Digital Wallets in Nepal 2026: What We Know About Fees, Limits, and Security for eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay, and ConnectIPS

Nepal’s digital‑wallet market has grown fast since the first QR‑code pilots in 2020. By mid‑2026 the four largest players — eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay and ConnectIPS — handle the bulk of person‑to‑person transfers, bill payments and merchant QR transactions. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) publishes a Quarterly Payment System Report; the July 2026 edition confirms that total QR‑merchant enrollments continue to climb year‑over‑year, though the report does not break out numbers by wallet.

Quick reference: where to find the latest numbers

Because none of the four wallets publishes a single consolidated fee table that covers every transaction type, the most reliable approach is to check each provider’s official fee schedule and limits page directly. Below are the current links (all accessed September 2026) and the date each page was last updated, according to the provider.

What the NRB report tells us

The July 2026 NRB Quarterly Payment System Report (available on nrb.org.np) shows aggregate QR‑merchant enrollment rising steadily. The report does not attribute merchants to individual wallets, so any claim about eSewa’s or Khalti’s specific merchant count would be speculative. For a deeper dive into NRB’s payment‑system data, see our guide How to read NRB payment‑system reports.

Fee patterns you’ll typically see

While exact rupee amounts change, the fee structures across the four wallets follow a similar pattern:

• Person‑to‑person (P2P) transfers: often free up to a daily threshold, then a flat fee or percentage may apply.
• Bank transfers (wallet to bank account): usually a flat fee per transaction or a small percentage for larger amounts.
• Merchant QR payments: merchants typically pay a discount rate rather than the consumer.
• Cash‑in / cash‑out via agents: cash‑in is usually free; cash‑out attracts a fee.

Because these rates can shift quarterly, always verify on the provider’s fee schedule before making a high‑value transaction.

Transaction limits (daily / monthly)

All four wallets impose tiered limits based on KYC level. A fully verified account generally allows higher daily and monthly outbound transfer caps, while lower KYC tiers have significantly tighter caps. The exact numbers differ slightly between wallets; the limits pages linked above show the current tier tables.

Security posture

Each provider states compliance with major card‑data security standards, uses tokenisation for card data, and enforces two‑factor authentication (2FA) on login and high‑value transactions. NRB’s regulatory framework requires licensed payment service providers to undergo periodic security audits. As of September 2026, audit certificates are published on each wallet’s security page (linked in the table). If a certificate is missing or outdated, treat the compliance claim as provisional.

Choosing a wallet for your needs

There’s no single “best” wallet — it depends on what you do most:

• Frequent P2P splits with friends: eSewa and Khalti both offer free P2P up to generous daily caps.
• Receiving remittances: IME Pay’s integration with IME’s remittance network often yields better exchange‑rate top‑ups.
• Merchant payments at small shops: ConnectIPS benefits from direct switch connectivity, so QR settlements can be faster.
• Developer integration: Khalti’s SDKs and sandbox environment are widely regarded as the most developer‑friendly.

For step‑by‑step top‑up instructions, see our guides: eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay, ConnectIPS.

Bottom line

Fee schedules, limits and merchant‑network sizes remain largely opaque in a single public document. The NRB quarterly report confirms overall QR‑merchant growth but does not break out wallet‑specific numbers. Before committing to a wallet for daily use, visit each provider’s official fee schedule, limits page and security documentation — dated no earlier than April 2026 — and compare the numbers that match your transaction pattern.