Viber vs WhatsApp vs Yolla – 2025 Comparison
Messaging apps dominate how we talk in 2025. But real phone calls haven’t gone anywhere – especially for migrants, remote workers, and families living across borders.
Apps like WhatsApp and Viber are everywhere. They’re full of features for everyday chats – stickers, voice notes, video calls. But when it comes to something basic, like calling a landline for less or a loved one who’s offline, they often fall short.
That’s where Yolla comes in. It’s not built for memes or group chats. It’s built for real calling – cheap, stable, and available even when the other person doesn’t have the app or a smartphone.
Let’s take a closer look.
Functionality: What Are These Apps Actually For?
At first glance, WhatsApp, Viber, and Yolla all seem like calling apps. But each one serves a different purpose – and fits a different kind of user.
Not sure how international calling works? Here's a quick guide to making international calls that breaks it all down.
WhatsApp is a top choice for free messaging and app-to-app voice or video calls. It’s great when everyone you talk to has the app and a stable internet connection. Voice notes, photo sharing, and group chats work smoothly.
But if the person you’re calling doesn’t use WhatsApp, doesn’t have a smartphone, or lives somewhere with poor internet, you’re stuck. WhatsApp doesn’t support calls to mobile or landline numbers, so you can’t reach people outside the app – including hotels, banks, or businesses abroad.
If that’s a dealbreaker, you might want to read more about how landline international calling works – and why it still matters.
Viber Out
Viber blends messaging with calling. You can send texts, use stickers, and video chat. With its Viber Out feature, you can also call mobiles and landlines using credits or a subscription.
It’s flexible – but not always cost-friendly. Rates change a lot between countries, and users often say their credit disappears fast. You can reach real numbers, but it adds up quickly.
Yolla
Yolla is different. It’s not trying to be a messaging app. It focuses on international calling – especially when you need to reach people who aren’t online.
With Yolla, you can:
- Call mobile or landline numbers in 190+ countries
- Call other Yolla users for free
- Send international SMS for only $0.15 per message
- Get free calling credits
- Call people and companies without internet access
It’s made for real communication across borders – without needing both parties to use the same app.
Feature Comparison Table
|
Feature |
|
Viber Out |
Yolla |
|
App-to-App Voice |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Call to Mobile/Landline Numbers |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Free Calls Between Users |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
International SMS |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Works Without Recipient Internet |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
|
File Sharing |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Sendings Memes |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Caller ID Options |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
Quick Takeaway
In the end, WhatsApp is great for chatting – but only if everyone’s online and using the same app. Viber takes it a step further with the ability to call real numbers, but often without the ability to display multiple numbers. Yolla stands out by doing what the others can’t: letting you call mobiles and landlines, even when the person you’re calling doesn’t have internet or the app installed.
Prices: What Do You Actually Pay?
Many people think calling apps are free – but that only applies to app-to-app calls. The moment you want to reach a landline or mobile number, especially internationally, you’ll likely need to pay.
Let’s take a closer look at how WhatsApp, Viber, and Yolla compare when it comes to real-world pricing in 2025.
Current Per-Minute Rates* in Key Countries: WhatsApp vs ViberOut vs Yolla
|
Country |
|
ViberOut |
Yolla |
|
Pakistan |
Not supported |
$0.056 |
$0.04 |
|
Bangladesh |
Not supported |
$0.028 |
$0.026 |
|
Kenya |
Not supported |
$0.283 |
$0.165 |
|
Ghana |
Not supported |
$0.389 |
$0.245 |
|
South Africa |
Not supported |
$0.144 |
$0.099 |
|
Brazil |
Not supported |
$0.023 |
$0.0099 |
|
Argentina |
Not supported |
$0.023 |
$0.011 |
|
Venezuela |
Not supported |
$0.077 |
$0.025 |
*Prices accurate at the time of publication.
What Stands Out?
🇧🇷In countries like Brazil, Yolla charges less than one cent per minute, while Viber charges more than double.
🇰🇪🇬🇭In Kenya and Ghana, Viber’s rates are high – around $0.28–$0.38 per minute. Yolla stays under $0.25.
🇦🇷In Argentina, Viber’s starting rate is over twice what Yolla offers.
App-by-App Breakdown
WhatsApp: Completely free – but only for in-app calls. You can’t reach a landline or mobile unless the other person also uses WhatsApp and has internet access.
Viber Out:You can call real numbers, which is useful. But pricing changes a lot by country, and some rates are several times higher than Yolla’s.
Yolla:Clear, low pricing with no surprises. And you can even call for free if you refer friends or take part in special offers.
Real Example
Let’s say you call your mom in El Salvador for 20 minutes a week – that’s 80 minutes a month.
- Viber’s rate: $0.278 per minute
- Yolla’s rate to landlines: $0.09 per minute
- Yolla’s rate to mobiles: $0.13 per minute
Here’s the monthly breakdown:
- Viber: 80 × $0.278 = $22.24
- Yolla (Landline): 80 × $0.09 = $7.20
- Yolla (Mobile): 80 × $0.13 = $10.40
Even without using referral credits or bundles, Yolla easily cuts your monthly cost in half – or more.
Free Yolla Calls
Want to know more about free Yolla calls? Here’s 3 useful links:
Customer Support & User Reviews
A calling app is only as good as its support, especially when money is involved. Here's how the three apps compare when something goes wrong, based on their most recent reviews on Trustpilot.
WhatsApp WhatsApp is reliable when it works. But if your account gets banned or something breaks, help is hard to find. Many recent users report being locked out without warning, with no real person to contact. Support is almost entirely automated, and there’s no clear way to appeal bans or fix issues. Some users also find the new AI features intrusive, with no option to turn them off.
Viber Out Viber gets some credit for offering flexible calling plans, but support is a common complaint. Users report being charged for plans they can’t activate, struggling with subscription cancellations, or getting less credit than promised. Emails often go unanswered, and billing issues are a recurring theme in recent reviews.
Yolla While no app is perfect, recent feedback suggests Yolla’s support is one of its strengths. People say they get quick responses – often from real humans – and issues like referral credits or payment problems are resolved without much back-and-forth. It’s also viewed as a solid replacement for Skype, offering good quality and better service when something goes wrong.
Need a Skype Alternative? Check out our Skype Alternatives for International Calls guide to see why Yolla stands out – especially when other VoIP apps fall short.
What to Take Away
In 2025, users expect more than just features – they expect real support.
⚠️WhatsApp relies on automation, with little recourse when issues arise.
❓Viber can work well, but many users report problems with billing and poor support.
🧑Yolla stands out by offering direct, human help – something many apps no longer provide.
All user feedback referenced here comes from publicly available Trustpilot reviews posted in 2025.
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Best Fit
Now that we've compared the apps in detail, here’s a quick-reference guide to their core strengths, trade-offs, and who they’re best suited for.
|
App |
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Free app-to-app messaging and calls Widely used globally |
No landline or mobile calling Both recipient and caller need the app Automated support only Privacy concerns |
|
Viber |
Combines messaging and international calling Fun user features |
High rates in many countries Support delays Billing confusion |
|
Yolla |
Low international rates Call real phone numbers – even when the person you're calling isn’t online Referral bonuses |
Can’t send stickers or emojis |
- WhatsApp: Best for daily messaging and voice notes among friends.
- Viber: Best for hybrid users who like stickers and make occasional landline calls.
- Yolla: Best for real international callers – migrants, remote workers, cross-border families, contacting banks, hotels, and businesses.
Yolla Is Built for Real Calling
Yolla isn’t trying to replace your chat app – and that’s the point. It was made for people who need to make real calls: to family abroad, to landlines, to people without internet, or anyone who doesn’t use apps.
What makes it different?
- Call anyone: No need for the other person to have Yolla.
- They Don’t have Wi-Fi? No problem: Yolla uses the internet on your side, but connects to the other person via regular mobile or landline networks – so they don’t need internet or even a smartphone to pick up.
- Flexible for work and home: Good for families, migrants, and remote workers.
- Custom caller ID: Pick from multiple numbers so your contacts always recognise who’s calling – even if you share the account with others.
- Free Calls: You can talk for free with unlimited Yolla-to-Yolla calls – no matter where you both are in the world.
If calling is something you need, not just something you sometimes do, Yolla is built for you.
Your Next Call Deserves Better
Not all communication apps are created equal.
If you're just messaging friends or sending photos, WhatsApp works.
If you need a bit of both – messaging and calling – Viber can help, though it might cost more than expected.
But if your goal is simple, affordable international calling – even to people who don’t have internet or smartphones – Yolla makes it possible.
No gimmicks. No hidden fees. Just reliable voice calls to anyone, anywhere.
Still comparing your options? Check out our detailed breakdown of Rebtel vs Vonage vs Yolla to see how Yolla stacks up against other major calling services.
Download Yolla today on the App Store or Google Play and start calling real numbers worldwide – without the stress.
