Rakuten Viber vs. Skype (discontinued)

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Rakuten Viber
Score 9.8 out of 10
N/A
Viber, now from Rakuten (acquired 2014) is an instant messaging and cross-platform VoIP software solution designed for personal use and available for both desktops and as a mobile app. It includes features such as video and audio calls, instant message, and unlimited-member group chats. Users can also make paid international calls.
$0.02
Per Minute
Skype (discontinued)
Score 7.1 out of 10
N/A
Skype (the personal edition or Skype free) was a web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software, now superseded by Microsoft Teams' free edition and unsupported from May 2025.
$2.99
per month
Pricing
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Editions & Modules
USA
$0.019
Per Minute
UK
$0.019
Per Minute
United States Subscription
$2.99
per month
North America Subscription
$6.99
per month
India Subscription
$7.99
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Considered Both Products
Rakuten Viber
Chose Rakuten Viber
End-to-end encryption scrambles my messages and delivers them as a scrambled code to my friend's device, whether mobile or desktop, so that only their device can decode them into plain text. If my friend's phone is turned off or they don't have access to the internet, my …
Chose Rakuten Viber
Rakuten Viber is overall the best. Hands down!!! Even though the other products have their own use and they are well functioning in the market, but Rakuten Viber is still top notch!
Chose Rakuten Viber
I do not know about other products like Viber. Viber works fine on your cell phone and you can also install it on your laptop or desktop. In general I use Viber on my mobile.
Chose Rakuten Viber
Viber comes close to WhatsApp with its similar features, that said, I still prefer WhatsApp as more friends and coworkers use it. I prefer to use Slack for my other profession as a remote English teacher as it allows me to get notifications in a format that avoid annoying …
Chose Rakuten Viber
Skype's user interface is really glitchy and doesn't provide same functionality in terms of fun elements - emojis or gifs. Slack is excellent communication tool but as well doesn't provide fun elements as Viber does(emojis, memes, gifs and more). I should also mention that …
Chose Rakuten Viber
We started using Viber many years ago. The WhatsApp application was good to connect with people via text messages but it did not have the calling feature. Free calls could be made using Viber. Hence, it was used as a mode of communication within our group.
Viber could also be …
Chose Rakuten Viber
Viber is really bad compared to Slack. It is not designed for business at all.
Chose Rakuten Viber
I have compared Viber to Skype in the past, and there are two main differences I see. First, with Skype, you are not limited to calling only other Skype users (this limitation exists with Viber). Second, Skype's call quality almost always wins, which I believe is thanks to …
Chose Rakuten Viber
Before Viber, we were using Slack. Our colleagues were using slack only at work. But Viber is used for personal needs too. That is why we switched to Viber because we can reach to our colleagues anytime and from anywhere.
Chose Rakuten Viber
Better pricing than Skype. Skype has a better platform. Skype really excels in terms of video conferencing capability, the quality of image and the platform is clearly better than Viber. Viber and Skype have been in the market for a while, yet no one relies on Viber for video …
Chose Rakuten Viber
We evaluated Whatsapp and Line as 2 other tools alongside with Viber and finally decided to go ahead with Viber since we found Viber's call quality especially on international calls to be really clear and much better without any disconnections or static when we compared it with …
Chose Rakuten Viber
It's faster than all of above, better for cross platform communication and unlike the above examples (Skype for business and Slack), not directly tied to organization. Its other alternative (not listed on TrustRadius) is WhatsApp, which, in my opinion is a copy of Viber. Viber …
Chose Rakuten Viber
I use What’s App a lot but mainly for video chat and text. They don’t have a features like Viber Out that I’m aware of.
Chose Rakuten Viber
Skype has UI problems and makes the fun elements such as emojis and gifs hard to use. Slack is a good communication tool but has again less fun elements and is more work-oriented so it doesn't contribute a lot to a fun working atmosphere. Whatsapp was never even in the game …
Chose Rakuten Viber
Skype offers similar communication features as Viber, but Viber is more convenient as it uses the phone number as contact details. So instead of having to remember the user id, you just need to add your business partner's contact number and you have their viber already. Al, o …
Chose Rakuten Viber
While comparing these two applications with the Viber, I would say, the main advantage of the Viber is that it is very widely used in my region unlike other two. Otherwise, the functionality and other stuff are pretty much the same, while I slightly go for the Viber's voice …
Skype (discontinued)
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Selected Skype because it was the only platform that was available for such purposes for video conferencing or audio conferencing. Since Microsoft, the tech giant, backed it, it was assured that it would work great in terms of productivity, with utmost security measures for all …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
All of these other products have kept up with advancements in VoIP and communication technology and have expanded their portfolio of grouped services with their applications while Skype has been pretty stagnant
Chose Skype (discontinued)
We use Skype in combination with Grasshopper. While Grasshopper acts as a routing toll free number with extensions, if we are making calls directly, we do it through Skype.

Skype's desktop and mobile apps are easier to use, and provide unlimited local calls at a flat, …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Teams is more professional, Calendar integration with Outlook is possible so that is plus point as compared to Skype. Many people use Teams and are comfortable on it so it is good for us. But yes, Skype is the only business communication tool which enables calling on mobile …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype is great for one on one calls and easy catch ups. However, when it comes to talking in a more professional setting and in a group setting, we have gone with other communication services. Skype is great for video conferencing with one other person though and I would …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
As a whole business, we did not go with Skype. But for selected use cases we did. These scenarios were based upon what technology the other parties had access to. They were comfortable using Skype so we adapted to using it. We have used it to connect classes on site and off …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype is a great app for various purposes, such as texting, calling, video chatting, and even holding virtual meetings. Regardless of connection speed, it provides the best quality and user experience. Skype's user base, reliability, and ease of use are unrivaled, and because …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
As WhatsApp business is not useful as skype because there are certain features which were not as useful as those available on skype. Whatsapp has a file size limit while transferring data, it doesn't have screen sharing which is a big drawback, and cannot be used as a …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype is more user-friendly and has a better-suited option for us, plus its acceptability is unique and very much welcomed all over. Professionals are already adhered to interphase and using for their personal use and no such training costs were involved as in this region its a …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
It’s extremely user-friendly. Truthfully I use multiple different applications that serve similar purposes depending on what our partners are familiar working with. Skype has had pretty dependable connectivity compared to others I’ve used. Also very simple to set up and share …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
They are close but TEAMs had a wider adoption in the general community which led to us leaning on TEAMs a bit more.
Chose Skype (discontinued)
As a business messaging solution, Skype for Business has been replaced by Microsoft Teams which has been a significant upgrade. But the normal Skype hasn't really changed or developed much over the years leading to a steady decline in its customer base as well. A few years back …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype is inexpensive and easy to use, and all of us may access it through the internet. Because of concerns about privacy and security, I value Skype's longevity much. With this system, we can deal with people in distant locations since it is more dependable regularly. The …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
For security and privacy reasons, Skype's existence for the past 15 years is incredibly important to me
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Microsoft Teams is more suitable for teams who share information in Channels. It also allows simple management of tasks and projects through the integrated Kanban Board. Zoom and Webex Meetings are more suitable for holding Webinars. Zoom is easy to use for holding meetings …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype was used literally only cause it was included in the Microsoft Suite and we did not need to pay for another service. However, after using it for some time and constantly running into audio/video issues (especially during client presentations when sharing powerpoint, …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype overall is easier to use than a lot of comparable collaboration tools on the market. It really doesn't require formal training to use, and most users get used to all the features of the platform pretty quick overall. Some other collaboration tools may offer more …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Lee's functionality than Zoom, more glitches and log in complications than Google, but affordable and familiar for most of our clients and staff, which makes it an easy tool for a nonprofit. In general, we use Zoom and Google more but Skype is still a useful tool.
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype works better than Google Hangouts simply because everyone in the organization has a skype address that comes from being an employee here. Not everyone has a google account, so it's hard to meet or use Google tools.
The university has also worked with Zoom so that we can …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Skype is more user-friendly than these other products. Skype has a simple, easy-to-understand user interface that even newcomers to audio/video conferencing can understand intuitively. While Skype and Zoom offer similar features, they are loaded down with extras: more buttons …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
Team meetings are easy with Skype. Demo presentations are another thing where it stands out from the rest of its competitors. Reminders are another thing done here. Video conferencing and screen sharing is very much improved through Skype and Skype for Business desktop and …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
When trying to video chat using other apps, and the call is breaking, after switching to Skype, usually the call/video quality is better.
In comparison to UnerConference, uberconference has web client (no need to install software). Also has conference rooms, where you can log …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
We have Cisco Jabber, Zoom and Rocket. Chat rolled out across organizations but they all lack the flexibility and attractiveness of Skype when it's coming to day-to-day work and solving business needs, even though they possess some important features and characteristics that …
Chose Skype (discontinued)
I'm not a fan of Zoom. It tries to steer you towards downloading an app even though you can simply log into a meeting via your browser (though it hides the latter functionality as hard as it can). I was an invitee to a reoccurring Zoom meeting and lost the invite link after a …
Features
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Cloud PBX
Comparison of Cloud PBX features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
9.5
Ratings
17% above category average
Skype (discontinued)
-
Ratings
Hosted PBX9.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)9.70 Ratings00 Ratings
User templates8.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Call reports9.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Directory of employee names9.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Call Management
Comparison of Call Management features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
9.3
Ratings
10% above category average
Skype (discontinued)
-
Ratings
Answering rules9.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Call recording9.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Call park8.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Call screening8.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Message alerts9.80 Ratings00 Ratings
VoIP system collaboration
Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
9.6
Ratings
18% above category average
Skype (discontinued)
9.2
Ratings
15% above category average
Video conferencing9.50 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Audio conferencing9.70 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Video screen sharing9.00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Instant messaging10.00 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Mobile apps
Comparison of Mobile apps features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
10.0
Ratings
23% above category average
Skype (discontinued)
-
Ratings
Mobile app for iOS10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app for Android10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
-
Ratings
Skype (discontinued)
9.4
Ratings
17% above category average
High quality audio00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
High quality video00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Mobile support00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Screen Sharing
Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
-
Ratings
Skype (discontinued)
9.2
Ratings
15% above category average
Desktop sharing00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Whiteboards00 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Online Meetings / Events
Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
-
Ratings
Skype (discontinued)
9.5
Ratings
14% above category average
Calendar integration00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Meeting initiation00 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Integrates with social media00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Record meetings / events00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Slideshows00 Ratings9.80 Ratings
Online Events Collaboration
Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
-
Ratings
Skype (discontinued)
9.6
Ratings
16% above category average
Live chat00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Audience polling00 Ratings9.80 Ratings
Q&A00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Online Events Security
Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
Rakuten Viber
-
Ratings
Skype (discontinued)
9.6
Ratings
17% above category average
User authentication00 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Confidential attendee list00 Ratings9.80 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Small Businesses
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 7.2 out of 10
Whereby
Whereby
Score 9.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 7.2 out of 10
JioMeet
JioMeet
Score 10.0 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Score 9.0 out of 10
Webex Meetings
Webex Meetings
Score 8.4 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Likelihood to Recommend
9.6
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.4
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Rakuten ViberSkype (discontinued)
Likelihood to Recommend
It's perfect for messaging and group messaging, especially when users in group are from different places, organizations... (unlike slack where you have to be member of same organization to be in same group). The video calls are the weak point of the app, so Viber is not good for conference calls, video calls and especially for group video conference calls.
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Skype is an excellent choice for phone calls, both local and international, and is also one of the most affordable solutions for business office line. It is simple to use and get started with and provides a call experience on mobile that is similar to a regular phone call. It is not the ideal tool for team chat. For text-based team communication, a separate dedicated tool is still ideal
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Pros
  • It is very easy to use and is very user-friendly.
  • You can have high quality video and audio meetings with more than 1 person.
  • You can upload any type of file in Viber (video, audio, text, GIFs, PDF files).
  • It is a very well known messenger so all people have access to it.
Read full review
  • Perfect for chatting via text. Has emojis, file sharing, audio sharing, and even video sharing capabilities.
  • Good for video chats. You can do 1 on 1 sessions with a good quality video.
  • Privacy is also another important function they have. They allow for private conversations between users.
  • Ability to delete conversations with sensitive information you may not want seen by users not authorized. Can share confidential information via Skype.
  • Customizable profiles to fit your company culture.
Read full review
Cons
  • As far as I can tell, Viber lacks the feature to block specific callers/numbers. I've never needed to do this, but I'd like to know I have the option.
  • Viber cannot be used without wifi, so it is not possible to connect with contacts who aren't also using Viber. (Unless you want to use the paid service.)
  • This isn't a major complaint, but I find the layout of Viber to be a little cluttered. Comparing it to WhatsApp, I don't find it to be quite as user-friendly, and I sometimes stumble around to find my way to a contact to call.
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  • Skype is a RESOURCE hog. People who have limited bandwidth will have poor call quality.
  • It is hard to figure out how to use emojis and upload images in the chat.
  • The background images do not fool anybody....it is clearly not your real background.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
I have given this rating as this need to give more than that as it's very helpful for us and makes our work more efficient and fast.
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Usability
No answers on this topic
Skype is not as good as Facetime in terms of ease to glance at it and figure out how it works. I think that's a result of Skype trying to be too many things at once. A lot of the menu and UI could be streamlined, and I would jettison some of the additional functions that have been tacked on over the years to simplify. That being said, while some options are slightly hard to find, they all work flawlessly once found.
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Support Rating
I have not frequently used the support for Viber as I have not had many problems with it on my phone. I did use support one time for problems with the computer application and used the forums to solve my problems. They were fairly easy to follow and I appreciated the online help in that format.
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I am not aware of the current support level for Skype for business, as I have never used even though I have the product. However, the support for Skype's personal paid users is not where it could be. Users who pay for Skype features do not have a clear path to reach out to support. So, rating 6, can be better as soon as I need to use Skype for business support and get a good experience. I will say that I will renew Skype for Business subscription, which is a significant inconsistency on my end. The explanation is that Skype for Business comes bundled with Office for Business, with no additional cost, so why not.
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
It can be used on the phone via mobile application as well as on the desktop by logging in to the website. Easily installed and ready to use.
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Alternatives Considered
Rakuten Viber is overall the best. Hands down!!! Even though the other products have their own use and they are well functioning in the market, but Rakuten Viber is still top notch!
Read full review
Selected Skype because it was the only platform that was available for such purposes for video conferencing or audio conferencing. Since Microsoft, the tech giant, backed it, it was assured that it would work great in terms of productivity, with utmost security measures for all data, conversations, work materials, and personal information.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Rakuten Viber allows me to delete any type of message I've sent
  • Rakuten Viber can't access or read my private conversations in the first place, Viber can't sell them.
  • Hidden Chats allows me to keep whatever chats I want away from my main chat list, so they don't show up in my main chat list. Only a PIN that I set gives me access to Hidden Chats.
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  • Skype has contributed to increased efficiency for remote collaboration, especially now due to the ways things are and having so many remote employees. Without this tool, or any collaboration tool, business could not move forward.
  • I think Skype is the cost effective solution also between it and the other competitors out there. I'm not privy to the exact costs, but it strikes me as the cheaper option.
  • The only negative impact I would say is its lack of functionality and customization for larger organizations or groups that have employees spread out or require inter-departmental collaboration.
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ScreenShots