---
title: "Viber auto reply: how to set up welcome and away messages (2026)"
description: "Learn how Viber auto reply works, how to set up welcome and away messages, and when you need a chatbot. Includes ready-to-copy templates."
canonical: "https://sleekflow.io/en-gb/blog/viber-auto-reply"
html_lang: "en-gb"
date_modified: "2026-10-30T03:03:21Z"
og_title: "Viber auto reply: set up welcome and away messages (2026)"
og_description: "Learn how Viber auto reply works, how to set up welcome and away messages, and when you need a chatbot. Includes ready-to-copy templates."
og_image: "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/6zoovl1f/production/b0b614cf13576ffdb2f1e8d20f9f79dc8eb060eb-1208x790.png"
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# Viber auto reply: how to set up welcome and away messages (2026)

*YeeLin Thum — Head of Brand & Communications*

## Summary

- Viber auto reply starts with the welcome and away messages built into a Viber business account, and keyword replies need a chatbot.

- SleekFlow's Help Center lists a Viber chatbot at EUR 100 a month, but Viber's own pages differ, so confirm with Viber.

- Viber sends its away message once per off-duty period to new chats from unsaved numbers, and business hours must be set first.

- Write the welcome and away messages first, then add a chatbot only when you need keyword replies or routing to a team.

- If customers mostly ask when you'll reply, an away message is enough, and if they ask about orders, plan for a chatbot.

## What is a Viber auto reply?

A Viber auto reply is a message your business sends automatically when a customer contacts you on Viber. Viber's help page for business accounts describes two built-in versions, a welcome message and an away message. Keyword replies and menus need software that reads each message and answers it, such as a Viber chatbot.

Here is how the 5 common types compare:

You don't need all 5 on day one.

The welcome and away messages come first because you can turn them on in the Viber app without a chatbot.

## Why do auto replies matter on Viber?

An auto reply tells customers their message arrived and what happens next, even when nobody on your team is online. That matters most with a new customer, who has no history with you and no idea when to expect an answer.

Auto replies help in three ways:

- They confirm the message landed. A short reply stops people wondering whether anyone saw their question.
- They point people the right way. A welcome message can say where to find order help, your hours or a person.
- They set expectations. An away message that names your return time gives people a reason to wait.

## How do you set up a Viber welcome and away message?

Open More, then Business tools in the Viber app, turn on the welcome message or the away message, and enter your text. A welcome message takes 10 to 200 characters, and an away message has a 1,000-character limit. Set your business hours first, because the away message depends on them.

[Viber's business account help page](https://help.viber.com/hc/en-us/articles/10738959646621-Create-and-manage-a-business-account) lists both limits and the full steps.

To set up the welcome message:

1. Go to More, then Business tools, and tap Send welcome message.
2. Turn on the toggle.
3. Enter your text and save.

Viber sends it to new customers who find you through business discovery. It doesn't go to your existing personal contacts.

To set up the away message:

1. Go to Business tools (More on Android, the three dots on iOS) and open Away message.
2. Add your business hours if you haven't yet.
3. Turn on sending and choose a schedule. "Send outside of business hours" is the default, and "Always send" suits long absences like vacations.
4. Edit your text in the "Current message" box.

Viber sends it to any new chat from a number not saved in your contacts, once per off-duty period, so one person doesn't get repeat replies during the same closed hours.

## When do you need a chatbot for auto replies on Viber?

You need a Viber chatbot when one fixed message isn't enough, like keyword replies, menus, lead capture or routing a chat to a team. A new chatbot isn't instant. Viber reviews each application, which goes through a verified partner or to Viber directly, and approves at its sole discretion.

### How does Viber bill chatbot messages?

Viber charges for messages your chatbot sends first, at a rate that depends on the customer's country code. Messages inside a 24-hour session aren't billed separately. A session opens when a customer messages your chatbot or replies to one of its messages.

Under Viber's [chatbot commercial model](https://help.viber.com/hc/en-us/articles/15383950711197-Rakuten-Viber-chatbot-commercial-model-FAQ), each bot also carries a monthly fee. SleekFlow's [Viber channel overview](https://help.sleekflow.io/viber/viber-channel-overview) lists it as EUR 100 per bot per month (page updated 28 Nov 2025) and adds that the 24-hour window resets each time the customer sends a new message.

Viber's own pages differ, with its chatbot FAQ saying EUR 100 and its Bot commercial model page saying EUR 115. Confirm the fee with Viber before you budget.

### How do you connect Viber to SleekFlow?

Connecting a Viber chatbot to SleekFlow takes 5 steps for a workspace Admin once Viber has approved your bot and issued a token. Your Viber chats then appear in your SleekFlow [inbox](/en-gb/inbox), and SleekFlow generates a link and QR code that customers can use to message you.

1. Open the Channels page.
2. Select Viber.
3. Click Connect.
4. Enter an account name, a channel name and the bot token from the Viber Admin Panel.
5. Click Connect.

Then copy the link or save the QR code, message the bot from your own Viber account and check that the chat reaches your inbox.

[SleekFlow's Viber connection guide](https://help.sleekflow.io/viber/connecting-viber-to-sleekflow) lists these steps and says you can automate replies on Viber with Flow Builder.

## Auto reply templates for Viber

Good templates are short, name a next step and say when a person will reply. Copy the ones below and replace each bracket with your own details. A welcome message can't run past 200 characters.

For a welcome, a good message thanks the customer and gives them an easy next step.

- "Welcome to [Brand]! Send us a message here and we'll reply as soon as we can."
- "Hi there! Thanks for messaging [Brand]. What can we help with today? Reply 1 for orders, 2 for products, or 3 to talk to our team." Numbered replies need a chatbot.

For an away message, always say when you'll be back, so customers know how long the wait will be.

- Weekday evening: "Thanks for your message! Our team is offline right now. We're back at [time] and will reply first thing. Need help sooner? Visit [FAQ link]."
- Weekend: "Hi! We're closed for the weekend and back on [day] at [time]. For urgent order issues, email [support email]."

The next three need a chatbot. Replace each answer with your own policy.

- Keyword FAQ. For "shipping": "[Your shipping time]. Details: [shipping link]."
- Lead capture. "Happy to help! Could you share your name and email so our team can follow up?"
- Promotion reply. "You're in! Use code [CODE] at checkout before [date]."

## Best practices for auto replies on Viber

Write in short, plain sentences, say when a person will reply, and never promise a time you can't keep.

- Write like a person. Use the tone your best agent would use, with plain words.
- Set clear expectations. Say when a human will reply and what the customer can do meanwhile.
- We suggest making opting out easy. Tell customers how to stop promotional messages and act on it right away. Viber's [Terms of Use](https://www.viber.com/en/terms/viber-terms-use/) say users can unsubscribe from any chatbot at any time.
- Check local rules. Viber's [Business Accounts Terms](https://www.viber.com/en/terms/viber-business-terms-and-conditions/) ban spam and unsolicited messages, and marketing and consent rules also differ by country, so ask local counsel which apply where you send.
- Store data properly. Keep customer details in [SleekFlow's social CRM](/en-gb/social-crm), not in screenshots or personal phones.

## Where should you start?

Start with the two messages Viber already gives you: a welcome message, and an away message with your business hours set. Add a chatbot when customers keep asking questions a fixed message can't answer, and request approval from Viber early so it's ready when you need it.

To see how Viber chats reach your team, visit SleekFlow's [Viber channel page](/en-gb/channels-integrations/viber).

### Does Viber have a built-in auto reply?

Yes, in part. A Viber business account has a welcome message for new customers who find your business through discovery, and an away message that sends outside your business hours. Quick Replies let you insert saved messages by hand. For keyword replies, menus or routing, you need a chatbot.

### Do I need a chatbot to use auto reply on Viber?

Not for the welcome and away messages, which you turn on in the Viber app. You need a chatbot for keyword replies, menus, lead capture or routing to a team. SleekFlow connects to Viber through a chatbot token, and Viber has to approve a new chatbot before you get one.

### How often does Viber send the away message?

Once per off-duty period. Viber sends it to any new chat from a number not saved in your contacts, so the same person doesn't get repeat replies while your business hours are closed. The "Always send" option covers long absences like vacations.

### How much does Viber auto reply cost?

Viber's business account help page says nothing about a charge for the welcome and away messages. A chatbot has two kinds of cost: a monthly fee per chatbot, and fees for messages it sends first, at rates set by the customer's country code. SleekFlow's Help Center lists the fee as EUR 100, Viber's pages say EUR 100 or EUR 115, and you also pay for your SleekFlow plan.

### Will auto replies replace my support team on Viber?

No. Auto replies greet people, answer easy questions and collect details. Your agents still handle complaints, custom orders and anything that needs judgment, so keep a clear route from every auto reply to a person.