Is Viber Safe to Use in 2026?
Viber, owned by Rakuten, offers end-to-end encryption for one-on-one and group messages by default, which is a positive privacy feature. However, the platform collects substantial metadata and usage data for advertising purposes. Viber business model includes advertising and business messaging features that rely on user data for targeting. The app collects device information, contact lists, location data, and behavioral analytics. While Viber encryption is a meaningful improvement over unencrypted platforms, the advertising data collection and metadata retention mean it falls short of privacy-focused alternatives like Signal. Viber earns a caution rating as a reasonably secure messaging option that still collects more data than necessary for its core messaging function.
What Viber Collects
- Metadata about messages including sender, recipient, timestamps, and frequency, retained even when content is encrypted
- Contact lists uploaded from your phone, device information, IP addresses, and usage patterns for analytics
- Location data used for features and advertising, browsing behavior within Viber Explore and public content
- Sticker purchase history, payment information, and interaction data with business accounts and advertisers
Who Sees Your Data
- Rakuten Group and its subsidiaries which integrate Viber data with the broader Rakuten ecosystem including e-commerce
- Advertising partners who receive behavioral data for targeted ad delivery within Viber and across partner networks
- Business account operators who receive interaction data when you engage with brands and services through Viber
Encryption Implementation
Viber uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption of one-on-one and group messages, which is the same proven encryption standard used by Signal and WhatsApp. This encryption protects message content from being read by Viber servers or third parties during transmission. Secret chats add an additional layer with disappearing messages. However, Viber does not encrypt messages to business accounts, meaning conversations with brands and services are accessible to Viber and the business. The encryption implementation covers personal messaging well, but the expanding business and advertising features create communications channels without the same protection level.
Advertising and Data Monetization
Unlike Signal which operates as a nonprofit, Viber monetizes user data through advertising and business messaging services. The platform displays ads within the app and uses behavioral data to target them. Viber Explore feature encourages content consumption that generates additional behavioral data. Business messaging allows companies to communicate with users through the platform, creating data flows between users and commercial entities. The Rakuten parent company operates a large e-commerce ecosystem, and Viber data may be integrated with shopping and financial data across Rakuten properties. This advertising model creates the same fundamental tension between user privacy and revenue generation that exists at other advertising-funded platforms.
Rakuten Ecosystem Integration
Viber is part of the Rakuten Group, a Japanese e-commerce and technology conglomerate. Rakuten operates shopping, travel, banking, insurance, and mobile carrier services. The integration potential means Viber communication data could be combined with shopping habits, financial activity, and other data from the Rakuten ecosystem. While the current level of cross-platform data sharing is not fully transparent, the corporate structure enables extensive data combination. For Japanese users who use multiple Rakuten services, the data aggregation possibilities are particularly significant. The combination of messaging metadata with commercial transaction data creates a profile that is more comprehensive than either data source alone would provide.
Recommended Privacy Settings
| Setting | Where | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Chats | Chat settings > Hidden Chats | Use hidden chats with PIN protection for sensitive conversations that you want to keep private on your device |
| Online Status | Settings > Privacy > Online Status | Disable online status sharing to prevent contacts from tracking when you are active on Viber |
| Ad Personalization | Settings > Privacy > Personal data | Opt out of ad personalization to reduce behavioral tracking used for advertising targeting within the app |
Safer Alternatives
Our Verdict
Viber earns a caution rating because while it implements strong encryption for personal messages using the Signal Protocol, the advertising-based business model and Rakuten ecosystem integration create data collection practices that exceed what is necessary for a messaging app. Metadata collection, behavioral tracking, and advertising targeting are fundamentally at odds with the privacy promise of end-to-end encryption. Viber is a reasonable choice for users who need a widely available encrypted messenger but is not ideal for privacy-focused users. If you value both content encryption and minimal data collection, Signal provides equivalent encryption without the advertising surveillance infrastructure.
Related Safety Checks
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Viber use the same encryption as Signal?
Yes, Viber uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption of personal messages, which is the same cryptographic standard used by Signal itself. The message content protection is equivalent in strength. However, the similarity ends at the encryption protocol. Signal collects virtually no metadata and operates as a nonprofit. Viber collects extensive metadata, operates an advertising business, and is owned by Rakuten, a large commercial conglomerate. The encryption protects your message content, but the metadata and behavioral data Viber collects around those encrypted messages is used for commercial purposes that Signal does not engage in.
Are Viber calls encrypted?
Viber one-on-one voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted using the Signal Protocol, which protects the audio and video content from interception. Group calls also support encryption. However, call metadata including who you called, when, duration, and your IP address is collected and retained by Viber. This metadata reveals your communication patterns and relationships even without access to the call content. For calls where both content and metadata privacy are important, Signal provides equivalent call encryption with significantly less metadata retention. Viber call encryption is adequate for general privacy but not for high-security communications.
How does Viber handle messages to business accounts?
Messages sent to business accounts on Viber are not end-to-end encrypted. These conversations are processed by Viber infrastructure and accessible to both Viber and the business operator. This means any personal information, purchase details, or sensitive questions you share with a business through Viber are not protected by the same encryption that covers personal messages. Business messaging is a significant revenue channel for Viber, and the data from these interactions is commercially valuable. Be aware of the encryption difference when switching between personal and business conversations on the platform.