Akia vs. Viber:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Akia by Akia and Viber by Viber for your hotel’s guest messaging depends on your specific operational needs and strategic priorities. Both platforms aim to facilitate communication, but Akia’s focus on automation and guest engagement tailored for hospitality sets it apart from Viber’s broader instant messaging and VoIP capabilities. Your decision should hinge on whether you prioritize specialized hotel features or a general communication tool.

Akia’s comprehensive feature set and proven impact on guest satisfaction make it the more relevant choice for hoteliers seeking to enhance their guest journey. Viber, while popular for personal messaging, lacks the hotel-specific integrations and recent reviews to be a compelling hotel communication solution today. Can your hotel afford to overlook the platform with more recent, positive feedback?

Is Akia or Viber Better for Hotels?

Akia and Viber both claim to enhance communication, but their core offerings reveal stark differences. Akia was designed explicitly for hospitality, offering features like mobile-friendly messaging, automation, upselling, and integrations with hotel management systems, while Viber is primarily a general-purpose VoIP and messaging app for individual and business use.

Akia’s singular focus on hotel guest engagement means it provides functionalities such as guest history, digital check-in, and guest surveys, which Viber does not. Viber’s strength lies in free text, voice, and video messaging, but it does not target hotel-specific workflows or automation. Given Akia’s 113 recent reviews and an overall rating of 4.93/5, compared to Viber’s lack of hotel-specific reviews, Akia’s hotel-oriented approach is more aligned with your needs.

Akia vs Viber: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a platform that integrates directly with your PMS, automates guest communication, and offers tools for revenue growth, Akia should be your choice. Its 59 unique hotel features, including guest pre-registration, automated workflows, and upselling capabilities, make it ideal for properties aiming to streamline operations and improve guest satisfaction.

Conversely, if your hotel primarily requires an internal or external communication tool without the need for automation, guest profiling, or integrations, Viber might suffice. However, given Viber’s limited hotel-centric features and no recent reviews, Akia’s platform clearly provides more tangible benefits for hotels seeking to elevate their guest experience.

Is Akia or Viber Easier to Use?

Akia’s user-friendly interface is evident from its 4.84/5 ease-of-use rating and positive reviews emphasizing its intuitive design. Hotel staff report that Akia’s mobile and desktop apps are straightforward, enabling quick adoption and efficient communication. The onboarding process scores 4.66/5, reflecting a smooth setup experience.

Viber, by contrast, is designed for general messaging with no hotel-specific onboarding data or user ratings available. Without targeted hotel onboarding or a dedicated hospitality interface, Viber’s usability for hotel staff is likely less optimized.

Edge: Akia.

Which Has Better Features: Akia or Viber?

Akia offers a comprehensive suite of 59 features tailored for hotels, including mobile-friendly messaging, photo sharing, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger integration, automation, guest history, digital check-in, survey tools, analytics dashboards, and more. It supports upselling, secure data protection, API access, and even room keys, making it a hotel-centric platform.

Viber’s feature set is limited to messaging, voice, video calls, and group chats, with no specific hotel or automation features. It lacks integrations with PMS or hotel operations, which are critical for streamlining workflows and enhancing guest engagement.

Edge: Akia.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Akia or Viber?

Akia’s customer support scores 4.84/5, with reviews highlighting its responsiveness and hands-on onboarding. Users mention that support staff are helpful, and the platform’s ease of troubleshooting fosters confidence.

Viber offers no publicly available recent reviews or ratings for support quality, especially in a hotel context. Its support is designed for general users, not hospitality businesses, which diminishes its reliability as a dedicated hotel support tool.

Edge: Akia.

Which Has More Integrations: Akia or Viber?

Akia boasts 32 verified partners, including PMS providers like WebRezPro, Stayntouch, and innRoad, plus integrations with social platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. This wide ecosystem enables Akia to fit seamlessly into hotel workflows.

Viber has only one verified partner, Whistle, with no other hotel-specific integrations listed. Its lack of industry-focused integrations limits its ability to connect with your existing hotel management systems.

Edge: Akia.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Akia or Viber?

Akia’s recent reviews and high ratings underscore its value: a 4.93/5 overall score from 113 reviewers, with a 97% likelihood to recommend. Hotels across segments like boutique, resort, and branded properties praise its ease of use, automation, and guest engagement features.

Viber, lacking recent hotel-specific reviews, has no publicly available ratings or hotel segment data. Its utility for hotels remains unverified, making Akia the clear preference based on current feedback.

Edge: Akia.

How Much Do Akia and Viber Cost?

Akia’s pricing starts at $500 monthly, with no mention of a free tier or trial. This transparent pricing reflects its targeted hotel features and dedicated support.

Viber’s pricing structure is not publicly disclosed, as it operates mainly as a free app with optional paid features for business accounts. However, without recent hotel-specific case studies or reviews, the value proposition for hotels is uncertain.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Akia?

• Hotels aiming for contactless check-in and automation, such as boutique hotels and resorts.
• Properties seeking to boost guest satisfaction via real-time communication and surveys.
• Hotels that want to streamline operations with integrations into PMS and other systems.
• Teams that prioritize data security and analytics for guest engagement.
• Hotels looking to upsell F&B, room upgrades, and ancillary services through messaging.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel relies solely on traditional communication channels without automation needs.
• You’re a very small property with minimal operational tech infrastructure.
• You have limited budget for dedicated guest messaging solutions.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Viber?

• Hotels seeking a simple, no-cost communication tool for internal or external messaging.
• Properties that do not require automation, integrations, or advanced guest engagement features.
• Smaller hotels or hostels with basic communication needs.
• Hotels in regions where Viber is popular for personal messaging (e.g., parts of Europe or Asia).

Not ideal if:

• You need automation, guest profiling, or revenue-driving features.
• Your property aims to improve operational efficiency through integrated systems.
• You require dedicated hotel customer support or hospitality-specific functionalities.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Akia and Viber serve vastly different purposes, with Akia built explicitly for hotel guest engagement and operational automation. If your hotel wants a platform that improves guest satisfaction, streamlines communication, and integrates seamlessly into your property management system, Akia is the clear winner.

Choose Akia if you desire a hotel-focused messaging platform with a proven track record, extensive features, and positive recent reviews. Opt for Viber only if your needs are limited to basic messaging and VoIP communication without the complexities of hotel automation or guest engagement.

In summary, for most hotels seeking higher guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and ROI, Akia provides the more robust, hotel-specific solution. Its recent reviews, extensive feature set, and industry integrations confirm it as the best option for hospitality businesses today.