There is not usually much difference between (almost & nearly) , and we can often use both with the ame meaning.
-I've nearly / alomst finished.
sometimes almost is a little (nearer) than nearly
2-
We don't usually use (nearly) with negative words: never, nobody, nothing...
almost never / hadly ever
almost nobody/hardly anybody
almost no money / hardly any money.
**Reference (Basic English Usage ...page 32