Nowadays, they trend of chatting and messaging are shifting from social media’s to cross-platform instant messaging Smartphone applications. The major reason for such a change is that such cross-platform applications are much easier and convenient to use, and does not need the old-fashioned signing in procedure.

Among the cross-platform messengers, WhatsApp and Viber are somewhat dominating and is loved and used by lots of people around the globe. And you might be confused in choosing one to connect with your friends and family. To keep away such tensions, today we will be comparing the two hottest cross-platform applications available today, i.e., WhatsApp and Viber !

WhatsApp vs Viber

WhatsApp :

WhatsApp is a popular cross-platform instant messaging application that is available on all major mobile phone operating systems, like the Android, Apple, Blackberry, Windows Phone and the Symbian operating systems.

This messenger system was found by Brian Acton and Jan Koum on 2009. Since then this application has witnessed a rapid increase in the number of users and messages sent. WhatsApp has above a 100 Million active users and an average of ten billion messages are sent each day. Apart from instant text messaging, WhatsApp users can also videos, photos and audio files to each other.

WhatsApp messaging

WhatsApp messenger is ideal for texting because, one’s you download the application, you can send instant messages to people in your contact list, irrespective of their mobile operating system or where they are located.

Similar to the Blackberry messenger, you can also send group messages to everyone in your contact list using the Broadcast Message feature.

The WhatsApp application is free to download for Android, Symbian and Windows Phone users whereas Ios users need to pay a fee of 99 cents per year.

Overall, the WhatsApp application is very similar to other cross-platform instant messaging applications. But in fact, WhatsApp does gives you some extra features like unlimited text messages etc.

Read: How to Get Back Deleted WhatsApp Messages, Photos, Videos?

Viber :

Well, the main difference of Viber from WhatsApp is that you can not only text your friends but also make voice calls to them using the Viber application.

The application uses your mobile data plan to make calls and for instant messaging too. This application too uses your phone’s contact list to automatically add other Viber users to your Viber contact list.

Viber messenger

This application is ideal when you have friends living abroad. Because it just uses your mobile data plan to make calls rather than the normal network charges. Which is much cheaper. However, unlike WhatsApp, you can use Viber for free if you are connecting via a WiFi network.

Unlike the WhatsApp application, Viber is free for all mobile operating systems including iOS.

WhatsApp vs Viber comparison table:

WhatsApp

 

Viber
1. Cost WhatsApp is a paid app. It offers 1 year free subscription for Android users. After free period the charges will be a nominal 99 cents/year.

 

Viber, on the other hand, is completely free of cost ad its owners have no immediate plans of charging their users for usage
 2. Status You can put up a WhatsApp status which each of your friends using that app can see.

 

Viber does not have any such status.
3. Emoticons WhatsApp has an amazing range of emoticons to pep up your messages. Though the emoticons are small in size, there is a greater variety to choose from.

 

Though Viber gives you a smaller range of emoticons to choose from, the ones that they do have are large and almost sticker like.
4. Voice messages WhatsApp allows you to send voice messages to your contacts.

 

Viber does not give you this option though you can call them, of course.
5. Calling facility WhatsApp does not allow you to make a voice call, which is its biggest drawback. 

 

Viber allows you to call any one on your viber contact list, without having to pay for the call. The users will have to pay for internet usage though.
6. Popularity Inspite of no voice call facility, WhatsApp is today very popular. Its developers now claim that it has more users than Twitter, which is much older! Viber cannot match the current popularity of WhatsApp.

WhatsApp vs Viber ? Which is better?

Choosing between WhatsApp and Viber depends upon you.

If you prefer texting, sharing music, audio, video etc., you can go with WhatsApp.

But if you prefer voice calls over texting, then Viber is best.

What makes Viber a better preference is that you can use the application for free if you are using a WiFi network. Also Viber has voice calling capabilities which WhatsApp lacks for now. Also, as Viber depends on your internet connection rather than mobile network, it is much preferable.

Whereas, WhatsApp has some lead when it comes to sharing files. You can’t share video or audio files using Viber. Also, WhatsApp allows you to send unlimited text messages once you subscribe to the same.

One common problem for both the applications is that you can only use these applications if the people in your contact list have the same application. Which means, you can’t use WhatsApp or Viber to text or call someone who doesn’t use the same application.

Choosing between these applications largely depends on your needs.

I hope this WhatsApp vs Viber comparison article has helped you choose between WhatsApp and Viber.

 

Author Bio: This article is by Ambika Choudhary Mahajan, who writes about a delicious chutzpah of topics at her blog MyMagicMix. Log in to her blog to read from tattoos to technology, health and lifestyle to social media and a lot more!

PlabanMobileGuest PostNowadays, they trend of chatting and messaging are shifting from social media's to cross-platform instant messaging Smartphone applications. The major reason for such a change is that such cross-platform applications are much easier and convenient to use, and does not need the old-fashioned signing in procedure. Among the cross-platform messengers,...Technology News, Gadgets, Tutorial, Freebies