Gmail
Best for email and Google services
Gmail vs Telegram vs Viber: which messaging app should you choose?
Choose Gmail for organized email and Google integration, Telegram for flexible messaging and file sharing, or Viber for calls, chats, and end-to-end encrypted conversations.
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 |
 TelegramTelegram FZ-LLC | 3.8 out of 517,343,583 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.31 - $289.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Mature 17+ |
 Rakuten Viber MessengerViber Media | 4.1 out of 516,690,539 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.99 - $99.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Prices change over time.
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How we compared them
Gmail, Telegram, and Rakuten Viber Messenger are free communication apps, but they serve different needs. Gmail centers on email, while Telegram and Viber focus on messaging, with voice and video calls among Viber’s key strengths.
This comparison weighs their core uses, privacy and sharing features, trade-offs, and Google Play figures so you can choose the app that fits how you communicate.
How we compared them
We compared each app’s purpose and features, strengths and trade-offs, alongside its Google Play rating, install count, price, ads, and in-app purchases. The figures were read on November 7, 2026.
Telegram declares that it shares no data with third parties and collects several categories of data, including contacts, location, files, messages, photos, and videos; it also declares encryption in transit and the option to request deletion. No data-safety declaration was supplied for Gmail or Viber, so this comparison makes no claims about their declared data practices.
Gmail
by Google LLC
4.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best formanaging email and working with Google services
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 14,377,200
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
Gmail is the clear choice for email rather than chat: it organizes messages, offers real-time notifications, filters spam, and supports offline access. Its integration with Google services and generous free storage make it a practical hub for everyday correspondence and productivity.
Compared with Telegram and Viber, Gmail is less suited to quick conversations, calls, and sharing large media files. Its Promotions tab can show ads, syncing issues may occur on some devices, and attachment limits can get in the way.
Pros
Strong spam filtering and email organizationOffline access and generous free storageDirect integration with Google services
Cons
Less suited to calls and instant messagingPromotions-tab ads and restrictive attachment limits
Telegram
by Telegram FZ-LLC
3.8 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forflexible chats and sharing large files
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 17,343,583
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Mature 17+
Telegram combines fast messaging, multi-device syncing, customizable settings, and support for large files and media. Its breadth makes it more flexible than Gmail for conversations and sharing, while its mature rating and lack of ads may appeal to users who want a messaging app without advertising.
Telegram’s many groups and options can feel overwhelming, and video calling is a weaker point than Viber’s call-focused strengths. Its end-to-end encryption applies to encrypted chats rather than every conversation by default, so users should understand which chat mode they are using.
Pros
Supports large files and media sharingSyncs across multiple devicesNo ads and extensive customization
Cons
Groups and settings can feel overwhelmingEnd-to-end encryption is not on by default for every chat
Rakuten Viber Messenger
by Viber Media
4.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forvoice and video calls with friends and groups
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 16,690,539
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
Viber brings chats, group messaging, voice and video calls, and communities together in one app. Its call-focused feature set, approachable interface, stickers, and end-to-end encrypted chats give it an edge over Gmail for conversation and a straightforward alternative to Telegram’s broader, more complex toolkit.
Viber’s trade-offs include ads, occasional connectivity issues, and group-call limits. It can also use more data than some competitors, and its customization options are more limited than Telegram’s.
Pros
Voice and video calls alongside messagingEnd-to-end encrypted chatsStickers, communities, and cross-platform availability
Cons
Ads can be intrusiveConnectivity issues and group-call limits can frustrate
Which one should you pick?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which app is best for email?
Gmail. It is built for organizing email, filtering spam, and working with Google services; Telegram and Viber are primarily messaging apps.
Which app is best for sharing large files?
Telegram is the strongest fit of these three for large-file and media sharing.
Which app is best for voice and video calls?
Viber is a good fit if calls are a priority, with voice and video calling alongside chats and group messaging.
Are Telegram and Viber end-to-end encrypted?
Both offer end-to-end encryption, but Telegram’s applies to encrypted chats rather than every conversation by default. Viber offers end-to-end encryption for chats.
Mobxio 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.