Viber Desktop is one of the more underrated messenger clients on the market: native apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, end-to-end encryption across one-on-one chats, and Viber Out for prepaid calls to landline and mobile numbers. The catch sits in the network. Viber is huge in certain regions (Eastern Europe, parts of Asia) and almost invisible in others, so the experience depends on whether your contacts actually use it. With Skype gone and Viber Out now one of the few mainstream prepaid-call services left, picking the right replacement is more about geography than features.
We tested 7 Viber alternatives for desktop in 2026 on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The picks cover the three main Viber use cases: free messaging and calls between people on the platform, free voice and video calls with strong privacy, and paid calls to real phone numbers.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free tier | Calls to phone numbers | E2E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest global network | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Telegram | Power-user messenger | Yes | No | Cloud chats no |
| Signal | Strongest privacy default | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Free as Skype successor | Yes (60 min cap) | Via Teams Phone | Limited |
| Google Voice | Free US calling | Yes (US) | Yes | No |
| Linphone | SIP softphone with any provider | Free client | Yes via SIP | Yes |
| Element | Federated chat on Matrix | Yes | No (SIP bridge possible) | Yes |
Why people leave Viber
The network is the most-cited reason on r/viber and regional subreddits. In countries where Viber Out is a daily-driver service for calling relatives abroad, the app holds up. Outside those markets, getting friends and family to install Viber when WhatsApp is already on their phones is a hard pitch.
The second reason is the encryption story by feature. One-on-one chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted. Group calls are not always E2E. Communities, channels, and bots run through Viber’s servers. Users who treat E2E as the baseline find it patchy.
The third reason is the desktop client itself. Viber’s Windows, macOS, and Linux apps work well but lag behind Telegram on power features (folders, scheduling, cross-device sync model) and behind Signal on privacy posture. People shopping around have several stronger options for each individual need.
The 7 best Viber alternatives for desktop
WhatsApp — best for the largest global network
WhatsApp Desktop is what your contacts probably already have. The Windows and macOS native clients (with a Linux web option) deliver one-on-one and group chat, voice calls, video calls, and the Signal Protocol underneath. The 2023 Companion Mode update means the phone can be offline once the desktop is linked. For most non-Viber-region users, this is where the network is.
Where it falls short: Meta owns it, and the metadata flow concerns persist. No native Linux client. No paid calling to landlines.
Pricing:
- Free: Full client
- Paid: None
- vs Viber: Larger network, no paid outbound calling
Download: whatsapp.com/download (Windows, macOS)
Bottom line: Pick WhatsApp when the people you call are already on it.
Telegram — best as a power-user messenger
Telegram Desktop is the swap if you want the most flexible client. The Windows, macOS, and Linux apps deliver cloud chats that sync across unlimited devices, channels, large groups, file sharing up to 2 GB, native folders, and message scheduling. Voice and video calls between users are free.
Where it falls short: Cloud chats are not end-to-end encrypted; Secret Chats are, but only mobile. No paid outbound calling.
Pricing:
- Free: Full client
- Paid: Telegram Premium monthly
- vs Viber: More powerful client, no paid calling, weaker default encryption
Download: telegram.org/apps (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Telegram when the desktop should be the primary device and paid calling is not a requirement.
Signal — best for strongest privacy
Signal Desktop is the closest Viber swap on the encryption-first side. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients link to the mobile account and sync forward, voice and video calls between users are end-to-end encrypted, and the org is a non-profit funded by donations.
Where it falls short: No outbound calling to phone numbers. Group video sizes are smaller. Requires a phone number to register.
Pricing:
- Free: Full feature set
- Paid: None
- vs Viber: Stronger E2E baseline, no paid calling
Download: signal.org/download (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Signal when default privacy matters more than paid outbound calling.
Microsoft Teams — best as Skype’s successor
Microsoft Teams is the official Skype replacement and an indirect Viber substitute for the free side. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients give you one-on-one and group calls, chat, and a Teams Meeting link you can send to anyone. Calls between Teams accounts are free.
Where it falls short: Free tier caps group meetings at 60 minutes. Teams Phone (the outbound calling tier) is sold per organization, not per consumer.
Pricing:
- Free: Personal Teams accounts
- Paid: Microsoft 365 with optional Teams Phone
- vs Viber: Microsoft ecosystem, no consumer prepaid calling
Download: microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/download-app (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Teams when you want a Microsoft-blessed free option and the calling-to-real-numbers piece is not a deal-breaker.
Google Voice — best for free US calling
Google Voice is the cleanest Viber Out replacement if you live in the US. Personal accounts get a free Google Voice number, free calls to US numbers from the web and desktop PWA on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and paid international calling at competitive rates.
Where it falls short: US-only on the signup side. International rates vary by destination. The web app is the desktop experience.
Pricing:
- Free: Personal Google Voice number, free US calling
- Paid: Per-minute international, Workspace plans for business
- vs Viber: Direct US match, geography-limited
Download: voice.google.com (PWA on Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Google Voice when you used Viber Out mainly to call US phone numbers.
Linphone — best SIP softphone for any provider
Linphone is the open-source softphone for anyone who wants to keep the “desktop app that dials phone numbers” model with a provider they choose. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients register with any SIP-compatible service: OnSIP, Telnyx, VoIP.ms, and many regional providers. Bring your own credit and dial out.
Where it falls short: You have to pick and pay for a SIP provider yourself. UI is functional, not polished. Not a fit for casual users.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source client
- Paid: Your SIP provider’s rates
- vs Viber: Most direct outbound-calling match, harder setup
Download: linphone.org (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Linphone when you need the prepaid-calls feature and want to choose the provider yourself.
Element — best federated chat on Matrix
Element is the swap for users whose Viber use was primarily messaging and group chat. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients deliver E2E rooms by default, federation across homeservers, and the option to bridge SIP for outbound calling on a self-hosted server. For organizations or communities that need to own the chat infrastructure, Element is the cleanest pick.
Where it falls short: SIP bridging is not a one-click feature. UX is closer to Slack than Viber. Smaller network.
Pricing:
- Free: Self-hosted, public homeservers
- Paid: Element Server Suite
- vs Viber: Federated, self-hostable, no consumer outbound calling
Download: element.io/download (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Bottom line: Pick Element when the goal is to own the server and you can defer the outbound-calling piece.
How to choose
Pick WhatsApp if your contacts already use it. That covers most non-Viber-region cases.
Pick Telegram if the desktop client itself is the workload and you want power features.
Pick Signal if default end-to-end encryption is the bar Viber’s group features did not meet.
Pick Microsoft Teams if you want the Skype-flavoured free option and Microsoft 365 is already on the invoice.
Pick Google Voice if you used Viber Out specifically for US numbers.
Pick Linphone if the prepaid-calls-to-phone-numbers piece is the part you cannot give up.
Pick Element if you also need to own the server.
Stay on Viber if you live in a Viber-strong region and Viber Out covers a calling habit your replacement would not.
FAQ
Is Viber end-to-end encrypted on desktop?
One-on-one chats and calls between Viber users are end-to-end encrypted. Group calls and community features are not always E2E. The encryption story is patchy compared to Signal’s default-everywhere posture.
What is the best Viber alternative for paid calls to phone numbers?
Linphone with your own SIP provider for the most flexibility, Google Voice if you live in the US, Zoom Phone or Teams Phone for organizational use. Viber Out itself remains one of the few consumer-friendly prepaid options.
Can I use Viber on Linux?
Yes. Viber ships an official Linux desktop client alongside Windows and macOS builds. Telegram, Element, Signal, Wire, and Linphone also have native Linux clients.
What replaced Skype Out after Skype shut down?
For US calling, Google Voice is the closest free replacement. For international consumer calling, Viber Out and a SIP softphone like Linphone with a provider account are the main paid options.
Which Viber alternative has the largest user base?
WhatsApp by a large margin in most global markets, with Telegram a strong second in specific regions. Signal is smaller but growing. Element and Wire are intentionally smaller networks.
Does WhatsApp Desktop work on Linux?
Not as an official native client. Linux users run web.whatsapp.com in a browser or use community Electron wrappers. The official desktop apps are Windows and macOS.
