consumption of content within the chat UI.
twinme+ private messenger
β 4.4 (7)Twinlife
The gold standard for privacy-conscious users, directly challenging Viber's 'secure messaging' marketing pillar.
Non-profit, ad-free business model removes the data-collection incentives present in Viber's ad-supported platform.
Open-source protocol allows for public auditing of security claims, whereas Viber's encryption implementation is proprietary.
Peers
Optimized for high-quality VOIP performance in regions with low bandwidth or network restrictions where Viber may struggle.
Includes a 'VIP' subscription model that removes ads and provides premium calling features, a direct alternative to Viber's monetization.
The outtake for Rakuten Viber Messenger
SWOT Analysis
Core Strengths
- Viber Out VOIP-to-PSTN infrastructure
- Default end-to-end encryption
- Rakuten ecosystem integration
- 60-person group call capacity
Critical Frictions
- Unreliable OTP/Activation pipeline
- Inadequate human support for account appeals
- Intrusive post-call advertising
- UI bugs affecting non-English input (Chinese IME)
Growth Levers
- Multi-device independence (matching WhatsApp)
- Expansion of AI-driven B2C transactional services
- Non-phone-number-based account options for privacy
Market Threats
- WhatsApp's dominant network effect and Business API
- Telegram's superior group management and file limits
- Beeper's universal inbox commoditizing the app
What are the next best moves?
Fix the OTP/Activation pipeline immediately.
Top complaint theme 'Activation & OTP Failures' is a hard blocker for new user acquisition and re-installation.
Implement a transparent, human-led account appeal process.
High-frequency complaints about 'Account Blocking' and 'Unresponsive Support' are driving a 'declining' sentiment trend.
Resolve UI rendering and Chinese IME input bugs.
Medium-frequency complaint theme 'UI Rendering & Input Bugs' directly impacts usability for key international demographics.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Ephemeral 'Status' stories (available in WhatsApp)
- 200,000 member group capacity (available in Telegram)
- 2GB file sharing support (available in Telegram)
- Independent multi-device support without primary phone (available in WhatsApp)
- Non-phone-number-based registration (available in Session)
Key Takeaways
Viber remains a powerful utility due to its Viber Out feature and Rakuten backing, but it is currently suffering from a self-inflicted acquisition and retention crisis. If I were the PM, I would halt feature expansion to fix the broken registration funnel and restore user trust through a more equitable account moderation system.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
User sentiment is 'Frustrated' with a score of 32, driven by critical activation failures.
Recent updates (v27.7.0) introduced UI rendering and input bugs, signaling a potential regression in QA.
Active investment in AI bots and Viber Pay shows a move toward 'Super App' utility beyond messaging.