Key takeaways
- Start with the platforms customers actually use: Google Business Profile, Apple Business, Bing Places and a Facebook Page. They are free and matter more than any directory.
- On 27 October 2026 I checked 24 Nepal directory names that appear in popular "best directory" lists: 8 work, 11 are dead, parked or for sale, 3 are stale or not really business directories and 2 could not be verified.
- Among the working directories, only a few are free and still maintained. Pick two or three, not twenty.
- Consistency beats volume: use the exact same business name, address, phone number and website everywhere. Use the citation tracker (CSV) to record it.
Which business listing sites in Nepal are worth your time? Start with Google Business Profile, Apple Business, Bing Places and Facebook, then add two or three Nepal directories that still work, such as Directory of Nepal (free), Yellow Pages Nepal (free) and Nepal Phonebook (free). Industry directories like the TAAN members list are worth more than generic ones if you qualify. Skip the dead sites below; several "top directory" lists still recommend them.
Each listing is a citation: a mention of your business name, address and phone number on another website. Citations help customers, Google and AI assistants confirm that your business is real and where it is. They are not a shortcut to rankings, and paying for dozens of low-quality listings does not help.
In this guide
What citations do (and don't do)
Google explains that local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. On prominence, it says the factor is "based on info like how many websites link to your business and how many reviews you have." Accurate listings on sites people use support that picture of a real, established business. They also stop customers from calling an old number or walking to an old address.
What citations don't do is replace the basics. A complete, verified Google Business Profile, genuine reviews and a useful website matter far more. Treat directories as supporting evidence. For the wider picture, see the local SEO guide for Nepal.
Start here: the platforms that matter most
| Platform | Cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Free | Feeds Google Search and Maps. The single most important listing. |
| Apple Business | Free | Manages your Apple Maps place card. Apple lists Nepal for Brand and Location Management. |
| Bing Places for Business | Free | Feeds Bing and Microsoft products, and can import from Google. I could not confirm Nepal support in Microsoft's public documentation, so try importing your Google profile. |
| Facebook Page | Free | Many Nepali customers check Facebook first. Fill in the About section with the same details. |
| OpenStreetMap | Free | Open map data used by many apps. Add facts only: name, location, opening hours, phone, website. |
| LinkedIn Company Page | Free | For B2B firms, agencies and consultancies. |
| TAAN members directory | Membership | For trekking and travel agencies. Public member pages with a website field. |
Hotels, restaurants and tour operators should also keep their booking and review platforms accurate. Those are where travellers compare options.
Nepal directories: checked 27 October 2026
These are the Nepal directories from popular lists that were working when I checked. "Link to your website" describes the link on a real listing I inspected. A nofollow link still sends customers to you; it simply tells search engines not to treat it as an endorsement.
| Directory | Cost | Link to your website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directory of Nepal | Standard free; Premium NPR 999/year | Yes, a normal link when a website is listed | Free listings are reviewed in about 7 days and can't be self-edited later. Listing pages are indexable. |
| Yellow Pages Nepal | Free (account needed) | Yes, nofollow | Listing pages are indexable. Pages carry sponsored ads; newest blog post is from 2019. |
| Nepal Phonebook | Free | Yes, nofollow | Listing pages are indexable. Newest dated post is from 2019, so expect slow moderation. |
| Inquiry Nepal | Free and paid plans | Through its own link.inquirynepal.com redirect | The site warns free listings can take more than 144 hours to review. |
| NepalYP | Paid: USD 20 one-time, USD 65/year or USD 145 lifetime | No: the website appeared as plain text on the listing checked | Large, active directory (67,539 listings claimed). Its paid "Data Hub" sells access to listed businesses' contact details. |
| Khojnu | Not published | Not seen on the listing checked | The listing price page shows an unrendered placeholder. Listing pages are indexable. |
| Mero Sewa | Not stated | Yes, a normal link | Newest dated content is from 2018: low maintenance. |
| Nepali Search Engine | Featured placements offered | Not checked | Mixes business listings with products and property ads. |
Three more names from those lists are not worth the effort: Explore Nepal's directory (its copyright footer still reads 2016), Nepal Atlas (a travel atlas, not a business directory) and Express Business Directory (a generic international directory; its homepage offers no Nepal-specific section). Janta Review and Cybo blocked automated checks, so I could not verify them.
Directories that no longer work
These eleven still appear in "best directory" lists but did not work on 27 October 2026. Skip them, and be wary of any list that still recommends them.
- Bhetincha: the domain points to 127.0.0.1, so it can't load.
- Yelko and Callmandu: the servers time out.
- Reveal Nepal: returns a Cloudflare DNS error.
- MeroGuide, KatmanduBiz and BusinessList.online: the domains no longer resolve.
- autonepal.com and hotelnepal.com: parked or listed for sale.
- itnepal.com and foodnepal.com: return empty placeholder pages; they were never directories.
How to choose where to list
- Would a real customer use it? Maps, social platforms and industry directories beat generic lists.
- Is it maintained? Look for recent listings, working pages and a way to edit your details later.
- Can you control your details? If you can't update a listing, a wrong phone number may stay public for years.
- Is the price fair for the value? Pay only when the site sends real enquiries, not for "dofollow backlinks".
- What happens to your data? Some directories resell business contact details. Decide whether you are comfortable with that.
Do not buy packages of hundreds of directory submissions. Google's spam policies treat links made primarily to manipulate rankings as link spam, and low-quality directories add nothing for customers. For links that do help, see how to build backlinks in Nepal.
Keep your name, address and phone consistent
Before you submit anywhere, write down one exact version of your details and reuse it everywhere:
- Business name: your real-world name, without added keywords or city names.
- Address: one format, for example "Ward 3, Lazimpat Road, Kathmandu 44600". Pick the format once and stick to it.
- Phone: the same main number in the same format, such as +977-1-4XXXXXX or +977-98XXXXXXXX.
- Website: the same homepage URL, including https and with or without www as your site uses it.
- Hours and category: the same opening hours and main category, including festival closures.
Match these details in your website's structured data as well; the schema markup guide shows how. Download the citation tracker (CSV) to record each listing's URL and what it currently shows, then re-check it every few months.
A 60-minute plan
- 10 minutes: write your one exact name, address, phone, website and hours in the tracker.
- 20 minutes: check and correct Google Business Profile, then Apple Business and Bing Places.
- 10 minutes: update your Facebook Page About section to match.
- 20 minutes: submit to Directory of Nepal and one or two other working directories from the table. Add your industry association if you are a member.
After that, put your effort into reviews and your website. The Google review request guide and Google Maps ranking guide are the next steps.
How I checked these sites
On 27 October 2026 I loaded each site and, where possible, a real business listing. For each one I recorded whether it loads, whether you can add a business, the published cost, whether listing pages are indexable, and how the listing links to the business website. I identified myself as an automated check, used no tricks to get past bot protection, and recorded blocked sites as "could not verify". Dead sites were confirmed with a DNS lookup. Directories change prices and features often, so confirm the details before you pay for anything.
Frequently asked questions
Are directory listings still useful for SEO in Nepal?
A few accurate listings on maintained sites help customers find correct details and support your business's credibility. They are a small factor compared with your Google Business Profile, reviews and website, so list on a handful of good sites rather than many weak ones.
Should I pay for a business listing?
Only if the site sends real customers. Free core platforms such as Google Business Profile, Apple Business and Bing Places come first. Avoid paying for listings sold mainly as "dofollow backlinks".
Do nofollow listings help?
Yes, as citations and for customers who click through. A nofollow link still shows your correct details and can send visitors; it just isn't counted as an endorsement by search engines.
How many directories should a small business use?
The core platforms plus two or three maintained Nepal directories and any genuine industry association is enough for most businesses. Keeping a few listings accurate is better than creating many you never update.
Sources and further reading
Want your listings audited and cleaned up? See my local SEO service.
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