A breakthrough in Nepal’s digital innovation sector has been achieved by a locally developed app, Roshan Shrestha App. According to the latest data from SimilarWeb, the app has emerged as the #1 most downloaded and used news application in Nepal. But its rise is not limited to Nepal alone. The app is also rapidly climbing the charts in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, and Romania, indicating growing popularity among the global Nepali diaspora.
On Android’s Google Play Store, Roshan Shrestha App currently holds the #1 position in the News & Magazines category in Nepal, while on the Apple App Store (iPhone), it consistently maintains the top spot among Nepali users. Internationally, the app has achieved the #2 rank in the UAE, #3 in Saudi Arabia, #4 in Malaysia, and made a dramatic climb of 116 positions to reach #15 in Romania. It is also making noticeable progress in other countries like Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, showing the app’s growing footprint outside Nepal.
What makes this success truly remarkable is that the Roshan Shrestha App is not backed by any tech giant or corporate venture capital. It is the result of the independent effort of investigative journalist Roshan Shrestha and a small team of dedicated developers. The app was built with a clear mission: to offer verified, ad-free, and 100% free digital services to Nepali users, both in Nepal and abroad. The platform does not display ads, require subscriptions, or demand unnecessary permissions, making it one of the most accessible and ethical mobile apps in its category.
Out of its 24 integrated features, approximately 80% are usable offline, which is especially helpful for users in remote areas of Nepal where internet access is limited or unreliable. Among its most widely used tools is the Visa Status Checker, which supports visa verification for 19 countries, including South Korea, Japan, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel. This service alone has become an essential digital utility for thousands of migrant workers and their families.
In addition to visa services, the app includes a full Nepali calendar with date conversion, verified news updates in both English and Nepali, direct links to government service portals like MOFA and DOFE, and essential labor-related resources. It also offers real-time tools such as forex rates, NEPSE index tracking, and educational resources on Facebook monetization, YouTube SEO, and website development. Offline utilities like EMI calculators, VAT, SIP, BMI, and pregnancy trackers make the app useful even without internet access. Furthermore, features like motivational quotes, land area converters, family tree tools, and a smart AI assistant named RoshanGPT make it a comprehensive, everyday digital companion.
Importantly, all of these features are 100% free of charge, without premium unlocks, ads, or login requirements. This transparency and user-friendliness have made the app particularly popular among migrant Nepali communities, who often lack access to centralized, trustworthy digital resources in their host countries.
The rise of the Roshan Shrestha App is more than just the success of an app — it represents a powerful statement of digital self-reliance in Nepal. Roshan Shrestha, through his work as a journalist and technologist, has demonstrated that world-class digital tools can be created within Nepal, for Nepalis around the world. As the app continues to expand in both features and reach, it is positioning itself not just as a service — but as a movement of accessible, ethical, and purpose-driven innovation for the global Nepali community.
