22 April Kathmandu, 2020
Are you using an online platform for online payment in Nepal? The concept of digital payment is emerging and making our lives convenient. Digital wallets and platforms are making our smartphones smarter.
However, the question still remains if the transactions will go cashless in the near future. The remarkable emergence of digital platforms like eSewa and Khalti can turn it into reality for sure. These two online payment gateways have dominated the Nepali app market. With the pros and cons of both, people are confused about which one to use. Therefore, without wasting any time, let’s check out two of the best digital payment platforms in Nepal.
Introduction to eSewa
eSewa logo
Nepal’s first online payment gateway, eSewa, has been operational since 2009. It is licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank as a Payment Service Provider (PSP). Developed and operated by F1Soft, this platform provides several online payment services. Its services include utility payments, mobile top-up, payment of internet bills, e-banking, etc.
Moreover, it is incredibly easy to register and create an eSewa account. All you need to do is download the mobile eSewa app and register using your mobile number. As a matter of fact, your mobile number will be your eSewa ID. After your account is created, you can load funds from your bank account to your eSewa wallet. Then, simply perform transactions on the go.
Introduction to Khalti
Khalti logo
Khalti is another popular name in the digital payment world. The word Khalti literally translates to Wallet, so yes, it is a digital wallet. It was launched in January 2017 and received the PSP license from Nepal Rastra Bank recently in 2019.
The platform is operated and owned by Sparrow Pay Pvt. Ltd and provides similar services as eSewa. However, it has created an impact on its customers.
eSewa vs Khalti: Difference in Features
| Platform | eSewa | Khalti |
| Services | – Electricity Bill
– Internet Bill – Landline Bill – Airline and bus ticket – Electricity/Water – Mobile Top Up – TV Subscription – DEMAT account opening + renew – Credit Card Bill – School/College Fees – Insurance Premium – EMI Payment – Movie Ticket – Hotel Booking – Merchants, service providers and retail outlets can Send/receive payments |
– Electricity Bill
– Internet Bill – Landline Bill – Airline and bus ticket – Electricity/Water – Mobile Top Up – TV Subscription – DEMAT account opening + renew – Credit Card Bill – School/College Fees – Insurance Premium – EMI Payment – Movie Ticket – Hotel Booking – Voting – Donation – Kaspersky Antivirus – Merchants, service providers and retail outlets can Send/receive payments |
| Mobile App Availability | Both for Android & iOS | Both for Android & iOS |
| No. of Associate Bank | 43+ | 40+ |
| Registration | Free | Free |
| Security | 128-bit VeriSign SSL certificate secured | SSL certificate secured |
| Global and Nepal Alexa Ranking | Global – 35,487
Nepal – 66 (Rank may change) |
Global – 115,284
Nepal – 133 (Rank may change) |
| Refer and Earn | No | Yes |
| User Interface | Average | Better |
| App Downloads | 1M+ (Play Store) | 500k+ (Play Store) |
| App Rating | 4.7 (Play Store)
3.7 (App Store) |
4.1 (Play Store)
4.2 (App Store) |
| App Rank (Finance) | #2 (Top Free) | #1 (Top Free) |
| Scan & Pay | Yes | Yes |
Which Online Platform Should You Choose?
Personally, I would say Khalti has a slightly better user interface. The heavier UI makes its app size larger than that of eSewa. Although eSewa’s UI is easy to navigate as well, it just doesn’t match up the rich UI of the Khalti app.
Both eSewa and Khalti have secured platforms. eSewa is secured by a 128-bit VeriSign SSL certificate while the latter has an SSL Certificate.
Both of these platforms provide similar services. It is for sure that eSewa has a huge market due to its long history. Users trust this platform and already a huge number of banks and merchants associated with it. Meanwhile, Khalti being relatively new is trying to grab the attention of more users. But, it has already made an impact in the Nepali market with over 500k+ downloads already. Within a short span of time, it has become a tough competitor of eSewa.
Having said that, eSewa obviously being the first online payment gateway in Nepal has partnered with dozens of companies, banks, and websites. It has a huge share in the digital payment market. On the other hand, Khalti is yet to join hands with the best in business. However, it has been luring more audiences with its latest offers and promotions. It still has a lot to do as a new addition to digital wallets in the country.
Personally, I enjoyed using Khalti’s mobile app but I experienced some bugs with the biometric system of Khalti. I couldn’t make transactions with my fingerprint scan which is odd. Other than that, both platforms are doing good in the market. The aspect of rivalry between them is healthy and users can expect the addition of more services as the rivalry goes on.
Which do you prefer? Please let us know in the comments!