Viber is a free app with encrypted chats, video calls, group Communities, and channels between Viber users without charge. Viber Out is an additional service in Viber which allows making calls to regular phone numbers and landlines internationally, and it is paid and available as prepaid credit or monthly plans.
Viber provides voice, video calls and messaging absolutely free between any two Viber accounts over Wi-Fi or mobile data connection regardless of the distance. The very moment you start calling a non-Viber phone number (landline or business number) you should be aware of the fact that it is Viber Out territory and it requires some prepaid credit or monthly plans to be purchased. Confusion between free and paid services is the main reason why people think Viber charges for calls despite the fact that 90% of all activities are done for free.
World Credit is a pay-as-you-go feature which allows buying credit balance and then using it per-minute calling to any destination worldwide. Minutes Country Plan is a prepaid monthly plan allowing calling any number in one certain country (useful if you call one particular place quite often). World Unlimited and Unlimited Country plans provide calling without limits either internationally (60 countries pre-selected by Viber) or to any particular country chosen by customer for a certain monthly fee. Occasional callers will benefit more from World Credit whereas those who call the same country frequently will save their money with a Country Plan.
In case you have bought any balance of the World Credit plan and haven't used it for 6 months, Viber freezes it. You can always un-freeze it however it should be mentioned that according to Viber support documentation you may not be able to use it immediately after. If you plan to buy some credit for occasional international calling, try to buy smaller amounts more often instead of large balance which you probably won't use in 6 months' time.
All kinds of Viber Out plans – World Unlimited, Unlimited Country, Minutes Country – will be renewed automatically every month by using your initial payment method. In case you have purchased the plan via the Viber application in iOS or Android stores, cancellation must be performed in App Store and Google Play settings, not via Viber application itself. Direct cancellation of the plan in Viber billing settings works only for card payments via desktop client or website.
In case your World Credit or Minutes Country Plan balance is over during a conversation, Viber disconnects the call immediately without any warning. There is no grace period. In order to avoid this, it is better to move to an Unlimited plan for countries you call often or set automatic top-up during World Credit purchase – it will recharge your balance every time when it is low.
Apart from messaging, Viber provides Communities (public group chat where everybody can participate and join) and Channels (broadcast feed for creators, brands or public figures). Both these features are completely free to create and to use and they do not require any Viber Out credit – they operate in the same free messaging system.
One more feature that became a signature of Viber was sticker packs. It was developed in Viber in order to make messaging more interesting and entertaining and all sticker packs are available in Viber Sticker Market. Some sticker packs are free (especially those which are related to some marketing campaign of brand or artist), other ones are paid and one-time purchase. As it was already said before, unlike Viber Out, sticker purchase is a one-time charge without any subscription and auto-renewal.
Yes, it is completely free provided that both people have Viber application and internet connection (either Wi-Fi or mobile data).
Viber Out allows making calls to regular phone numbers (landlines, non-Viber mobiles) and costs credit or plan. Viber In allows calling you on your Viber number from outside of the app, directly to your device and is completely free.
It freezes after 6 months of no use instead of expiration, but you can unfreeze it. Please keep in mind that according to Viber support documentation your balance may not be usable immediately after unfreezing.
Yes. In case you have subscribed to a Viber Out plan via the Viber app, cancel it via App Store or Google Play subscription settings. If you purchased via desktop or website with card payment, cancel it directly through Viber account billing settings.
Your World Credit or Minutes Country Plan balance has been probably depleted during a call – Viber disconnects your call immediately without any warnings. Set the auto top-up option or switch to Unlimited plan for countries you call regularly in order to avoid disconnection.
No, mobile data are perfectly okay both for Viber-to-Viber calls and Viber Out calls, though call quality will depend on your internet connection. Wi-Fi is simply more reliable in those places where there is poor cellular network.
Yes, it works via the Viber desktop application for Windows and Mac OS. You will need to log into your account containing credit or plan.
No, they are different. Communities are public and searchable – everyone can find and join them, it is like a public forum. Group chats are private and you have to invite members to join it. Both are completely free and unrelated to Viber Out.