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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Signal vs Rakuten Viber Messenger

Signal 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Signal
Rakuten Viber Messenger 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60

Signal is the better choice for users prioritizing privacy and secure messaging, while Rakuten Viber Messenger offers a broader range of features but is currently hampered by an unpopular, forced AI integration.

Full reviews: Signal · Rakuten Viber Messenger

Signal is highly praised for its strong privacy features and ease of use for secure communication, despite some reported bugs and call quality issues. Rakuten Viber Messenger offers reliable messaging and calling, but recent updates forcing ChatGPT integration have led to significant user dissatisfaction.

Head to head

Privacy and Security edge: SignalR3R4R5R11
Signal Signal is widely lauded for its robust privacy and security features, with users appreciating the ability to communicate without insecurity and the end-to-end encryption R11R17. Some users, however, express concerns about the app's insistence on accessing contacts and the constant requests for a PIN, which they find intrusive for a 'privacy-minded' app R3R4R5.
Rakuten Viber Messenger Rakuten Viber Messenger is generally seen as providing good security and reliability . However, recent updates introducing a forced ChatGPT integration have raised significant privacy concerns among users, who feel their data might be sold and dislike the lack of an opt-out option R73R91R97.
Messaging and Calling Features edge: Rakuten Viber MessengerR9R10R15R18
Signal Signal is generally good for messaging, with users appreciating its simplicity and ease of use . However, some users report issues with message delivery delays and glitches . Call quality is a common complaint, with some experiencing spotty connections and calls not going through R9R25. Group messaging features are also criticized for lacking tools like @everyone tags and better admin controls R10R15R18.
Rakuten Viber Messenger Rakuten Viber Messenger offers excellent messaging and calling features, allowing communication via phone, text, and video . Users praise its reliability and performance even with low internet connectivity . However, some users report issues with sending images and videos, which can be slow or fail to send . There are also requests for features like stories and screen-sharing .
Ease of Use and Reliability tieR3R4R6R13
Signal Signal is often described as easy to use R17. However, users frequently encounter bugs and reliability issues, such as constant prompts for a PIN or contacts R3R4, messages not being delivered promptly , and problems with account recovery or transfer to new devices R6R16. The app also has persistent notifications and update requirements that frustrate users R13.
Rakuten Viber Messenger Rakuten Viber Messenger is generally considered easy to use and reliable, with many long-term users reporting no issues . However, recent updates have introduced significant usability problems, primarily due to the forced ChatGPT integration, which users find intrusive and impossible to remove from their chat list R64R73. Some users also report login issues and problems with media files expiring or disappearing .
Price and Value edge: SignalR1R12R17R19
Signal Signal is a free app, and many users appreciate its value as a secure and private communication tool without cost R26R17. Some users report encountering scammers asking for money within the app, which detracts from the experience R1R12R19.
Rakuten Viber Messenger Rakuten Viber Messenger is also a free app, offering extensive communication features. However, users are increasingly frustrated by the presence of numerous ads and the promotion of 'Viber Plus,' which they perceive as intrusive and diminish the app's value R75R96R105. The forced ChatGPT integration, despite being 'free,' is seen as a negative value due to privacy concerns and unwanted features R64R97.
Support and Updates tieR13R15R16R40
Signal Users express frustration with Signal's updates, particularly when they are forced and lead to loss of message history or account access R13R40. There are also requests for better support for issues like login problems in blocked regions R16 and improved group administration tools R15.
Rakuten Viber Messenger Rakuten Viber Messenger's user support team is appreciated by some users for helping resolve issues like transferring the app to a new number . However, recent updates have been heavily criticized for forcing unwanted features like ChatGPT without an opt-out, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and calls for removal R64R73.
Pick Signal if

Pick Signal if you prioritize strong privacy and security for your communications R11R17R26. It is also a good choice if you need a simple, easy-to-use messaging app and are willing to tolerate occasional bugs or call quality issues R9.

Pick Rakuten Viber Messenger if

Pick Rakuten Viber Messenger if you need a reliable messaging and calling app for international communication and value its long-standing performance . It is suitable if you can overlook the recent intrusive ChatGPT integration and frequent ads R64R75R97.

Evidence note: The evidence for Rakuten Viber Messenger is heavily skewed by recent negative reviews regarding the forced ChatGPT integration, which significantly impacts user perception despite its historical reliability. Signal's reviews show a consistent pattern of privacy appreciation alongside recurring technical frustrations.

Frequently asked

Does Signal protect my privacy?
Yes, Signal is highly regarded for its strong privacy features, offering secure and encrypted communication that users appreciate for sharing information without insecurity R11R17R26.
Can I make calls with Signal?
Yes, Signal supports calls, but users report that call quality can be spotty, with calls sometimes failing to connect or cutting out frequently R9R25.
Does Rakuten Viber Messenger have AI features?
Yes, Rakuten Viber Messenger has recently integrated ChatGPT, but this feature is forced upon users, appears in chat lists, and cannot be easily removed or opted out of, leading to significant user dissatisfaction R64R73R91R97.
Are there ads in Rakuten Viber Messenger?
Yes, users frequently report that Rakuten Viber Messenger contains many ads, including promotions for 'Viber Plus,' which they find intrusive and frustrating R75R96R105.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Signal 3/5 · US Constant Asking for pin: the asking for pin dropdown never goes away.
  2. [R4] Signal 2/5 · US Stop asking for my contacts. Also bugs.: “Privacy minded” yet won’t stop asking for my contacts. What do you need my contacts for huh? Why are you so insistent on me handing over my contacts huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh? Why do you keep asking huh? I said no. Do you know what “no” means? It means no for now and no forever. New update is buggy and makes the app cumbersome to use. S
  3. [R5] Signal 5/5 · US Why keep asking if I’m human: Secure and safe
  4. [R11] Signal 5/5 · US Amazing!!: Me and my family use this app and it genuinely feels so good to share information and talk without insecurity! Plus the new backup feature is amazing!!
  5. [R9] Signal 3/5 · US Good for messaging bad for calls: I love the privacy features overall for the app and it works great if you’re messaging others but the calling is spotty. Sometimes the calls go through and sometimes it acts like they are going through but the other person isn’t actually being contacted at all. This happens a little too often.
  6. [R10] Signal 1/5 · US Really need better group messaging: Please add @everyone or @all tags to group chat. Many want to minimize notifications unless it’s important! Tagging every member isn’t feasible/possible.
  7. [R15] Signal 3/5 · US More tools please!: Need more tools, need to be better than WhatsApp! More group ADMIN tools, I’m not able to cleanup my groups when people are no longer working with us.
  8. [R18] Signal 3/5 · US Attachment limits still for 5 chats only?: All other app functions work extremely well; however, how, after being available and in service this whole time with improvements and updates, is the chat limit for attachments still restricted to only five chats? If I want to send to nine people, have to send to five then separately to the other four. Hoping the next update rectifies this longstanding di
  9. [R6] Signal 3/5 · US Outrageous!!!!: I think it’s stupid that in the app after you get a new number they just want you to reconfirm your old number like it’s gonna work or something. Like dude obviously I’m not gonna be able to access my old number due to it being a old number that a no longer have so why would you try to confirm that and then give no way out every time I open the app I’m literally loosing messages t
  10. [R13] Signal 2/5 · US Forcing you to update app to talk to people: Lame
  11. [R1] Signal 1/5 · US Fake and good to scam people: Fake as hell fake people fake everything
  12. [R12] Signal 3/5 · US Signal: This is an okay app but all people literally do is ask you for money on here is is absolutely ridiculous
  13. [R17] Signal 5/5 · US Awesome - best privacy / usability messaging app: The most easy to use private messaging app - there are ones that are more privacy conscious but really annoying to use, the rest are really easy to use but for a reason - almost everything is reachable by third parties (either company or server operators etc) this one is the best - donate and let it thrive!
  14. [R19] Signal 1/5 · US To much scammers: Lots of scammers here
  15. [R16] Signal 2/5 · US Unable to log in via SMS where Signal is blocked / Request for email authentication: Dear Developers, Please consider adding an email login option. In countries where Signal is blocked, it is impossible to log in via SMS because the verification codes simply do not arrive. As a result, users cannot access their accounts after switching to a new device. Right now, I am locked out of my account, whi
  16. [R40] Signal 1/5 · US Complete Garbage: Updated app and it wiped my entire account.
  17. [R26] Signal 5/5 · US Probably the most useful app on my phone: The level of privacy combined with the level of ease makes it amazing. I wish everyone had this. I donate to Signal because we need more apps like this!
  18. [R25] Signal 1/5 · US Report: You need to help make a steady call without the connection cutting out.
  19. [R64] Rakuten Viber Messenger 1/5 · US Pushes ChatGPT in users' faces: As long as an unremovable chat with a synthetic text extruding machine will be in my chat list, this app will be getting one star from me. Developers have the gall to respond to other users who also don't want ChatGPT shoved in their faces by highlighting an incredible "feature", that using this is optional. Apparently, the baseline is that we should be grateful it
  20. [R73] Rakuten Viber Messenger 1/5 · US Forced AI no opt out: I used to love Viber however I am deleting my account permanently due to the forced ChatGPT integration and lack of a privacy opt-out switch. Not cool Viber and Apple! I won’t have you hold me hostage.
  21. [R91] Rakuten Viber Messenger 1/5 · US Forced AI integration without consent: Viber pushed ChatGPT features on me that is intrusive. It is impossible to delete ChatGPT from my chat list. ChatGPT will appear in my chats with other users asking me to prompt things like remixing pictures. The app errors when I try to disconnect ChatGPT in the settings. Effectively, there is no option to fully remove the ChatGPT integration, which makes th
  22. [R97] Rakuten Viber Messenger 1/5 · US ChatGPT now built in and inescapable. Why??: Nobody asked for your AI slop. We know that the only way Viber is providing ChatGPT to users “for free” is by selling our data to OpenAI. Nobody wants this malignant technology built in. Will be deleting my Viber account and removing the app from my phone. Genuinely disgusted.
  23. [R75] Rakuten Viber Messenger 3/5 · US Too many adds: Every time I get rid of a add I get another one of viber plus which makes it even more frustrating than the original add
  24. [R96] Rakuten Viber Messenger 3/5 · GB How many times to see the new features ad before it goes away?: Read it once, all I need to really, but every time I load Viber it’s there right in the middle of the conversations list - once or twice ok, but permanent? Spoils an otherwise good app.
  25. [R105] Rakuten Viber Messenger 2/5 · US Functional with a few caveats: So I’ve been using this since most of my workmates prefer this over other messaging applications, and sure, it does what it says on the box- no more, no less. On what isn’t value adding though- the ads are so pervasive that simple holiday greetings in messages would instantly turn into links to [insert business brand here]. Add to that the new and trendy addition of

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store