Ewan Byte Team
Software Development Experts
A balanced look at outsourcing to Nepal
Most articles on this topic are a list of reasons Nepal is perfect. It is not perfect, and no outsourcing destination is. Here are the real advantages of working with a Nepali software company, the drawbacks you should plan for, and the kinds of projects where it works best.
The advantages
1. Lower cost than hiring locally
Salaries and office costs in Nepal are a fraction of those in the US, UK, Australia or the Gulf, so a capable team costs far less. Rates are in a similar band to India; see our Nepal vs India comparison.
2. English as a working language
Engineering education and day-to-day software work in Nepal are in English, so specifications, code reviews and calls do not need a translator.
3. A workable time zone
At UTC+5:45, a Nepali team shares several working hours with the UK, Europe, the Gulf and Australia, and its evening overlaps with the US morning.
4. You are an important client
Most Nepali software companies are small or mid-sized. A project that would be a minor account at a large outsourcing firm gets direct attention from senior people.
5. Modern skills
Nepali developers work with the same tools as teams elsewhere: React, Node.js, Laravel, Python, Flutter and the major cloud platforms.
The drawbacks to plan for
- Limited scale: if you need fifty developers next month, look at larger markets.
- Fewer rare specialists: niche skills are harder to find than in India or Eastern Europe.
- Experienced people move abroad: ask how long the team has been together.
- Public holidays: Dashain and Tihar in October and November mean reduced availability for a couple of weeks. Plan releases around them.
- Payments: international bank transfers work, but agree currency, invoicing and fees up front.
Projects that fit well
- MVPs and early-stage products
- Web and mobile apps for small and mid-sized businesses
- Long-term maintenance and feature work on an existing product
- White-label development for agencies
How to reduce the risk
- Start with a small paid project before a long contract.
- Keep the code in your own repository.
- Put IP ownership and confidentiality in the contract.
- Ask for a demo every week.
Working with Ewan Byte
We are a software company in Tilottama, Nepal, building web, mobile and desktop applications, ERP systems and MVPs for clients in Nepal and abroad. Read our guide to hiring a software team in Nepal, compare engagement models, or contact us.
