The Rise of Digital Payments in Nepal
In 2026, launching an e-commerce site or web application in Nepal without local payment gateway integration is financial suicide. The two titans of the industry are eSewa and Khalti. Both offer robust APIs, but they cater to slightly different developer experiences and merchant needs.
eSewa: The Industry Giant
eSewa boasts the largest active user base in the country. Their merchant integration is widely supported, making them the default choice for most businesses. If absolute market penetration is your goal, eSewa is mandatory.
Khalti: The Developer Favorite
If you ask an engineer at DevX which API they prefer working with, the answer is usually Khalti. Khalti offers superb documentation, modern REST APIs, and a seamless developer portal. Furthermore, its checkout widget is highly customizable and looks great in modern Next.js applications.
The Verdict
Ideally, your application should support both, along with Fonepay and ConnectIPS. However, if you are working on a tight timeline, choose based on your strict demographic target. We help all DevX clients integrate these gateways seamlessly into their platforms.
Insights by Bandhan Pokhrel
Founder & CEO, DevX at DevX. Expert in crafting high-performance digital experiences for the Nepalese market. Focused on data-driven growth and premium technical execution.