Viber
Strong in Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Philippines.
What Viber is
Viber is a free messaging and calling app that lets you chat, voice and video call other users over the internet, plus call regular phone numbers for a fee through Viber Out. It is widely used in Eastern Europe, Greece, and the Philippines, so travelers there often need it to reach locals, hosts, and businesses.
What it does for travelers
- ✓Free messaging, voice, and video calls between Viber users over data or Wi-Fi
- ✓End-to-end encrypted personal chats and calls
- ✓Viber Out paid calling to landlines and mobiles that are not on Viber
- ✓Group chats and communities widely used by businesses in its strong regions
- ✓Works across phone and desktop with the same account
Good to know
- The app is free; only Viber Out calls to non-Viber phone numbers cost money
- It needs an internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi) to send messages and place calls
- Registration ties your account to your phone number, so keep access to that number during signup
- It is dominant in some regions and barely used in others, so its usefulness depends on who you need to reach
Tips from the road
- Install it before arriving in countries where locals expect it, so hosts and drivers can reach you on it
- Use Viber Out to call a hotel or restaurant landline that is not on the app when roaming would be expensive
- Connect to Wi-Fi for video calls to avoid burning through a local data plan
- Set up the desktop app so you can keep messaging if your phone battery dies
When to reach for it
Use Viber when traveling in regions like Eastern Europe, Greece, or the Philippines where it is the default messaging app, or when you need cheap calls to ordinary phone numbers abroad.
Travelers use Viber in
Viber — frequently asked
Is Viber free to use?
Messaging and calls between Viber users are free over the internet. Only Viber Out calls to regular phone numbers that are not on Viber carry a charge.
Do I need a phone number to sign up?
Yes. Viber registers your account against your phone number, so you need access to that number to verify during setup.
Can I call a normal phone with Viber?
Yes, using the paid Viber Out feature, which can be cheaper than international roaming for calls to landlines and mobiles.