Best for email and Google integration
Gmail vs WhatsApp vs Viber: which communication app should you choose?
Choose Gmail for organized email and Google integration, WhatsApp for widely used private messaging, or Viber for messaging with international calls, communities, and stickers.
At a glance
| App | Google Play | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GmailGoogle LLC | 4.1 out of 514,377,200 ratings | Free | No | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 WhatsApp MessengerWhatsApp LLC | 4.6 out of 5246,492,605 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.40 - $199.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 Rakuten Viber MessengerViber Media | 4.1 out of 516,690,539 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.99 - $99.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How we compared them
Gmail, WhatsApp, and Rakuten Viber Messenger are free communication apps with more than a billion Google Play installs each. Their purposes differ: Gmail handles email, while WhatsApp and Viber focus on chats and calls.
This comparison looks at what each does well, where it involves trade-offs, and how their Google Play ratings, pricing, ads, and available privacy information compare.
How we compared them
We compared Google Play ratings and install counts, along with price, in-app purchases, and whether each app contains ads. Store figures were read on November 7, 2026, so ratings and counts may change.
We also considered each app’s described uses and strengths and drawbacks. For data safety, WhatsApp declares that it shares no data with third parties, collects several categories of information, encrypts data in transit, and lets users request deletion. No equivalent declaration was supplied for Gmail or Viber, so we do not draw a comparison on that basis.
Gmail
Google LLC
4.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best formanaging email and working across Google services
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 14,377,200
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
Gmail is the clear choice for email: its organized inbox, spam filtering, notifications, and offline access serve a different need from WhatsApp and Viber’s messaging and calling. Google Play shows a 4.1 rating from 14,377,200 ratings and more than 10 billion installs.
Its Google services integration and generous free storage are useful advantages, but Gmail is not a substitute for a chat-first messenger. The free app contains ads, customization is limited, and settings can be complicated for beginners.
What we like
- Email organization and spam filtering
- Google services integration and generous free storage
- Offline access
What to know
- Ads in the free version
- Less suited to chat and calls than WhatsApp or Viber
WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp LLC
4.6 out of 5 on Google Play
Best foreveryday messaging and calls with a broad network
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 246,492,605
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
WhatsApp combines messaging, group chats, and free voice and video calls, with end-to-end encryption. Its 4.6 Google Play rating from 246,492,605 ratings is higher than Gmail’s and Viber’s, and it has more than 10 billion installs. It has no ads.
The trade-off is that registration requires a phone number, and WhatsApp’s declared data collection includes contacts, payment information, approximate location, and app activity. It also offers fewer customization options than some users may want; in-app purchases are available.
What we like
- Higher Google Play rating than Gmail and Viber
- End-to-end encrypted messages and free calls
- Group chats and no ads
What to know
- Phone number required to register
- Collects several categories of user and device information
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Viber Media
4.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forinternational calling, stickers, and community chats
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 16,690,539
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
Viber combines chats and group messaging with free international calls, stickers, GIFs, and communities. That mix gives it a more expressive, community-oriented feel than Gmail, while offering an alternative to WhatsApp for calls and messaging. It has more than 1 billion installs.
Its Google Play rating is 4.1 from 16,690,539 ratings, below WhatsApp’s 4.6. Viber contains ads and offers in-app purchases; reported trade-offs include occasional connectivity problems, battery use, and more limited video-call features.
What we like
- Free international calls
- Stickers, GIFs, and communities
- Integrates with contacts
What to know
- Ads in the free version and paid in-app items
- Video calling is more limited than its messaging and calling mix suggests
Which one should you pick?
Best for everyday messaging
WhatsApp Messenger
Best for international calls and communities
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app is best for email?
Gmail. It is the only email-focused app in this comparison and offers inbox organization, spam filtering, and integration with Google services.
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
WhatsApp, with a 4.6 rating from 246,492,605 ratings. Gmail and Viber each have a 4.1 rating.
Which apps contain ads?
Gmail and Viber contain ads; WhatsApp does not.
Which messaging app declares end-to-end encryption?
WhatsApp. Its declared data safety information also says data is encrypted in transit; Viber’s data safety information is not compared here.
ViaAPK compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and prices are shown for reference and can change.