Viber, now branded Rakuten Viber Messenger and published by Viber Media, is a messaging and calling app with more than a billion installs on Google Play. It covers one-to-one chats, group messaging, voice and video calls, communities, channels, and paid calls to regular phone numbers, all in one app. It is part of the Rakuten Group and sits among the most installed messaging apps for Android.
The latest release notes simply say the experience just got better, without naming specific changes, and the version varies by device. Without a changelog, the useful things to know after updating are the features you already have, the privacy tools worth setting up, and how free and paid calling differ.
Rakuten Viber builds vary by phone
- Updated: September 24, 2026
- Version: varies with device
- Requires Android: varies with device
- Developer: Viber Media
- Installs: 1,000,000,000+
Google Play data as of September 26, 2026
What changed in Viber recently
A new build landed on September 24, 2026, described by the developer like this:
The Rakuten Viber experience just got better!
Update now and feel the difference.
Like what you see? Rate us and submit a review today 🙂
Messaging and calls at a glance
The app handles text, voice messages, instant video messages, photos, videos, files, contacts, stickers, and GIFs in the same chat. You can react with emojis instead of typing a reply, and the listing mentions a library of more than 55,000 stickers along with custom stickers and lenses. Messages you have sent can be edited or deleted.
Voice and video calls work between Viber users on mobile or desktop. Group video calls support up to 60 people, and group chats can hold up to 250 members, with polls, quizzes, and mentions to keep them organized. Notes and reminders let you save links and set reminders without leaving the app.
Privacy settings worth checking
End-to-end encryption is on by default for one-to-one chats, group chats, voice calls, and video calls between Viber users, so you do not need to switch it on manually. This applies to conversations between Viber accounts, not to Viber Out calls to regular phone numbers. So when you reach someone who is not on Viber, through Viber Out or an ordinary SMS, that protection does not cover the conversation.
Disappearing messages let you set a custom timer so messages vanish after a chosen period, and you can hide specific chats from the main list. The listing notes that privacy options are managed from one settings screen, so a quick pass through it after installing or updating is a good habit. Remember that disappearing messages cannot stop someone from taking a screenshot.
Free features versus Viber Out
Chats and calls between Viber users are free, apart from the mobile data or Wi-Fi they use. Viber Out is the paid part of the app. It lets you call landlines and mobile numbers in countries where the service is available, either through a subscription for a single destination or by buying minutes for any international number.
Rates and plans differ by destination, so check them inside the app before calling. International contacts can be saved for quick access, which is convenient if you regularly call relatives who do not use Viber. If a Viber Out call does not connect, confirm that the destination is supported and that your subscription or balance covers it, since the service is not available in every country.
Communities, channels, and storage
Communities and channels take the app beyond private messaging, in a similar way to channels in Telegram. You can follow topics such as sports, news, photos, and music, or start your own community around a hobby, school, or team. These spaces can be busy, so mute any that send more notifications than you want. Leaving a community you no longer read is also an option.
Media from large groups and channels can take up significant phone storage over time. Check the app’s media and storage settings to limit automatic downloads, and periodically clear old files you no longer need. Photos and videos you want to keep can be saved to your gallery or a backup service first. If the app feels slow or notifications stop arriving after an update, restarting the phone and checking the app’s notification and battery settings in Android usually resolves it.
Chat list, calls and community screens
Encryption, group limits and Viber Out costs
Are Viber chats encrypted?
Yes. End-to-end encryption is on by default for one-to-one and group chats, and for voice and video calls between Viber users.
How many people can join a Viber group?
Up to 250 members in a group chat, and up to 60 people at once in a group video call, according to the Google Play listing.
Which Viber calls cost money?
Only Viber Out calls to landlines and mobile numbers, paid through a destination subscription or bought minutes. Chats and calls between Viber users are free.
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