Tihar Rangoli Design Simple for Home: 12 Easy Ideas 2026

Tihar Rangoli Design Simple for Home: 12 Easy Ideas for Laxmi Puja 2026

Updated: October 19, 2026 · Reading time: about 8 minutes

Tihar 2026 is about three weeks away, and the question in many Nepali homes is the same every year: what rangoli can I make quickly, without fancy tools, and still have it look beautiful at the doorstep on Laxmi Puja night? This guide gives you 12 simple Tihar rangoli designs for home, a clear materials list, a six-step method any beginner can follow, and a day-by-day plan for the five days of Tihar.

Laxmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Kartik 22, 2083 BS), so you have time to practise. If you also want to send greetings while you decorate, keep our Tihar wishes in Nepali handy.

Simple Tihar rangoli design at home with flower petals and diyo at the entrance

In a hurry? Start here.

Easiest design: a marigold (sayapatri) petal circle with one diyo in the centre. It takes about 20 minutes.
Best place: the doorstep or just outside the main entrance.
Best time: the morning or afternoon of Laxmi Puja, so diyos can be lit in the evening.
No colour powder at home? Use rice flour, flower petals and turmeric.

What’s Inside

Tihar 2026 dates and the best rangoli for each day
Why we make rangoli at Tihar
12 simple Tihar rangoli designs
Difficulty and time comparison
Materials you need
How to make a rangoli in 6 steps
Where to place your rangoli
Apartments, rain, pets and safety
Common mistakes to avoid
FAQs

Tihar 2026 Dates and the Best Rangoli for Each Day

Tihar runs for five days. Rangoli is most closely linked with Laxmi Puja, but a small design on the other days keeps the festive mood going. Dates below follow the Nepali calendar for 2083 BS. Always confirm the exact tithi and puja time in your local patro, because timings can differ slightly between sources.

Day	Date (2026)	Simple rangoli idea
Kaag Tihar	Sat, 7 Nov	Clean the floors. Practise your design on paper or on a tray.
Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja	Sun, 8 Nov	Your main rangoli: petal circle, diyo ring, lotus or footprints.
Goru Tihar, Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja	Tue, 10 Nov	A simple mandala for Mha Puja (design 12 below).
Bhai Tika	Wed, 11 Nov	A small colourful border near the tika seat. Pair it with Bhai Tika wishes in Nepali.

Why We Make Rangoli at Tihar

Rangoli is a floor art made with coloured rice, dry flour, coloured sand or flower petals. It is part of festival traditions in both India and Nepal. During Tihar, families clean and decorate their homes, light diyos and welcome Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. A rangoli at the entrance is a way of saying that the home is ready to receive her.

The good news for beginners is that the tradition does not demand perfection. Simple geometric shapes, flower and petal patterns and a few diyos are all part of the custom, and the intricate designs you see on social media are optional.

12 Simple Tihar Rangoli Designs for Home

Simple Tihar rangoli for home with colourful patterns

1. Marigold Petal Circle

Draw a circle with chalk, fill it with rings of orange sayapatri petals, add a ring of purple makhamali, and place one diyo at the centre. There is no powder and no stencil, and if a petal is out of place you simply move it. This is the best first rangoli for a beginner.

2. Diyo Ring Mandala

Make a simple round mandala in white flour, then place clay diyos around the edge at equal distances. Lotus petals or marigolds can fill the gaps. It is one of the least tiring designs, and the diyos do most of the decorating when lit at night.

3. Dot-Grid Geometric Rangoli

Mark a 5 × 5 grid of dots with chalk, then connect them with curved or straight lines in white flour. Colour the gaps in two or three shades. Symmetry makes even a plain pattern look planned and neat.

4. Square Border Rangoli

A square is easy to scale to any doorstep. Draw a white border, fill the inside with a simple star or flower, and put a diyo in each corner or in the centre. It is a good choice when the entrance is wider than it is deep.

5. Simple Lotus Rangoli

The lotus is closely tied to Laxmi, and it needs only white, pink and green. Draw eight petals around a small circle, outline them in white, fill them in pink, and add green leaves below. It looks rich but takes about 40 minutes, so start early.

6. Six-Petal Flower

Draw a small circle, then six overlapping circles around it to form a flower. Colour alternate petals in two shades. It is the most common pattern in Nepali households because it is quick, symmetrical and forgiving.

Four festive rangoli designs suitable for Tihar and Diwali

7. Doorstep Border Strip

If your entrance is narrow, skip the big circle. Make a long strip along the threshold with repeating triangles, dots or small flowers. It works well for flats and shops, and it takes only about 10 minutes.

8. Laxmi Footprints

In many Hindu households, small footprints are drawn leading from the doorstep into the house, as a symbol of Laxmi walking in. Use rice-flour paste, or flour mixed with a little vermilion. Press a hand-sized template or draw the shapes freehand, and keep them pointing inward.

9. Simplified Peacock Feather Fan

A full peacock rangoli is often considered one of the most tedious to make. Make it easy by drawing only a fan of five or seven feathers. Draw each feather as an oval with a smaller oval inside, then colour them in blue, green and gold. A stencil makes this much faster.

10. Om or Shree Centrepiece

Write a large Om or Shree symbol in the centre in white flour and surround it with a ring of petals or diyos. A paper cut-out placed on the floor helps you get a clean shape. It suits people who prefer a devotional look over a decorative one.

11. Portable Thali or Tray Rangoli

Make the rangoli on a large steel plate, a wooden board or a tray instead of the floor. You can prepare it indoors, carry it to the entrance and move it in if rain starts. This is the best option for apartments, balconies and windy terraces.

12. Mha Puja Mandala

Mha Puja, the Newar worship of the self, falls on Tuesday, 10 November in 2026 according to published calendars. A mandala is a natural fit for the day. Draw a square or circle, add concentric lines in different colours, and keep the centre open for the puja items. Check with elders in your family or community for the traditional form your household follows.

Difficulty and Time Comparison

Use this table to choose a design that matches your skill level and the time you have. Times are rough estimates for a first-time maker working at a normal doorstep size.

Design	Difficulty	Main materials	Best for
Marigold petal circle	Very easy	Petals, diyo	First-timers, kids
Diyo ring mandala	Easy	Flour, diyos	Night look
Dot-grid geometric	Medium	Chalk, powders	Neat symmetrical look
Square border	Easy	Flour, diyos	Wide entrances
Lotus	Medium	White, pink, green	Laxmi Puja centrepiece
Six-petal flower	Easy	Chalk, two colours	Everyday festive look
Doorstep strip	Very easy	Flour or petals	Narrow entrances
Laxmi footprints	Very easy	Rice-flour paste	Traditional welcome
Peacock feather fan	Medium	Stencil, powders	Colourful statement
Om or Shree centrepiece	Easy	Flour, paper cut-out	Puja room
Thali or tray rangoli	Very easy	Plate, petals	Flats, balconies
Mha Puja mandala	Medium	Coloured powders	Mha Puja

Estimated Time for a Beginner (in Minutes)

Doorstep strip

Laxmi footprints

Thali or tray rangoli

Six-petal flower

Diyo ring mandala

Marigold petal circle

Om or Shree centrepiece

Square border

Peacock feather fan

Dot-grid geometric

Simple lotus

Mha Puja mandala

Estimates only. Your time will depend on the size of the design and how many people help.

Materials You Need

Rangoli is traditionally made with dry or wet rice flour, and natural colours such as turmeric (haldi) and vermilion (sindoor) can be added. Coloured rangoli powder is easy to find in the weeks before Tihar. In Kathmandu, shoppers often look in the busy markets around Ason for colours, diyos and decorations.

Basic kit

White chalk for outlines
Rice flour (chamal ko pitho)
Coloured rangoli powder
Small bowls for each colour
A soft brush or old toothbrush for cleaning edges
Clay diyos, oil or ghee, and wicks

Natural and eco-friendly kit

Marigold (sayapatri) and makhamali petals
Turmeric for yellow
Vermilion for red
Rice flour for white
Crushed green leaves or green-dyed rice
Stencils or paper cut-outs (optional)

How to Make a Simple Tihar Rangoli in 6 Steps

Clean
Sweep and dry the floor

Outline
Sketch in chalk

White line
Trace with flour

Fill
Add colours or petals

Tidy
Clean stray powder

Light
Place diyos at dusk

Clean the surface. Sweep and wipe the floor, then let it dry completely. Dry flour and powder do not hold well on a wet floor.
Sketch the outline. Draw the shape lightly with chalk. For symmetry, mark the centre point first and measure outwards.
Trace with white. Hold a pinch of flour between your thumb and forefinger and let it trickle as you move your hand along the line. This is the traditional way to draw rangoli lines.
Fill with colour. Start from the centre and work outwards, so your hand does not smudge finished sections. Place petals last.
Tidy the edges. Use a soft brush or a cotton bud to clean stray powder around the lines.
Add diyos at dusk. Place diyos on bare patches between the petals or in the centre, and light them once the family is ready for Laxmi Puja.

Practical tip: Practise the design once on a sheet of paper or a tray a day or two before. It takes ten minutes and shows you where the proportions go wrong before it matters. Once finished, take a photo and use it in a Tihar greeting card or banner post design to share with relatives.

Where to Place Your Rangoli

The entrance of the house, and the space just outside the puja room, are the traditional spots. Here is a simple way to think about it, working from outside to inside:

Gate or outer step
Footprints or a small border begin here

→

Main doorstep
Your main rangoli with diyos

→

Puja room
A small Om, Shree or flower design

Apartments, Rain, Pets and Safety

Living in a flat: Use the thali or tray rangoli, or a doorstep strip. Both avoid stairs and shared corridors.
Wind or drizzle: Make the rangoli with petals and heavier rice grains, and keep a plastic sheet or a cardboard cover nearby. Rice flour paste holds better than dry powder outdoors.
Dogs on Kukur Tihar: Dogs are honoured with tika and garlands on this day, and Laxmi Puja falls on the same date in 2026. Dogs may lick or sniff at the floor, so prefer natural colours and flour near the entrance.
Diyo safety: Keep diyos stable, away from curtains, dry flowers and children’s clothing. Never leave lit diyos unattended overnight.
Cleaning up: Sweep petals into a compost pile if possible. Avoid washing large quantities of coloured powder straight into the drain.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Simple fix
Choosing a design that is too big	Measure the doorstep first and scale the design down to fit.
Starting at the edges	Mark the centre first, then work outwards.
Using too many colours	Stay with three or four shades so the pattern stays clear.
Making it on a damp floor	Dry the floor fully, or switch to the tray version.
Placing diyos too close to petals	Leave a small gap and keep the flame well away from dry flowers.
Leaving it until the last hour	Finish by mid-afternoon so you have time to fix mistakes and prepare puja items.

Share the Festive Mood

Once your rangoli is ready, send a photo to family along with a few kind words. You can find ready messages in our Tihar wishes in Nepali collection, and the Tihar greeting card design and banner post design page is useful if you want to make a shareable image. For the last day, see Bhai Tika wishes in Nepali. If your family also celebrates Chhath after Tihar, our Chhath Puja wishes in Nepali page can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest Tihar rangoli design for beginners?

A marigold petal circle with one diyo in the centre is the easiest. It needs no powder, no stencil and no special skill, and you can fix mistakes by moving petals.

When should I make rangoli for Tihar 2026?

Make your main rangoli on Laxmi Puja, Sunday, 8 November 2026, finishing before the evening puja. A smaller design for Mha Puja on 10 November and a border for Bhai Tika on 11 November are optional. Confirm exact timings in your local patro.

Can I make Tihar rangoli without colour powder?

Yes. Use rice flour for white, turmeric for yellow, vermilion for red and flower petals for orange, purple and pink. Rice grains and lentils also work as borders.

Where should I place the rangoli at home?

The traditional places are the entrance of the house and the area just outside the puja room. A narrow doorstep suits a border strip, and a wider one suits a circle or square.

How do I keep my rangoli from blowing away or getting damaged?

Use rice flour paste or heavier petals outdoors, work in a sheltered corner and cover the design if rain is forecast. A tray or thali rangoli can be carried indoors in bad weather.

What is a rangoli for Mha Puja?

Mha Puja is a Newar ritual of worshipping the self, and a mandala is commonly drawn for it. A simple version uses concentric squares or circles in several colours. Families follow their own traditions, so check with elders at home.

Final Thoughts

A good Tihar rangoli does not need to be large or complicated. Choose one of the designs above, collect your materials a few days early, practise once, and finish it before the evening of Laxmi Puja. The warmth of the home and the light of the diyos will do the rest. Happy Tihar 2083 to you and your family.

Top Eleven Guide 2027: Become a Football Manager (Tips, Tactics & Tricks)

Updated 16 October 2026 · Top Eleven 2027 – Be a Football Manager (Android, iOS, web) · ~17 min read · By Wilson Shrestha

Top Eleven guide – become a football manager with tips, tactics and tricks

Quick answer: how to win in Top Eleven

Train every day and keep your starters fresh, pick a formation that fits your best players, then counter your opponent’s shape. In Top Eleven 2027 the tactics screen has three parts: In possession (how you attack), In transition (what happens the moment the ball changes hands, plus your mentality) and Out of possession (how you defend). Set those 11 options, give 2–4 players arrows, choose a Mentor, watch the first half and adjust at half-time.

This page is the hub of my Top Eleven series. Every section below links to a deeper guide when you need more detail.

tactic phases in TE2027

team settings to choose

arrow options per player

Legendary Mentors at launch

In this guide

The Top Eleven guide map
How a Top Eleven season works
Tactic explanation (TE2027)
Arrows and key players
5 ready tactic setups
Before starting a match
Formation tips
Mentors explained
Training in short
Tips for youth academy
Top Eleven tips and tricks
How to win in Top Eleven?
Common mistakes
FAQ

The Top Eleven guide map

Top Eleven – Become a Football Manager has a lot of moving parts, so I split my guides by job. Start here, then open the guide for the part of the game you are stuck on. Everything sits in the Top Eleven hub.

Top Eleven Training GuideDrills, Teamplay Form, Session Score and condition recovery.
Best Formations4-2-2-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 V with full 2027 tactics.
Counter FormationsCounter chart for 75 opponent formations.
Player PlaystylesWhat each playstyle does and where to use it.

How a Top Eleven season works

Top Eleven is a football management game: you never control players on the pitch. You pick the squad, formation and tactics, train players, buy and sell in transfers, grow youngsters in the Youth Academy and run the club’s money and facilities. Matches play out live in 3D, and what you set before and during the match decides the result.

Each season you play a league, a domestic cup and, if you qualify, continental competition. Because the calendar is busy, the real skill is rotation: keeping enough fresh, trained players for every match, not just building one perfect eleven.

Area	What you control	Where to learn more
Squad & tactics	Formation, 11 team settings, arrows, Mentor	Tactic explanation below
Training	Daily drills, Teamplay Form, condition	Training guide
Players	Positions, playstyles, contracts	Playstyle guide
Youth Academy	Signing and coaching prospects	Youth academy tips
Club & money	Transfers, tokens, cash, Campus	Tips and tricks

Tactic explanation: the Top Eleven 2027 tactics screen

Top Eleven 2027 rebuilt the tactics screen. Older guides (and older players) still talk about “Force counter-attacks” and “Offside trap ON”. Those switches are gone. The 2027 screen groups every team instruction by phase of play:

Phase 1

In possessionHow you build and finish attacks: shooting, passing, where you attack, crossing.

→

Phase 2

In transitionThe seconds after the ball changes hands, plus your overall mentality.

→

Phase 3

Out of possessionHow you defend: marking, pressing height, backline and tackling.

In possession

Setting	Option	What it does and when to use it
Shooting tendency	Balance	Players shoot when the chance is reasonable. The safe default for most squads.
	Shoot on sight	More long and half-chance shots. Use when the opponent parks the bus or you are chasing a goal late, and you have good long-shot players. Wastes attacks if your shooters are weak.
	Work it into the box	Patient play until a clear chance appears. Best when you dominate the ball or have a lone striker who needs service. Can stall against a packed defence.
Passing style	Short	Keeps the ball, slower build-up. Needs technical midfielders. Good against teams that press you high, because the ball moves before they arrive.
	Mixed	Players choose short or long by situation. The flexible default.
	Long	Skips midfield to find forwards fast. Pair it with counter-attacks, pacy strikers or a high opposition backline. Loses the ball more often.
Focus passing	Balance	Attacks spread across the pitch. Use it when you do not know where the opponent is weak yet.
	Both Flanks	Play goes wide on both sides. Use against narrow formations (diamonds, 4-3-1-2) or when your full-backs and wingers are your best attackers.
	Left Flank	Funnels attacks down the left. Use when your best winger plays there or their right-back is the weak link.
	Right Flank	The same idea on the right side.
	Through the Middle	Central combinations. Use against wide formations with only two central midfielders, or when your AMC and MCs are your stars.
Crossing tendency	Low	Few crosses; wide players cut inside or pass. Use with short, quick forwards.
	Medium	Crosses when the angle is good. The sensible default.
	High	Lots of balls into the box. Only worth it with a strong, tall target striker and good crossers on the wings.

In transition

Setting	Option	What it does and when to use it
Possession lost	Counter press	Players chase the ball straight away to win it back high up the pitch. Strong against weaker or slow teams. Costs stamina, and if the press is beaten you are open behind.
Possession lost	Regroup	Players drop back into shape first. Safer, especially with no DMC, against fast forwards, or when your squad is weaker.
Possession won	Focus on Buildup	Slow down and keep the ball after winning it. Use when you are the stronger team or protecting a lead with the ball.
Possession won	Counter-attack	Break forward fast after winning the ball. The weapon of the underdog and of fast strikers and wingers. This replaces the old “Force counter-attacks: ON”.
Mentality	Hard Defending	Very deep and compact. Protecting a narrow lead late, or facing a far stronger side.
	Defending	Defence first, attack on the break. Your usual setting against stronger teams.
	Normal	Balanced. The starting point when squads are close in strength.
	Attacking	More players join attacks. Use when you are clearly stronger or the opponent sits deep.
	Hard Attacking	All-out attack. Short spells only: chasing a goal, or crushing a much weaker team. Leaves big gaps.

Which mentality? Match it to the strength gap

Much weaker

Hard Defending

A bit weaker

Defending

About equal

Normal

A bit stronger

Attacking

Much stronger

Hard Attacking*

*Only for spells inside a match, not 90 minutes. This is a rule of thumb from experience, not a game formula: also weigh home advantage, condition and form.

Out of possession

Setting	Option	What it does and when to use it
Marking style	Zonal	Each player guards an area and keeps the formation’s shape. The right choice most of the time.
Marking style	Man-to-man	Players follow an opponent. Useful against one dangerous star or a lone striker, but defenders tire faster and can be dragged out of position.
Pressing	High Press	Win the ball in their half. Great against weaker sides who cannot pass out; tiring and risky against quality passers.
	Mid Press	Engage around halfway. A balance of ball-winning and stamina, and a good default.
	Low Block	Sit deep and protect the box. For stronger opponents and for setting up counter-attacks.
Backline	Track Opponent	Defenders follow runners. Safe, especially against fast forwards.
Backline	Set Offside Trap	The line steps up to catch runners offside. Works against long-ball teams if your centre-backs are quick and well drilled; one mistake means a one-on-one.
Tackling style	Stay on feet	Few fouls and cards. Use with defenders already on a yellow, or when penalties and free-kicks are hurting you.
	Balanced	The default mix of ball-winning and discipline.
	Aggressive	Wins more balls with harder challenges, but brings more fouls, cards and set pieces for the opponent.

Old tactic names vs Top Eleven 2027 names

Many tactic posts (including older comments on this site) still use the pre-2027 labels. Here is the closest new option for each old one, so you can translate any older setup.

Old setting (pre-2027)	Closest TE2027 setting
Team Mentality (5 levels)	Mentality, now under In transition (same 5 levels)
Focus Passing: Mixed / Down both flanks / Through the middle	Focus Passing: Balance / Both Flanks / Through the Middle (Left and Right Flank still exist)
Passing Style: Short / Mixed / Long	Passing Style: Short / Mixed / Long
Force Counter-Attacks: ON / OFF	Possession won: Counter-attack / Focus on Buildup
Pressing Style: Low / High	Pressing: Low Block / High Press (Mid Press is new)
Tackling: Easy / Normal / Hard	Tackling style: Stay on feet / Balanced / Aggressive
Offside Trap: ON / OFF	Backline: Set Offside Trap / Track Opponent
Marking: Zonal / Man-to-man	Marking style: Zonal / Man-to-man
(no old equivalent)	Shooting tendency, Crossing tendency, Possession lost (Counter press / Regroup)

The mapping is my own reading of the closest option. Nordeus has not published an official conversion table.

Arrows and key players

On top of the team settings, you can give individual players an arrow. There are three states:

↑ Forward

Attack. The player joins attacks and makes runs beyond his normal spot.

↓ Backward

Defend. The player stays deeper and protects the space behind him.

• No arrow

None. The player holds the role of his position in the formation.

Position	Typical arrow	Why
DL / DR (full-backs)	↑ on one side, none on the other	One overlapping full-back adds width; both forward leaves you exposed to counters.
DMC	↓ Defend	Screens the centre-backs, especially with attacking full-backs.
MC	↑ on one box-to-box MC	Turns a 4-5-1 into a 4-3-3 when you have the ball. Keep the other MC with no arrow or ↓.
AML / AMR, ML / MR	↑ Attack	Wide attackers running in behind are the main chance creators in most shapes.
ST	None (or ↑ for a very fast poacher)	A striker with no arrow links play; a forward arrow sends a fast striker in behind.
DC	None	Centre-backs should hold the line; arrows here rarely help.

Rule of thumb: 2–4 forward arrows in total, at least one defensive arrow if you use attacking full-backs, and never forward arrows on both full-backs and both MCs at once.

Key players: build the tactic around them

In my tactic cards, Key players are the three or four players the plan depends on: your best scorer, your playmaker, your fastest winger, your defensive leader. Choose the team settings that feed them, not the other way round.

If your key player is…	Set this	Arrow
A fast striker (poacher)	Passing Long or Mixed, Possession won: Counter-attack	ST ↑
A tall target man	Crossing High, Focus Both Flanks	ST none, wingers ↑
A creative MC or AMC	Passing Short, Focus Through the Middle, Work it into the box	AMC none or ↑
An elite winger	Focus Left Flank or Right Flank toward his side	That winger ↑
A strong long-shot taker	Shooting Shoot on sight (only while it pays off)	None
A ball-winning DMC	Possession lost: Counter press, Pressing Mid or High	DMC ↓

Match playstyles to these roles too. My Top Eleven playstyles guide explains which playstyle suits each position.

5 ready tactic setups for Top Eleven 2027

Use these as starting points, then adjust after watching the match. They are my suggestions, not settings published by Nordeus.

Setting	Balanced default	Underdog (stronger opponent)	Dominant (weaker opponent)	Protect a lead	Chase a goal
In possession
Shooting tendency	Balance	Balance	Work it into the box	Balance	Shoot on sight
Passing style	Mixed	Long	Short	Short	Mixed
Focus passing	Balance	Both Flanks	Their weakest zone	Balance	Both Flanks
Crossing tendency	Medium	Medium	Low	Low	High (tall ST)
In transition
Possession lost	Regroup	Regroup	Counter press	Regroup	Counter press
Possession won	Counter-attack	Counter-attack	Focus on Buildup	Focus on Buildup	Counter-attack
Mentality	Normal	Defending	Attacking	Hard Defending	Hard Attacking
Out of possession
Marking style	Zonal	Zonal	Zonal	Zonal	Man-to-man
Pressing	Mid Press	Low Block	High Press	Low Block	High Press
Backline	Track Opponent	Track Opponent	Track Opponent	Track Opponent	Set Offside Trap
Tackling style	Balanced	Balanced	Balanced	Stay on feet	Aggressive
Arrows	↑ wingers, ↓ DMC	↑ ST only, ↓ DMC and full-backs	↑ one full-back, wingers, one MC	↓ DMC, full-backs, wide mids	↑ wingers, both MC, ST

Swipe the table sideways on mobile. For formation-specific setups with arrows on every player, see Top Eleven – Be a Football Manager best formations.

Copy-ready tactic card

This is the format I use for every tactic. If you ask me for a counter in the comments, send your setup like this:

Formation: 4-5-1 V (DL-DC-DC-DR / DMC / MC-MC / AML-AMR / ST)

IN POSSESSION
Shooting tendency: Balance
Passing style: Mixed
Focus passing: Both Flanks
Crossing tendency: Medium

IN TRANSITION
Possession lost: Regroup
Possession won: Counter-attack
Mentality: Normal

OUT OF POSSESSION
Marking style: Zonal
Pressing: Mid Press
Backline: Track Opponent
Tackling style: Balanced

KEY PLAYERS: AML/AMR dribblers (forward arrow), DMC ball-winner (backward arrow), ST finisher (no arrow)

Fix it during the match

What you see	Change one thing
Lots of shots, few on target	Shooting: Work it into the box
Possession but no chances	Focus passing toward their weaker flank, or give one MC a forward arrow
Conceding on the break	Possession lost: Regroup, remove a full-back’s forward arrow
Many fouls and cards	Tackling: Balanced or Stay on feet
Caught offside rarely, beaten in behind often	Backline: Track Opponent
Players tiring before 60 minutes	Pressing: Mid Press or Low Block, then substitute early
Opponent dominates midfield	Switch to a shape with one more central midfielder

Change one or two settings at a time. If you change everything, you never learn what worked.

Before starting a match

Most matches are won before kick-off. Run through this checklist every time:

Check condition. Tired players perform worse and get injured more. Rest or rotate anyone who is low, and use Rests on key starters for big matches.
Check morale. Use morale boosters on your starters before important games; happy players play better.
Train first. Finish the day’s training before the match so Teamplay Form is up, but do not drain condition right before kick-off. The Top Eleven training guide shows the routine.
Study the opponent. Look at their formation and how strong they are in defence, midfield and attack, not just the overall rating.
Pick your counter. Choose a formation that wins the midfield or attacks their empty zone (see formation tips).
Set the 11 tactics and arrows from the presets above.
Choose a Mentor in the Tactics tab of the Squad menu. You can swap at half-time.
Watch the live match, or at least the first 15 minutes and half-time. Read the match stats and adjust.

Formation tips

There is no single best formation in Top Eleven. Every shape can be beaten. Even Nordeus’s community team has said the key is building the formation around your best players rather than copying one shape. These three rules cover most situations:

1. Win the middleField at least one more central midfielder (DMC/MC/AMC) than the opponent.

2. Attack the empty zoneNarrow opponent: attack both flanks. Wide opponent: go through the middle.

3. Match mentality to the gapStronger: Attacking. Equal: Normal. Weaker: Defending with counter-attacks.

Break their defence, stop their attack

Opponent has	Use
Back four (DL-DC-DC-DR)	Two strikers to occupy both centre-backs
Three narrow DCs	ST plus AML and AMR to attack the wide spaces
Wide back three (DL-DC-DR)	Three strikers to overload the centre
Two strikers	Three centre-backs, or DL-DC-DC-DR plus a DMC
One striker	Two DCs on him, and mark the players who feed him
ST plus AML and AMR	A back five (DL-DC-DC-DC-DR)

Best formations and counter formations

For full setups with every arrow, open Top Eleven – Be a Football Manager best formations. To beat a specific shape, use the counter chart in Top Eleven – Be a Football Manager counter formations, which covers 75 opponent formations split by whether you are stronger, equal or weaker.

Top Eleven counter formation chart: opponent formation and the formation to beat it — Tap the image for the full Top Eleven counter formation guide.

Formation	Best for	Deep dive
4-5-1 V-Style	The most flexible shape; solid midfield, counters through wingers	4-5-1 tactics
4-4-2	Simple, wide and balanced	4-4-2 tactics
3-5-2	Midfield control with two strikers	3-5-2 tactics
4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond	Beating flat 4-4-2 through the middle	Counter guide

Tip: keep two or three formations you know well instead of changing shape every match. Players handle familiar shapes better.

Mentors in Top Eleven 2027

Mentors are the biggest new feature of Top Eleven 2027. A Mentor sits on your touchline and boosts your team in matches. The first Legendary Mentors are Cesc Fàbregas, Alan Shearer, Claude Makélélé and Nemanja Vidić.

Mentor level	What unlocks
Levels 1–5	Tactic Boost: certain types of attack happen more often and succeed more
Levels 5–10	Attribute Boost: certain player attributes rise during matches
Level 10	Signature Move: special bonus for a type of action or style of play
3 Prestige levels	Upgrades to the Signature Move; each needs XP plus a Signature Seal

You unlock Mentors and Mentor XP with Badges: one draw costs one Badge. Free Badges arrive during the season and from other features.
Mentors are on temporary contracts and leave when the contract ends, so use them while you have them.
Set the Mentor in the Tactics tab of the Squad menu before the match, and swap at half-time if the game changes.
Pick a Mentor that fits your plan: an attacking Mentor when you play to win big, a defensive one when you sit deep and counter.

Training in short

Training does two jobs: regular drills improve players, and Teamplay drills build Teamplay Form (Attack, Defence, Possession and Condition), which boosts the whole team in matches. Teamplay Form starts with a cap of 10 and can be raised to 20. Players recover about 6% condition every 3 hours, so plan training around kick-off times.

Different positions need different drills, and the Session Score rewards variety. The full routine, drill picks by position and recovery times are in the Top Eleven training guide.

Tips for youth academy

The Youth Academy is where you grow future stars for free cash and few tokens. Timing matters, so learn the season calendar:

When	What happens
Day 3	New candidates arrive in the Youth Academy
Days 3–7	Sign the candidates you want (until the end of day 7)
Day 8 onward	Training phase: coaches become available; some need the candidate to meet conditions
Any time	You can release a candidate to free the slot
Day 1 of next season	Prospects join your squad, ready to be signed or released

Read the stars correctly. Before signing, dark green stars show current quality and light green stars show potential. Sign for potential, not today’s level.
Fill the positions you will need next season, such as a replacement for an ageing striker, not just the highest-rated candidate.
Do not miss the day 3–7 window. Set a reminder; candidates you do not sign are gone.
Use the right coach. Check which coaches are available after day 8 and match them to the candidate’s position.
Free a slot for a better prospect. Releasing a weak candidate early is better than wasting a slot all season.
My own target: build part of the future squad from the academy every season. I aim for several high-star prospects per season and budget some tokens for it (see my token rules in the tips and tricks below).

Top Eleven tips and tricks

Squad and players

Rotate. Two players per position for important spots lets you keep everyone fresh through league, cup and continental games.
Buy younger. Older stars are cheap but decline; younger players keep improving with training.
Play people in their positions. A player out of position performs worse, even if his rating looks fine.
Match playstyles to roles, for example a dribbler on the wing and a playmaker in central midfield.

Tokens and money

Set a token limit per player. My rule: do not spend more than about 30 tokens on one auction player.
Use free tokens. Daily rewards, TV rights, sponsor missions and friend referrals all add up. Check Top Eleven redeem codes for gift card info.
Avoid token generators and “hacks”. They do not work, can steal your account, and using cheats can get you banned.
Upgrade the stadium and facilities steadily. More fans and better facilities pay back over many seasons.

Match day

Watch your important matches live. You can only react if you see the problem.
Use substitutions early when a player is tired or on a yellow card and you play Aggressive tackling.
Swap the Mentor at half-time if you need goals or need to hold a lead.
Do not play Hard Attacking for 90 minutes. Use it in short spells.

Long-term

Join an active Association and play with friends; the community helps with tactics and rewards.
Keep notes. Write down which tactic beat which formation. That becomes your personal counter chart.
Never change everything after one loss. Read the match report, find the one problem, fix that.

How to win in Top Eleven?

Winning is a loop you repeat every match day:

Train
Daily drills, Teamplay Form up

Recover
Condition and morale before kick-off

Scout
Opponent shape and line strengths

Counter
Formation that wins the middle

Set
11 tactics, arrows, Mentor

Adjust
Watch live, fix one thing

Review
Match report, then repeat

Keep players happy and trained, set your counter formation and tactics, and react during the match. The upgraded 2027 match report shows where you won or lost each zone, so use it to plan the next game instead of guessing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake	Why it hurts	Do this instead
Copying old “ON/OFF” tactics into TE2027	Those switches no longer exist	Use the old-vs-new table above
Counter press with no DMC	One lost ball and the defence is exposed	Regroup, or add a DMC with a backward arrow
High Press every match	Players tire and get injured	Mid Press as default, High Press against weak passers
Forward arrows everywhere	Nobody covers the counter-attack	2–4 forward arrows, balanced left and right
Offside trap with slow centre-backs	Runners get clean one-on-ones	Track Opponent
High crossing with small strikers	Crosses go nowhere	Low or Medium crossing, play through the middle
Missing the youth academy window	Candidates are gone after day 7	Sign between days 3 and 7
Training tired players right before kick-off	They start the match low on condition	Plan training around match times

Want to see these tactics in real matches?

I post Top Eleven counter formations, tactic tests and match walkthroughs on YouTube.

▶ Subscribe on YouTube

Keep reading

FAQ

What is the best formation in Top Eleven 2027?

There is no single best formation; every shape has a counter. 4-5-1 V-Style, 4-2-2-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond are flexible choices, but the best one is the shape that suits your strongest players and wins the midfield against today’s opponent.

What do the arrows mean in Top Eleven?

A forward arrow tells a player to attack and join moves, a backward arrow tells him to defend and stay deeper, and no arrow means he holds his normal position in the formation.

Should I use Counter press or Regroup?

Use Regroup as the safe default, especially without a DMC or against fast forwards. Use Counter press when you are the stronger team, your players have stamina, and the opponent struggles to pass out of pressure.

What replaced Force counter-attacks in Top Eleven 2027?

The closest setting is In transition → Possession won: Counter-attack. Focus on Buildup is the equivalent of turning counter-attacks off.

How do I beat a stronger team in Top Eleven?

Play a compact shape with an extra midfielder, set Mentality to Defending, Pressing to Low Block, Possession lost to Regroup and Possession won to Counter-attack, use Long or Mixed passing, and give your fastest attacker a forward arrow. A defensive Mentor helps.

How do Mentors work in Top Eleven 2027?

Each Mentor gives a Tactic Boost (levels 1–5), an Attribute Boost (levels 5–10) and a Signature Move at level 10, plus three Prestige levels. You unlock and level them with Badges, set them in the Tactics tab, and can swap them at half-time.

When do youth academy candidates arrive?

New candidates arrive on day 3 of the season and can be signed until the end of day 7. Coaches are available from day 8, and trained prospects join your squad on day 1 of the next season.

Are there cheats or token hacks for Top Eleven?

No. Token generators and hack tools are scams that can steal your account, and cheating can get you banned. Earn tokens from daily rewards, TV rights, sponsor missions, referrals and official redeem codes instead.

Sources: Nordeus Help Center (Top Eleven 2027 is here; Leveling up Mentors; How to assign or change Mentors; Youth Academy articles), Nordeus Top Eleven 2027 announcement (Aug 2026). Tactic advice, presets and the old-vs-new mapping are my own recommendations from playing the game, not official Nordeus settings. Checked 16 October 2026.

Top Eleven Training Guide: Drills, Teamplay Form & Condition (2027)

Top Eleven Training Guide (2027): Drills, Teamplay Form & Condition Explained

Updated 16 October 2026 · Top Eleven 2027 – Be a Football Manager (Android, iOS, web) · ~13 min read

Quick answer

Training in Top Eleven does two jobs. Regular drills (Attack, Defence, Possession, Physical & Mental) raise player attributes and add some Teamplay Form. Teamplay drills are consumable and only raise Teamplay Form (Attack, Defence, Possession, Condition), which is capped at 10 and can be pushed to 20 per season with Advancement points. Always train with at least 4 players so you also gain Teamplay Form and Sharpness, mix drill intensities and roles for a higher Session Score, and plan around condition: players recover only 6% every three hours without rests.

condition back every 3 hours

players needed for Teamplay Form

max Teamplay Form cap per season

111

training levels to unlock drills

Most managers lose matches in Top Eleven long before kick-off. They pick a good formation, then send out a squad with low condition, no Teamplay Form and no Sharpness. This Top Eleven – Be a Football Manager training guide explains how the current training system works, what each number on the training screen means, which drills suit each position, and how to manage condition so your best eleven is fresh on matchday.

Everything here applies to Top Eleven 2027, which launched on 9–10 August 2026. If you are new to the game, start with our Top Eleven guide, and browse every post in the Top Eleven hub.

Contents

1. What training does in Top Eleven
2. Regular drills vs Teamplay drills
3. Teamplay Form, caps and Advancement points
4. How to build a high Session Score
5. A daily training routine that works
6. Best drills for each position
7. Condition, rests and recovery times
8. Which players to train hardest
9. Power training
10. Personal Trainer, Player Academy and new roles
11. What Top Eleven 2027 changed
12. Common training mistakes
13. FAQ

What training does in Top Eleven

The training screen feeds five separate systems. Older guides talk about “skill points” and three training types (stretching, cardio, practice match); that system was replaced in 2016, and the current version took shape with Nordeus’s November 2023 training update. Here is what you are actually improving today:

System	What it does	How you raise it
Player attributes	Long-term quality of each player	Regular drills, Player Academy, Personal Trainer
Teamplay Form	Squad cohesion bonus in four areas: Attack, Defence, Possession, Condition	Any group session with 4+ players; Teamplay drills give much more
Sharpness	How well each player uses your Teamplay Form in a match	Daily group training; it goes inactive if a player stops training
Condition	Fitness on matchday; every drill spends some	Time (6% per 3 hours) or Rests
Training level	Your manager-wide progress, up to level 111	Training points from every session; unlocks and upgrades drills

The key idea: attributes are the slow, permanent part; Teamplay Form and Sharpness are the fast, matchday part. A strong manager trains for both every day.

Regular drills vs Teamplay drills

	Regular Training Drills	Teamplay Drills
Types	Attack, Defence, Possession, Physical & Mental	Starter, Expert, Ultimate tiers
Raise attributes?	Yes – their main job	No
Raise Teamplay Form?	A little	A lot; Ultimate drills can have unique effects
Used up?	No, reusable every day	Yes, consumable
How you get them	Unlocked and upgraded as your training level rises (to 111)	Drill Lab on your Campus, season events, the Shop

In short, regular drills build the player and Teamplay drills prepare the team. Use regular drills every day; save Teamplay drills for the days before important fixtures.

Teamplay Form, caps and Advancement points

Teamplay Form (previously called Team Bonuses) is shown as four circles in the Training section: Attack, Defence, Possession and Condition. Each starts the season with a cap of 10. Once a type reaches 10, extra gains are not wasted – they fill the Excel bar. Every full Excel bar gives one Advancement point, and each point raises one type’s cap by 2. You can do this five times per type, so each cap can climb from 10 to 20.

Teamplay Form cap by Advancement points spent on one type

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

5 points

20 (max)

Five points per type × four types = up to 20 Advancement points can be useful in one season.

Three rules that change how you train:

Keep training after you hit 10. Extra form becomes Excel bar progress, so “I’m at 10, I can stop” wastes the most valuable part of the system.

Keep form high every day. You also earn Excel bar points each season day based on the Teamplay Form you reached the day before, so letting it drop costs you twice.

Spend Advancement points before the season ends. Caps and unspent points reset with the new season. Raise the type your formation leans on first – usually Attack for attacking setups, Defence for counter-attacking ones (see our Top Eleven best formations guide).

Nordeus also describes a random bonus called Training Uplift: whenever a session raises Teamplay Form, one motivated player can spark extra Teamplay Form for his zone of the pitch. It does not raise attributes. Well-designed sessions improve the chance of getting it, and the training report shows when it happened.

How to build a high Session Score

When you create a session, the info bar at the bottom shows projected gains, condition loss and the Session Score – Nordeus’s rating of how well the session is designed. Two bonuses drive it: the Player Variety Bonus (include players whose roles match the drills) and the Intensity Variety Bonus (mix drills of different intensities). Build every session in this order:

Step	Do this	Why
1	Add at least 4 players	Fewer than 4 = no Teamplay Form and no Sharpness at all
2	Group players by area (e.g. defenders + DMC, or midfield + forwards)	Lets you pick drills that match their roles for the Player Variety Bonus
3	Mix drill intensities instead of stacking one type	Intensity Variety Bonus
4	Read the condition loss before you confirm	A high score is useless if your starters arrive tired
5	Add a Teamplay drill only when you need form fast	They are consumable; spend them before big matches

Session Score is a guide, not the goal. A slightly lower score that keeps your first eleven fit is better than a perfect score that leaves them at 70% condition for a cup final.

A daily training routine that works

This is the routine we use; it is our approach, not an official recommendation. Adjust it to your match times.

1. Right after a match: claim Rests from the Training Centre and Treatments from the Treatment Wing on your Campus, then heal any injuries.

2. Morning session – reserves and young players: run attribute-focused regular drills with harder intensity. They are not playing soon, so condition matters less.

3. Midday session – first eleven, light: a short group session of 4+ starters with varied intensities to keep Teamplay Form and Sharpness up without draining condition.

4. Before a big match: use Teamplay drills to top up the Form type your tactics depend on, then let starters recover. Check that every starter is near full condition at kick-off.

5. End of the day: spend any full Excel bars as Advancement points instead of letting them sit.

Best drills for each position

Each drill trains a set of attributes, and a drill only gives full value to players who use those attributes. The table below shows the drill types and drills most commonly recommended for each role. Drill names come from community guides (GamingonPhone’s list, first published 2021 and updated in 2024); your list may differ depending on which drills you have unlocked or upgraded.

Role	Focus drill types	Commonly recommended drills
GK	Defence, Physical	Goalkeeper Training, Hold The Line, Gym
DC	Defence, Physical	Press The Play, Hold The Line, Warm Up, Gym
DL / DR	Defence, Physical	Press The Play, Carioca With Ladders, Long Run, Hurdle Jumps
DMC	Defence, Possession, Physical	Press The Play, Use Your Head, Video Analysis, Piggy In The Middle, Gym
MC	All four types	Pass Go & Shoot, Slalom Dribble, Press The Play, First Touch Play, Sprint
ML / MR	Attack, Possession, Physical	Slalom Dribble, Sprint, Long Run
AMC	Attack, Possession	Pass Go & Shoot, Slalom Dribble, Ball Control
AML / AMR	Attack, Physical	Pass Go & Shoot, Fast Counter-Attack, Slalom Dribble
ST	Attack, Possession	Pass Go & Shoot, Shooting Technique, Use Your Head, Ball Control

Players with two roles: use drills that appear in both roles’ lists. Three roles: train for the role the player actually plays most.

Top Eleven individual training drills chart for every player position — Top individual training drills to build a strong squad, by position (our 2021 chart – newer drills may now be available at higher training levels).

Which attributes matter for which role is covered in more depth in our Top Eleven playstyles guide; pair it with the chart below when choosing what to train.

Top Eleven player positions and their key skills — Players’ positions and their key skills.

Condition, rests and recovery times

Nordeus’s help centre confirms that players recover 6% condition every three hours. The Physio Center (Training → Physio Center) shows the time to the next 6% in its bottom-left corner. That gives these waiting times without using a Rest:

Hours to reach 100% condition without Rests

From 94%

3 h

From 88%

6 h

From 82%

9 h

From 76%

12 h

From 70%

15 h

From 64%

18 h

From 58%

21 h

Our calculation from the official 6%-per-3-hours rate. Real times can be a little shorter, because the first 6% arrives whenever the current 3-hour cycle ends.

What this means in practice: a starter who finishes a match tired and then trains hard can easily miss full condition for the next day’s game. Check the clock before you train your first eleven.

Recovery source	What you get	Tip
Time	6% every 3 hours	Train reserves hard; give starters the time
Training Centre (Campus)	Generates Rests over time	Claim them daily and upgrade the facility
Videos on mobile	Free Rests when offered	The cheapest boost in the game
Shop	Rest packs for purchase	Only worth it for power training or finals
Treatment Wing (Campus)	Treatments for injuries	Injured players can’t train – heal first

Which players to train hardest

Nordeus does not publish a training-speed formula, but players have reported the same pattern for years: younger players gain much faster from training, and gains slow sharply around 30. The bands below come from long-standing community observation, not official numbers.

Age	Training speed (community view)	How to use them
18–21	Fastest	Train hard every day; best targets for power training
22–26	Good	Core of your squad; balance attributes and form
27–29	Slowing	Train mainly for Teamplay Form and Sharpness
30+	Slow; not eligible for the Personal Trainer (official)	Use them for matchday experience; don’t spend tokens on them

Power training

Power training is a player-made strategy, not a menu option: you pick a few fast-learning players and train them session after session, using Rests to refill their condition between sessions. It turns Rests into attribute gains much faster than normal daily training.

When it is worth it: on young, high-potential players you plan to keep for several seasons, and when you have spare Rests from the Training Centre or events.

When it is not: on players aged 29 or more, on players you might sell soon, or on the day before an important match. Repeated hard sessions also raise injury risk, so keep Treatments on hand.

Personal Trainer, Player Academy and new roles

Feature	How it works	Watch out for
Personal Trainer	Spend tokens for an instant boost to one player	Players over 30 are not eligible
Player Academy	Unlocks at training level 3. New coaches appear every two days for drill sessions, skill seminars and training camps	The player can’t play matches until he returns, training can’t be cancelled, one coach per player, no Playstyle points while there, no coaches on the season’s last day
New role	Squad → choose player → tap + next to Roles → pick a role → Start	You can only choose roles from the offered list

Player Academy tip: send players during a quiet stretch of fixtures, never the day before a derby, because you can’t pull them back early.

What Top Eleven 2027 changed (and didn’t)

Top Eleven 2027 arrived on 9–10 August 2026 with Legendary Mentors (Cesc Fàbregas, Alan Shearer, Claude Makélélé and Nemanja Vidić), redesigned tactics, a more detailed live match and upgraded match reports. Each Mentor has a Tactic Boost, an Attribute Boost and a Signature Move, and you can swap Mentors at half-time.

Nordeus’s 2027 announcements do not describe changes to the training screen itself, so the drills, Teamplay Form and condition rules in this guide still apply. Two things to keep in mind:

Mentor boosts are matchday boosts, not training. They don’t replace Teamplay Form or Sharpness; they stack on top of a well-trained squad.

The new match report is a training tool. If it shows your side losing possession or conceding from crosses, shift that week’s drills toward Possession or Defence.

The Campus facilities from Top Eleven 2026 still matter for training: the Training Centre produces Rests, the Treatment Wing produces Treatments, and the Drill Lab (from Campus level 2) produces Teamplay Drills.

Common Top Eleven training mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Training only 2–3 players at a time	Use 4 or more, or you gain no Teamplay Form or Sharpness
Stopping once Teamplay Form hits 10	Keep going; the extra fills the Excel bar for Advancement points
Saving Advancement points “for later”	They reset at season end; spend them
Stacking the same drill intensity	Mix intensities for the Intensity Variety Bonus
Training defenders on attacking drills	Match drills to roles (see the position table)
Hard sessions for starters just before a match	Train reserves hard; keep starters’ sessions light
Spending tokens on a 30+ player	The Personal Trainer won’t accept him; invest in youth
Forgetting Campus claims	Collect Rests, Treatments and Teamplay Drills every day

Training only wins matches when the tactics fit the squad. Once your players are fit and sharp, choose the right shape with our best formations guide and adjust to your opponent with the Top Eleven counter formations table.

Keep reading

→ Top Eleven guide
→ Top Eleven best formations with tactics
→ Top Eleven counter formations
→ Top Eleven playstyles guide
→ All Top Eleven guides

FAQ

How does training work in Top Eleven?

Regular drills (Attack, Defence, Possession, Physical & Mental) raise player attributes and add some Teamplay Form. Consumable Teamplay drills raise Teamplay Form faster but don’t improve attributes. Every drill costs condition, and sessions also earn training points that unlock and upgrade drills up to training level 111.

How many players do I need in a training session?

At least 4. With fewer than 4 players, the session can still improve attributes but gives no Teamplay Form and no Sharpness.

What is the maximum Teamplay Form?

Each of the four types starts with a cap of 10. Extra form fills the Excel bar, each full bar gives an Advancement point, and each point raises one cap by 2, up to 20. Caps reset to 10 every season.

How fast do players recover condition?

6% every three hours, so a player at 70% needs about 15 hours to reach 100% without Rests. Rests from the Training Centre, videos or the Shop restore condition instantly.

How do I get more Teamplay drills?

Build the Drill Lab on your Campus (available from Campus level 2) and claim its drills regularly. They also come from season events and the Shop.

Can I train players over 30?

They can join normal training sessions, but they are not eligible for the Personal Trainer, and players generally report much slower gains at that age. Use them mainly for Teamplay Form and matchday experience.

Did Top Eleven 2027 change training?

Top Eleven 2027 added Legendary Mentors, redesigned tactics and better match reports. Nordeus has not announced changes to the training system itself, so drills, Teamplay Form and condition work as described in this guide.

Sources: Top Eleven official news – “New Era of Top Eleven Training” (5 Nov 2023) and “Top Eleven 2026 – Campus” (10 Aug 2025); Nordeus Help Center articles on Teamplay Form, Sharpness, Training Uplift, regular and Teamplay drills, Player Academy, new roles, Personal Trainer eligibility, rest times and Campus facilities; Nordeus Help Center and Zynga announcement for Top Eleven 2027 (Aug 2026); GamingonPhone position drill list (2021, updated Sep 2024) for drill names. Age bands and the daily routine are community experience and our own approach. Checked 16 October 2026.

Best SEO Tools in 2026: 25 Free, Paid, Local and AI Tools Compared

By Wilson Shrestha, Kathmandu-based web developer and freelancer who runs wilson.com.np, a WordPress blog with 200+ posts grown through SEO
Last updated: 16 October 2026

The best SEO tools in 2026 are not one product. Google Search Console tells you what Google already sees, an all-in-one suite such as Semrush or Ahrefs shows what competitors do, a crawler finds technical errors, and local businesses need a separate set of tools for Google Maps. A new group of AI-native tools, led by open-source projects like OpenSEO and Claude SEO, now lets you run research and audits from inside an AI assistant.

This guide covers 25 tools in six groups, with prices checked in October 2026, rupee costs for readers in Nepal, and step-by-step notes on how and where to use each one. If you only need the three big suites side by side, read our full Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Ubersuggest comparison.

Short answer

Start free with Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools and Ahrefs Free. When you need competitor data, pick Semrush (SEO plus ads, daily rank tracking) or Ahrefs (backlinks and content research). On a small budget, use Ubersuggest or OpenSEO. For a shop, clinic or restaurant, add Google Business Profile and a map-grid tracker such as Local Falcon.

Quick picks: best SEO tool by use case

Best all-in-one

Semrush

Daily rank tracking, PPC data and a local add-on. From $139/month.

Best for backlinks and content

Ahrefs

Freshest link index and Content Explorer. From $29/month (Starter).

Best budget suite

Ubersuggest

$29/month or a one-time $290 lifetime plan.

Best free tool

Google Search Console

Real Google clicks, queries and indexing data for your site.

Best for local SEO

Google Business Profile + Local Falcon

Free profile plus map-grid rank tracking from $24.99/month.

Best open-source and AI-native

OpenSEO and Claude SEO

Pay-as-you-go data from $10/month, and a free audit skill for Claude Code.

Contents

How we compared
All 25 tools in one table
All-in-one SEO suites
Free SEO tools
Local SEO tools
OpenSEO, Claude SEO and AI tools
Technical and content tools
Paying from Nepal ($500 card)
Tool stacks by budget
Where each tool fits
Mistakes to avoid
FAQ

How we compared these tools

Every price in this guide comes from the vendor’s own pricing page or, where a vendor hides prices, from at least one independent pricing check dated 2026. Ahrefs, Screaming Frog and OpenSEO were re-checked on 16 October 2026; Semrush and Ubersuggest on 27 September 2026 for our three-way comparison. The screenshots show each tool’s real interface.

What we judged: data quality, free tier, entry price, ease of use, and whether the tool helps a small site in a small market like Nepal.
What we did not do: we took no payment from any vendor and this page has no affiliate links.
Rupee figures use US$1 = Rs 155 (Nepal Rastra Bank selling rate, 8 October 2026). Your bank adds card and forex fees.

All 25 SEO tools in one table

Scroll sideways on a phone. “Entry price” is the cheapest paid monthly plan in US dollars.

Tool	Type	Best for	Free option	Entry price
Semrush	All-in-one	SEO + ads, daily rank tracking	Free plan, 10 reports/day	$139 (Rs 21,545)
Ahrefs	All-in-one	Backlinks, content research	Ahrefs Free (own sites)	$29 Starter (Rs 4,495)
Ubersuggest	All-in-one	Beginners on a budget	3 searches/day	$29 or $290 lifetime
Moz Pro	All-in-one	Domain Authority, link metrics	30-day trial	$49 ($39 billed yearly)
SE Ranking	All-in-one	Agencies, affordable tracking	Free trial	$65 (about $52 yearly)
Google Search Console	Free	Real Google clicks and indexing	Free	$0
Bing Webmaster Tools	Free	Bing indexing, AI performance data	Free	$0
Google Analytics 4	Free	Traffic and conversions	Free	$0
Google Keyword Planner	Free	Search volume ranges, CPC	Free with Ads account	$0
PageSpeed Insights	Free	Core Web Vitals	Free	$0
Rich Results Test	Free	Checking schema markup	Free	$0
Google Trends	Free	Seasonality, comparing terms	Free	$0
Microsoft Clarity	Free	Heatmaps, session recordings	Free	$0
Google Business Profile	Local	Google Maps listing	Free	$0
Bing Places / Apple Business Connect	Local	Bing and Apple Maps listings	Free	$0
Local Falcon	Local	Map-grid rank tracking	Trial	$24.99
Semrush Local	Local	Listings, reviews, map heatmaps	—	$30 per location
Whitespark	Local	Citations, local rank tracking	Free mini tools	$1/location (GBP); $39 citations
BrightLocal	Local	Agencies with many locations	14-day trial	Check current price
OpenSEO	AI-native, open source	Cheap pay-as-you-go research	Self-host free + API costs	$10 (usage included)
Claude SEO	AI-native, open source	Deep audits inside Claude Code	Free (MIT)	Needs a paid Claude plan
Ahrefs Brand Radar	AI visibility	Brand mentions in ChatGPT, AI Overviews	—	$199
Screaming Frog	Technical	Deep site crawls	Free up to 500 URLs	$279/year
Surfer	Content	On-page content scoring	—	$99
Rank Math / Yoast	WordPress plugin	Titles, schema, sitemaps	Free versions	Pro from about $8

Cheapest way into each paid tool

Entry price per month (USD)

Lowest monthly-billed paid plan, October 2026. Screaming Frog shown as its yearly licence divided by 12.

OpenSEO

$10

Screaming Frog

$23

Local Falcon

$24.99

Ahrefs Starter

$29

Ubersuggest Individual

$29

Moz Pro Starter

$49

SE Ranking Essential

$65

Surfer Essential

$99

Semrush SEO

$139

Best all-in-one SEO suites

An all-in-one suite combines keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink data, site audits and rank tracking. You need one when free tools stop answering the question “what are my competitors doing?”

1. Semrush: best all-in-one for SEO plus ads

Semrush, now owned by Adobe, is the broadest suite here. It is the only one of the big three that updates keyword rankings daily on every paid plan, and it has the deepest data on competitors’ Google Ads.

Price: free plan (10 reports a day); SEO plan $139/month; SEO + AI Search plans from $199/month; 7-day trial.
Use it for: keyword research with intent labels, keyword gaps against five competitors, daily position tracking, and a site audit that explains each fix in plain language.
Watch out for: Local, Content and Advertising toolkits are paid add-ons, and extra users cost more.

Semrush Keyword Magic Tool showing keyword ideas with volume, intent and keyword difficulty — Semrush Keyword Magic Tool: group keyword ideas by topic, then filter by intent and difficulty.

How to use it: open Keyword Magic Tool, type a seed keyword, choose your country database, then filter by intent (informational or commercial) and keyword difficulty below 30 for a newer site. Send the shortlist to Position Tracking so you see daily movement after you publish.

Semrush Site Audit report showing site health score, errors, warnings and thematic reports — Semrush Site Audit: a health score with errors and warnings ranked by priority.

2. Ahrefs: best for backlinks and content research

Ahrefs has the freshest live backlink index of the three big suites and the best tool for deciding what to write next (Content Explorer, from the Standard plan).

Price (checked 16 Oct 2026): Ahrefs Free for your own verified sites; Starter $29; Lite $129 (750 tracked keywords, 5 tracked AI prompts); Standard $249; Advanced $449. No free trial and no discounts; yearly billing saves up to 17%.
Use it for: competitor backlink teardowns (Link Intersect), Content Gap, Traffic Potential when picking topics, and API or MCP access from Lite so AI assistants can query your data.
Watch out for: rank tracking updates weekly on every plan, and Lite caps you at 1,000 credits per user.

Ahrefs dashboard showing project overview with domain rating, organic traffic, keywords and backlinks — Ahrefs dashboard: every project’s health, traffic and link metrics on one screen.

How to use it: verify your site in Ahrefs Free first (it costs nothing and unlocks Site Explorer and Site Audit for your own domain). Pay only when you need competitor data. In Site Explorer, enter a competitor, open Top pages to see which articles earn their traffic, then Referring domains to see who links to them.

Ahrefs traffic source report breaking down visits by channel including search, direct, referral and AI — Ahrefs traffic source report: see which channels send visitors, including AI assistants.

3. Ubersuggest: best budget suite

Ubersuggest is the easiest of the suites to learn and the only one with a one-time lifetime price, which matters if you pay with a capped dollar card.

Price: 3 free searches a day; Individual $29/month or $290 lifetime; Business $49; Enterprise $99; 7-day trial on monthly plans. Prices shown can differ by country.
Use it for: keyword ideas, simple difficulty scores, weekly rank tracking (125 keywords per project on Individual) and a beginner-friendly site audit.
Watch out for: much smaller backlink and keyword data than Ahrefs or Semrush, and no API.

Ubersuggest rank tracking dashboard showing tracked keywords, positions and ranking changes — Ubersuggest rank tracking: positions and weekly changes for your tracked keywords.

Ubersuggest site audit report with on-page SEO score, critical errors and page speed — Ubersuggest site audit: an on-page score and a short list of issues to fix first.

How to use it: add your site as a project, connect Google Search Console when asked, and let the weekly audit run. Fix “critical errors” first, then work through warnings. Use Keyword Ideas for blog topics, but treat its volumes as a direction, not a forecast.

Choosing between these three? Our Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Ubersuggest guide compares every plan, 3-year cost in NPR, keyword data, backlinks, rank tracking and AI visibility.

4. Moz Pro: best for authority metrics

Moz Pro created Domain Authority, still the number many link sellers and clients quote. Starter costs $49/month ($39 billed yearly) and Standard $99 ($79 yearly), with a 30-day free trial. Starter is tight (about 50 tracked keywords), so most users need Standard. Use Moz when you trade links or report DA to clients; the free MozBar extension shows DA on any page.

5. SE Ranking: best value for agencies

SE Ranking starts at about $65/month (around $52 billed yearly) with daily rank tracking, audits, white-label reports and an AI Overviews tracker. It suits freelancers managing three or more client sites; for a single blog, Ahrefs Starter or Ubersuggest is cheaper.

Best free SEO tools (use these first)

Free tools give you first-party data, which no paid tool can match for your own site. A new blog can reach its first few thousand monthly visitors with nothing else.

Free tool	What to do with it	How often
Google Search Console	Submit your sitemap, check indexing, and filter Performance for queries with high impressions but low CTR, then rewrite those titles.	Weekly
Bing Webmaster Tools	Import your sites from Search Console in two clicks, submit URLs through IndexNow, and use its free site scan as a second opinion.	Monthly
Ahrefs Free	Verify your site to get Site Explorer and Site Audit on your own domain at no cost.	Monthly audit
Google Analytics 4	Track conversions and see referral visits from ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini under Traffic acquisition.	Weekly
Google Keyword Planner	Check rough search volume ranges and CPC for Nepal or any country. Needs a Google Ads account but no live campaign.	When planning posts
PageSpeed Insights	Test LCP, INP and CLS on mobile for your template pages.	After design changes
Rich Results Test	Confirm your Article, Product or LocalBusiness schema is valid.	After adding schema
Screaming Frog (free)	Crawl up to 500 URLs for broken links, missing titles and redirect chains.	Monthly
Google Trends	Compare two keyword variants and spot festival seasonality, for example Dashain or Tihar searches.	When planning posts
Microsoft Clarity	Watch session recordings and heatmaps to see where readers stop scrolling.	On key pages
Semrush free plan	Ten reports a day for quick competitor lookups.	As needed

For fixes these tools surface, see our guides to on-page SEO techniques and the SEO troubleshooting guide.

Best local SEO tools

Local SEO decides whether a business appears in Google Maps and the “map pack” when someone searches “dentist near me” or “momo restaurant in Thamel”. Rankings change street by street, so local tools measure positions across a grid of map points instead of one national number.

Tool	Geo-grid tracking	GBP management	Citations	Reviews	Price
Google Business Profile	No	Yes (the profile itself)	No	Reply to reviews	Free
Local Falcon	Yes, flexible grids	No	No	No	From $24.99/mo
Semrush Local	Yes (Map Rank Tracker)	Yes, AI posting and replies	Yes (Local Pro)	Yes (Local Pro)	$30 or $60 per location
Whitespark	Yes (Local Ranking Grids)	Yes, $1 per location	Yes, Citation Finder from $39	Reputation Builder	Sold per tool
BrightLocal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	14-day trial; prices rose in July 2026
Ahrefs GBP Monitor	Location-based Rank Tracker	Beta, included from Lite	No	No	Included
Claude SEO `/seo local`	Via `/seo maps`	Audits GBP signals	NAP consistency check	Review analysis	Free skill

Google Business Profile, Bing Places and Apple Business Connect

These free listings are the foundation; no paid tool can rank a business that has not claimed its profile. Where to use: every business with a physical address or a service area. How: claim the profile at business.google.com, choose the most specific primary category, add opening hours, photos, products or services, and the same name, address and phone (NAP) used on your website and Facebook page. Then import the profile into Bing Places and claim the business on Apple Business Connect so iPhone Maps users find it too.

Local Falcon: map-grid rank tracking

Local Falcon pioneered geo-grid tracking in 2018. It drops a grid (from 3×3 up to 21×21 points) over your area and checks where your profile ranks at each point, producing a colour heatmap. Plans start at $24.99/month and use scan credits. Where to use: a restaurant, clinic or showroom that wants to know why it ranks first in Thamel but tenth in Lazimpat. How: connect the business, pick 2–3 money keywords, run a 7×7 grid with a 2 km radius, and rescan monthly after changes to categories, photos or reviews.

Semrush Local

Semrush’s Local toolkit costs $30 (Base) or $60 (Pro) per location per month. It adds a Map Rank Tracker with heatmaps, a GBP audit, an AI agent that drafts posts and review replies, and (on Pro) listing distribution to 70+ directories. Note for Nepal: the directory list varies by country and may not cover Nepal, so check before buying Local Pro. Local Base is usually enough for one location.

Whitespark and BrightLocal

Whitespark sells each tool separately: GBP management at $1 per location per month, Local Rank Tracker from $14/month, and Local Citation Finder from $39/month ($33 yearly), which finds where your top competitors are listed and you are not. BrightLocal bundles rank tracking, audits, citations and reviews for agencies running many locations; it has a 14-day trial, and prices rose by 5–10% in July 2026, so check the current figure.

A local SEO workflow for a business in Nepal

Claim and complete your Google Business Profile, then copy the exact NAP to Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Facebook and your website footer.
Add LocalBusiness schema to your contact page and test it in the Rich Results Test.
Ask every happy customer for a review using the review link from your profile, and reply to every review within a few days.
Measure with a monthly Local Falcon or Semrush Local grid scan around your shop.
Audit twice a year with Claude SEO’s /seo local or BrightLocal to catch NAP mismatches and missing profile fields.
Build Nepal-specific listings by hand. Most citation tools focus on the US, UK and Australia, so local directories and business associations usually need manual submission.

New AI-native SEO tools: OpenSEO, Claude SEO and AI visibility

The biggest change in 2026 is SEO tools built for AI agents. Instead of reading a dashboard, you ask an assistant such as Claude, Codex or Cursor a question and it pulls live SEO data through an MCP server (Model Context Protocol, a standard way for AI apps to call tools). Two open-source projects lead this group.

OpenSEO: open-source, pay-as-you-go SEO research

OpenSEO is an MIT-licensed alternative to Semrush and Ahrefs, started in February 2026 by developer Ben Senescu and backed by Y Combinator. It covers keyword research, domain overview, backlinks, rank tracking, technical site audits and AI visibility tracking. It does not crawl the web itself: data comes from the DataForSEO API, and you pay only for what you query.

Option	Cost	Best for
Hosted (openseo.so)	$10/month including $10 of usage; free trial with $0.50 of credits	Bloggers and small businesses
Self-hosted	$0 for the app, plus your own DataForSEO API bill	Developers and agencies
Typical usage	About $0.05 per keyword search and $0.08 per domain overview (OpenSEO’s estimator)	Light, occasional research

How to set it up (self-hosted):

git clone https://github.com/every-app/open-seo.git
cd open-seo
docker compose up -d
# open http://localhost:3001 and paste your DataForSEO API key

Connect it to an AI assistant: add the OpenSEO MCP server to Claude, Cursor or ChatGPT, then ask questions like “find low-difficulty keywords about Nepali typing and group them into topics”.
Search Console data is free inside OpenSEO and does not use your credits.
Where it fits: a solo blogger who runs 100 keyword searches and 20 backlink checks a month pays about $10 instead of $129 for Ahrefs Lite.
Limits: a young project, its audit covers technical SEO only, and its data is only as good as DataForSEO’s, so it will not match Ahrefs on backlink freshness.

Claude SEO: a full SEO audit inside Claude Code

Claude SEO is a free, MIT-licensed plugin for Claude Code, Anthropic’s coding assistant. It is a community project by Agrici Daniel, not an Anthropic product. It runs 25 sub-skills and up to 15 parallel agents that check technical SEO, content quality (E-E-A-T), schema, AI-search readiness, local SEO and more, then write a prioritised report as Markdown and PDF. The repository had about 15,800 GitHub stars in October 2026.

What you need: Claude Code (included in paid Claude plans; see our Claude AI price in Nepal guide) and Python 3.10 or newer. Install from inside Claude Code:

/plugin marketplace add AgriciDaniel/claude-seo
/plugin install claude-seo@agricidaniel-claude-seo
/seo setup

Command	What it does	Use it when
`/seo audit <url>`	Full-site audit with a 0–100 score and action plan	Taking on a new client or site
`/seo page <url>`	Deep single-page check	Before publishing an important post
`/seo local <url>`	GBP signals, NAP consistency, reviews, map pack	Auditing a local business
`/seo maps`	Geo-grid checks, GBP audit, competitor radius	Comparing local competitors
`/seo schema <url>`	Detect, validate and generate JSON-LD	Adding Article or LocalBusiness schema
`/seo geo <url>`	AI Overviews and AI-citation readiness	Pages you want cited by AI answers
`/seo google setup`	Connects PageSpeed, CrUX, Search Console and GA4	Once, to use real field data

Where it shines: sites built with Next.js, React or Vue, because it renders JavaScript pages with a headless browser; schema generation; and quick audits before a client call.
What it is not: a data index. Keyword volumes and backlinks need optional paid extensions (DataForSEO, Ahrefs MCP) or your own Google API keys.
Be careful: it installs scripts on your computer, so read the install file first, and check AI findings against Search Console before acting on them.

AI visibility trackers

These tools check whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews mention or cite your brand. Ahrefs Brand Radar starts at $199/month standalone (Ahrefs plans include 5–20 tracked prompts). Semrush’s SEO + AI Search plans track 50–200 prompts daily. OpenSEO tracks prompts for about $0.002 per check. Bing Webmaster Tools now has a free AI performance report. For most small sites, the free option is enough: watch AI referrals in GA4 and test your key questions in ChatGPT and Gemini once a month.

Technical and content tools

Screaming Frog SEO Spider – a desktop crawler, free up to 500 URLs and $279 per user per year after that. Version 24 can crawl with OpenAI or Gemini, render JavaScript, and pull Search Console and PageSpeed data into the crawl. Use it for migrations, redirect maps and finding orphan pages.
Surfer – content scoring against the pages already ranking, from $99/month. Worth it if you publish several articles a week; otherwise a good outline and Search Console data do the same job.
Rank Math and Yoast – WordPress plugins for titles, meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, breadcrumbs and schema. Both have free versions; pick one and never run both.

Paying for SEO tools from Nepal: what fits a $500 dollar card

Most Nepali freelancers pay with a prepaid dollar card, which Nepal Rastra Bank caps at $500 a year for most individuals (registered IT businesses can apply for higher limits). That one rule decides which tools are realistic.

One year of each tool vs the $500 limit (USD)

Cheapest plan for 12 months, before bank fees and any VAT. Green fits inside $500; red does not.

OpenSEO ($10 x 12)

$120

Screaming Frog licence

$279

Ubersuggest lifetime (one-time)

$290

Local Falcon ($24.99 x 12)

$300

Ahrefs Starter ($29 x 12)

$348

Moz Pro Starter (yearly)

$468

Ahrefs Lite ($129 x 12)

$1,548

Semrush SEO ($139 x 12)

$1,668

Rent the big tools by the month. One month of Semrush ($139, about Rs 21,500) or Ahrefs Lite ($129, about Rs 20,000) fits easily. Do your competitor research in that month, export it, then cancel.
Prefer one-time or usage pricing. Ubersuggest lifetime, Screaming Frog and OpenSEO all leave room on the card for hosting and other software.
Avoid unofficial “group buy” accounts sold through local resellers. They break the vendors’ terms, can be shut off without warning, and expose your client data.

Recommended SEO tool stacks by budget

Rs 0 a month

New blogs and small businesses

Google Search Console + Bing Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs Free + Semrush free plan
GA4, Clarity, PageSpeed Insights
Rank Math or Yoast (free)
Google Business Profile (if local)

About Rs 1,500–4,500 a month

Serious bloggers and freelancers

Everything in the free stack
OpenSEO ($10) or Ahrefs Starter / Ubersuggest ($29)
Screaming Frog free, licence when you pass 500 URLs
Claude SEO if you already pay for Claude

Rs 20,000+ a month

Agencies and companies

Semrush or Ahrefs Lite/Standard
Screaming Frog licence
Local Falcon or Semrush Local per client location
An AI visibility tracker for brand clients

Where each tool fits in an SEO workflow

Stage	Free tool	Paid or AI tool
1. Find topics	Search Console queries, Keyword Planner, Google Trends	Semrush Keyword Magic, Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, OpenSEO
2. Study competitors	Semrush free plan, manual Google search	Ahrefs Site Explorer, Semrush Keyword Gap
3. Write and optimise	Rank Math or Yoast	Surfer, Claude SEO `/seo page`
4. Fix technical issues	Ahrefs Free audit, Screaming Frog (500 URLs), PageSpeed Insights	Semrush Site Audit, Screaming Frog licence, Claude SEO `/seo audit`
5. Track results	Search Console, GA4	Semrush Position Tracking (daily), Ahrefs or Ubersuggest (weekly)
6. Win local searches	Google Business Profile, Bing Places	Local Falcon, Semrush Local, Whitespark
7. Appear in AI answers	GA4 AI referrals, Bing AI report	Ahrefs Brand Radar, Semrush AI Search, OpenSEO prompts

Mistakes to avoid when choosing SEO tools

Mistake	Do this instead
Paying for a suite before setting up Search Console	Set up Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools on day one; they are free and exact.
Trusting search volumes for small markets	For Nepal-focused keywords, volumes in every tool are rough. Compare with your own Search Console impressions.
Buying a yearly plan you will not use	Rent one month, finish the research, cancel. Most tools let you export.
Treating AI audit findings as fact	Verify each issue in Search Console or a crawler before changing a live site.
Ignoring Bing	Bing powers Microsoft Copilot and feeds other AI search products; submit your sitemap there too.
Running two SEO plugins at once	Keep one of Rank Math or Yoast to avoid duplicate titles and schema.

Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

What is the best SEO tool in 2026?

There is no single best tool. Semrush is the most complete all-in-one suite, Ahrefs is best for backlinks and content research, and Google Search Console is the best free tool. Most sites need Search Console plus one paid suite at most.

What is the best free SEO tool?

Google Search Console, because it shows the real queries, clicks and indexing status Google records for your site. Pair it with Bing Webmaster Tools and Ahrefs Free for audits.

Is Ahrefs or Semrush better?

Ahrefs is better for link building and topic research; Semrush is better if you also run Google Ads or need daily rank tracking. Our Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Ubersuggest guide compares them plan by plan.

What are the best local SEO tools?

Start with a fully completed Google Business Profile, then add a map-grid tracker such as Local Falcon (from $24.99/month) or Semrush Local ($30 per location). Whitespark and BrightLocal add citation building and review management for agencies.

What is OpenSEO?

OpenSEO is an open-source, MIT-licensed SEO tool for keyword research, backlinks, rank tracking, site audits and AI visibility. You can self-host it free with your own DataForSEO API key or use the hosted version from $10 a month, and connect it to AI assistants through MCP.

Is Claude SEO made by Anthropic?

No. Claude SEO is a free community plugin by Agrici Daniel that runs inside Anthropic’s Claude Code. It audits technical SEO, content, schema, local SEO and AI-search readiness, and needs a Claude plan that includes Claude Code.

Can I pay for SEO tools from Nepal?

Yes, with a dollar card or an international card. Most individuals have a $500 yearly limit, which covers tools like Ubersuggest lifetime, Ahrefs Starter, OpenSEO or Screaming Frog, but not a full year of Semrush or Ahrefs Lite.

Do I need a paid SEO tool for a new blog?

Not at first. Free tools cover indexing, keyword ideas and technical checks. Pay for a suite when you need competitor keywords or backlink data, and consider renting it for one month at a time.

Sources

Ahrefs: Plans and pricing (checked 16 Oct 2026)
Screaming Frog: SEO Spider pricing (checked 16 Oct 2026)
OpenSEO: Pricing and GitHub repository
Claude SEO: GitHub repository and documentation
Whitespark: Pricing
Semrush and Ubersuggest plans, checked 27 Sep 2026 for our comparison
Nepal Rastra Bank: Foreign exchange rates

Disclosure: This article contains no affiliate links. Prices change often; check each vendor’s pricing page before you buy.

NEPSE Share Calculator: Real Profit After Fees and the New 5% / 3.75% Tax

By Wilson Shrestha · Rates checked 15 October 2026 (SEBON fee schedule and Nepal Gazette of 22 September 2026)

Enter your buy and sell details below to see the profit you actually take home after broker commission, SEBON fee, DP charge and capital gains tax. The calculator already uses the lower tax rates that started on 22 September 2026: 5% if you held the share 365 days or less, and 3.75% if you held it longer.

NEPSE Share Calculator

See what you really keep after broker fees and capital gains tax.

Security type Shares Mutual fund Debenture

Fees and tax settings

Add Rs 25 DP charge when buying

Custom tax rate

Leave empty to use the official rate.

Bought as

Bought as Secondary IPO Bonus

Quantity

kitta

Buy price per kitta

Sell price per kitta

Buy date

Sell date

Rates as per SEBON fee schedule and Nepal Gazette, 22 Sep 2026. Estimates only; your broker's contract note is final. Not financial or tax advice.

How fees and tax are calculated

Broker commission follows SEBON tiers: shares 0.24% to 0.36% (flat Rs 10 up to Rs 2,500), mutual funds 0.10% to 0.15%, debentures 0.02% to 0.10% (minimum Rs 10). SEBON fee is 0.015% on shares and 0.010% on funds and debentures. DP charge is Rs 25 per sell. Capital gains tax for resident individuals is 5% if held 365 days or less and 3.75% if held longer. Bonus, IPO and right shares are costed at their issue price.

Quick answer: what you pay on a NEPSE trade (October 2026)

Broker commission: 0.24% to 0.36% of the trade value, on both buy and sell (flat Rs 10 up to Rs 2,500)
SEBON fee: 0.015% on both sides
DP charge: Rs 25 per company per transfer day
Capital gains tax (resident individuals): 5% if held 365 days or less, 3.75% if held more than 365 days – on the gain only

In this guide

How to use the four calculators
Current NEPSE fees and tax
The 2026 capital gains tax changes
Worked example: Rs 500 to Rs 600
IPO, bonus and right shares
Why your Meroshare WACC matters
Should you wait 365 days?
Common mistakes
FAQ

How to use the four calculators

Pick Shares, Mutual fund or Debenture at the top, because each has its own commission table. Then use the tab that matches your question. The नेपाली button switches every label to Nepali.

1. Profit

Enter quantity, buy and sell price, and both dates. Choose Secondary, IPO or Bonus so the cost is right. You get net profit, tax, and a full breakdown. If you are close to the 365-day line, it tells you how much tax waiting would save.

2. Tax planner

Enter your WACC, quantity, buy date and today’s price. It shows the date the lower rate starts, the tax you would save, and the lowest price at which waiting still beats selling today.

3. WACC check

Add every lot you hold (IPO, secondary, bonus, right). It returns the WACC Meroshare should show. Type the WACC Meroshare actually shows and it flags a mismatch and the extra tax it could cost you.

4. Target price

Say how much you want to take home, in rupees or percent. It works backwards through every fee and the right tax rate and gives the sell price, rounded up to NEPSE’s 10-paisa tick.

Current NEPSE fees and tax (October 2026)

The commission rate is set by the size of the whole trade, not in slices. A Rs 60,000 order pays 0.33% on all Rs 60,000. The total commission is split between your broker, NEPSE and SEBON; on top of it comes a separate SEBON transaction fee.

Trade value (shares)	Broker commission	Example fee
Up to Rs 2,500	Flat Rs 10	Rs 2,000 → Rs 10
Rs 2,501 – 50,000	0.36%	Rs 50,000 → Rs 180
Rs 50,001 – 5,00,000	0.33%	Rs 1,00,000 → Rs 330
Rs 5,00,001 – 20,00,000	0.31%	Rs 10,00,000 → Rs 3,100
Rs 20,00,001 – 1,00,00,000	0.27%	Rs 50,00,000 → Rs 13,500
Above Rs 1,00,00,000	0.24%	Rs 2 crore → Rs 48,000

Charge	Shares	Mutual funds	Debentures
Broker commission	0.24% – 0.36%	0.10% – 0.15% (min Rs 10)	0.02% – 0.10% (min Rs 10)
SEBON fee	0.015%	0.010%	0.010%
DP charge	Rs 25 per company per transfer day
Capital gains tax (resident individual)	5% if held ≤ 365 days · 3.75% if held > 365 days

The DP charge is always on the sale. Many brokers’ purchase bills also include Rs 25, so the calculator adds it to your buy cost by default. If your purchase bill doesn’t show it, untick Add Rs 25 DP charge when buying under Fees and tax settings.

The capital gains tax changed twice in 2026

This is the main reason many share calculators now give the wrong answer. The FY 2083/84 budget raised the tax in mid-July, and two months later the government cut it below the old level.

Sale date	Held ≤ 365 days	Held > 365 days	Source
Until mid-July 2026 (FY 2082/83)	7.5%	5%	Income Tax Act as amended
Shrawan 1, 2083 – 21 Sep 2026	10%	7.5%	Budget / Finance Act 2083
From 22 Sep 2026	5%	3.75%	Cabinet decision, Nepal Gazette

The rate that applies is the one in force on the day you sell, so the calculator picks it from your sell date. The 2083/84 budget also made the tax on listed shares a final tax for individuals: once your broker deducts it, you don’t settle it again in your annual return.

One thing that did not change yet: tax is still worked out sale by sale. A government action plan in September proposed taxing only your overall net profit after losses, but the 22 September gazette notice changed the rates only. A loss on one share still doesn’t reduce the tax on another.

Tax on the same Rs 9,555 gain under each rate

10% (short-term, Jul–Sep 2026) · Rs 955.50

7.5% (short-term, before July) · Rs 716.63

5% (short-term, now) · Rs 477.75

3.75% (long-term, now) · Rs 358.31

Worked example: 100 kitta from Rs 500 to Rs 600

Bought on the secondary market on 1 March 2026, sold on 15 October 2026 (228 days, short-term). These are the exact numbers the calculator above returns.

Buy
Buy amount (100 × Rs 500)	Rs 50,000.00
Broker commission (0.36%)	Rs 180.00
SEBON fee (0.015%)	Rs 7.50
DP charge	Rs 25.00
Total cost (WACC Rs 502.13)	Rs 50,212.50
Sell
Sell amount (100 × Rs 600)	Rs 60,000.00
Broker commission (0.33%)	− Rs 198.00
SEBON fee	− Rs 9.00
DP charge	− Rs 25.00
Taxable gain	Rs 9,555.00
Capital gains tax (5%)	− Rs 477.75
Amount you receive	Rs 59,290.25
Net profit	Rs 9,077.25

The price rose by Rs 10,000, and you keep Rs 9,077.25 – about 91%. Sold on 15 September (before the cut) at 10%, the same trade left only Rs 8,599.50.

Break-even: on this trade you need to sell at Rs 504.20 or more just to cover fees – 0.84% above your buy price. For quick round trips, the fees matter more than the tax.

IPO, bonus and right shares

Shares you didn’t buy on the secondary market carry no buy-side commission, so their cost is simpler. Choose the right Bought as option in the calculator.

IPO: cost is the issue price, usually Rs 100. Example: 10 kitta sold at Rs 400 gives a taxable gain of Rs 2,960, tax of Rs 148 and net profit of Rs 2,812.
Bonus: costed at the Rs 100 face value. The calculator locks the price at Rs 100.
Right shares: cost is the price you paid, normally Rs 100. Add them as a separate lot in the WACC check.

The holding period starts from the allotment or purchase date, not the listing date.

Why your Meroshare WACC matters more than the tax rate

Your broker takes the cost figure from Meroshare, not from your own records. When you hold one share from several sources, Meroshare averages them into a WACC (weighted average cost). If a lot was entered at the wrong price, or never confirmed, your gain looks bigger and you pay tax on money you never made. Brokers have long warned that if the cost isn’t updated by the day after the sale, the face value can be used as your cost.

Lot	Kitta	Cost
IPO at Rs 100	10	Rs 1,000.00
Secondary at Rs 450 (with fees)	50	Rs 22,609.38
Bonus at Rs 100	12	Rs 1,200.00
Correct WACC	72	Rs 344.57 per kitta

Run your own lots through the WACC check tab before every sale and fix any difference in Meroshare first. Not sure how Meroshare and your Demat account relate? See Mero Share vs Demat account explained.

Should you wait past 365 days to save tax?

With the new rates, the gap between short-term and long-term is only 1.25 percentage points. That makes waiting far less valuable than it was when the gap was 2.5 points.

Example from the Tax planner

100 kitta bought on 1 November 2025 (WACC Rs 502.13), trading at Rs 600 on 15 October 2026. Waiting 18 days until 2 November 2026 saves Rs 119.44. But if the price slips below Rs 598.80 – a fall of just Rs 1.20 – selling today was better.

The rule of thumb: wait only if you planned to hold anyway. Don’t hold a weakening stock for a few hundred rupees of tax. If you want to plan the exit on price instead, set your stop-loss and target with the NEPSE Risk Manager.

Common mistakes the calculator catches

Mistake	What actually happens
Using a calculator still set to 10% / 7.5%	You overestimate tax by double. Rates are 5% / 3.75% for sales from 22 Sep 2026.
Counting only the sell-side commission	Commission is charged on both sides; buy fees raise your WACC.
Treating IPO shares like secondary shares	IPO cost is the issue price with no buy commission.
Leaving WACC wrong in Meroshare	Tax is worked out on the wrong cost, often on face value.
Expecting a loss to cut tax on another share	Tax is still per sale; losses don’t offset other gains.
Selling many small lots on different days	Each company sold on each day costs another Rs 25 DP charge.

More free investing tools

SIP Calculator Nepal – project monthly mutual fund SIP returns in rupees
NEPSE Risk Manager – position size, stop-loss and target for each trade
Mero Share vs Demat account – what each one does and the yearly fees

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital gains tax on NEPSE shares now?

For resident individuals selling listed securities from 22 September 2026, it is 5% of the gain if you held the shares 365 days or less, and 3.75% if you held them longer.

Is broker commission charged on both buying and selling?

Yes. You pay it once when you buy and again when you sell, along with the 0.015% SEBON fee each time.

How are the 365 days counted?

From the purchase or allotment date to the sale date. More than 365 days counts as long-term. The calculator counts the days from the dates you enter.

What cost is used for IPO and bonus shares?

IPO and right shares use the price you paid, usually Rs 100. Bonus shares use the Rs 100 face value. None of them carry a buy commission.

Why did my broker deduct more tax than the calculator shows?

Usually because the WACC in Meroshare is wrong or wasn’t confirmed before the sale, so a lower cost was used. Check it with the WACC check tab before you sell.

Is capital gains tax on shares a final tax?

Yes. From FY 2083/84 the tax deducted on listed shares is final for individuals, so you don’t pay or settle it again in your annual return.

Does the calculator work for mutual funds and debentures?

Yes. Choose Mutual fund or Debenture at the top and it switches to their commission and SEBON fee tables.

Sources: Ministry of Finance notice in the Nepal Gazette, 22 Sep 2026 (via ShareSansar); Budget 2083/84 tax changes (ShareSansar, The Himalayan Times, ICAN highlights); broker commission schedule as published by SEBON-licensed brokers. Estimates only – your broker’s contract note is final. This is not financial or tax advice.

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