eHopper POS Review: Best for Small & Specialty Markets
Meaghan has provided content and guidance for indie retailers as the editor for a number of retail publications and a speaker at trade shows. She is Fit Small Business’s authority on retail and ecommerce.
Agatha Aviso is a writer of the Reviews Section at Fit Small Business, focusing on order fulfillment and eCommerce platforms. Agatha has a decade’s worth of experience writing online content for small businesses and marketing industries. She also served as a content strategist and digital marketing manager for many entrepreneurs.
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
In our evaluation of the best POS systems for small businesses, eHopper scored a 3.71 out of 5 based on our review of 31 data points. eHopper is a popular POS software that can work for small grocery stores, US-based butcher shops, fabric stores, spice vendors, and delis.
However, eHopper did not make our list of recommended POS because most businesses will find more complete feature sets in other POS systems.
eHopper
Overall Score: 3.71
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Free option
- Even free version has excellent grocery store tools
- Sell items by weight
- Serialized inventory for tracking perishables
- Multiple currency, units of measure, language, and hardware options
- Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows
What's Missing
- Limited integrations
- Buggy system
- Limited customer support
- Basic reporting only
- Offline mode only works for cash transactions
When to Use eHopper
- US-based butcher shops, fabric stores, spice vendors, and delis: eHopper allows you to sell products by US customary units measurement system.
- Markets, grocers, and small retailers wanting a free POS: eHopper has a robust free version.
When to Use an Alternative
- Large stores or those needing analysis tools: eHopper’s reporting features are limited. Our top POS systems for inventory management offer more robust back-office tools.
- Budget-minded businesses with online sales: While eHopper supports ecommerce, our recommended multichannel POS systems offer more affordable and feature-rich options.
- Most restaurants, especially full-service: eHopper has basic restaurant features, but did not make the cut for our list of best restaurant POS systems.
eHopper offers free point-of-sale (POS) software for retailers, small restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and other business types. While the free plan is limited, inexpensive plans include ingredient-level inventory tracking, table mapping, and an ecommerce website. The hardware-agnostic programming means you can use its hardware or your own.
However, those that need online sales would be better off with a POS that includes a built-in ecommerce feature under its basic plans such as Shopify. Those that need full-service restaurant features and advanced analytics tools would find eHopper lacking.
In general, you can find better free POS systems on the market, like Square, Toast, and Loyverse.
Related:
- Read our guide to the best POS systems for small businesses to find a solution that matches your needs.
- If your business has specific needs, it is best to consider using POS systems designed for grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores, vape shops, and gas stations.
eHopper Deciding Factors
Supported Business Types | Retail Small grocery stores, butcher shops, fabric stores, spice vendors, and delis (US-based) |
Standout Features |
|
Monthly Software Fees | Affordable Free and a paid plan at $39.99/month |
Setup and Installation Fees | $0 |
Contract Length | Flexible No vendor lock-in |
Payment Processing Options | Third party required GoDaddy Payments, Nuvei, Evo Payment International, TSYS, North American Bank, First Data, Global, and Elavon services NFC: Google Pay and Apple Pay |
Payment Processing Fees | Depends on provider |
Customer Support | Limited Phone, chat, email support for paid users, only online documentation for free plans |
eHopper Alternatives
Best for | Base monthly fee from | Hardware from | Full review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Security-minded retailers in grocery or convenience stores wanting a lower-cost system | $79 | Quote-based | |
 | Businesses needing mobile and in-store POS | $0 | $49 | |
| Small retailers, restaurants, and service providers requiring an all-in-one system | $9.95 | $99 | |
 | Grocery stores, bars, pizzerias | $99 | Quote | |
If you’re unsure eHopper is right for you, check out our evaluation of other popular retail POS systems.
Under this category, eHopper got almost perfect points, mainly due to its free plan and zero installation fees. However, we found its payment providers limiting compared to other POS systems we have evaluated.
Pricing Plans
Essential | OmniChannel | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | Free | $39.99/month |
POS | Limited to 1 (upgrade to unlock additional) | 2 |
Number of products | 50 | Unlimited |
Number of monthly transactions | 300 | Unlimited |
Customer support | Online documentation only | Phone, chat, email support |
Under the free plan, Essential, you can have these add-ons:
- Business Website: $39.99 per year
- Digital Signage App: $29.99 one-time fee
*Paid subscribers get these features for free.
Both plans include a register system, inventory and customer management tools, and tax management features. Essential provides basic reports while upgrading to OmniChannel unlocks advanced reporting tools and the following features:
- Reporting
- Pre-authorization
- Menu builder
- Employee clock-in/clock-out
- Self-serve kiosk
- Barcode manager
- Store transfer
- Table management
- Ecommerce
- Loyalty and marketing tools
Payments
All of eHopper’s plans integrate with payment processors. It supports card payments through GoDaddy Payments, Nuvei, Evo Payment International, TSYS, North American Bank, First Data, Global, and Elavon services and contactless payments via NFC technology like Google Pay and Apple Pay.
It advertises a free credit card processing program for US vendors, which means the software can be programmed to charge customers the processing fee you usually pay. It promotes it to customers as a discount if they pay cash.
To learn more about this practice (and why we don’t typically recommend it), read our guide on “free” or zero-cost payment processing.
Hardware
eHopper’s all-in-one system is compact and attractive. (Source: eHopper)
You get a free integrated Pax S300 payment terminal (valued at $399) when you sign up for eHopper’s Payments program. The all-in-one hardware packages start at $1,099, with the software already loaded and a built-in touch-screen monitor, customer display, and receipt printer. It also sells peripherals like cash drawers and receipt printers.
Full hardware prices include:
- POS hardware bundles: $999–$1,499
- Receipt printers: $199–$359
- Cash drawers: $109–$139
- Credit card terminals: $186–$710
- Scanners: $229–$239
- Tablets: $299+
eHopper is compatible with many operating systems, so you may be able to use it with other hardware. You can also download it for a mobile system on Android or iOS.
eHopper earned high marks for its register features. However, it lost points for online sales, which you can only unlock under a paid subscription. eHopper also has very basic customer management functions compared to other POS options, which also caused it to lose points.
Register
eHopper supports product images in the checkout.
eHopper has a user-friendly checkout screen that shows nicely on Android or iOS systems and other POS terminals, like Poynt. If you have more than one device, it shares information to keep track of sales and supplies. It’s easy to ring up sales, modify items (like extra cheese on pizza), add discounts, and calculate taxes and tips. Plus, you can customize item placement so that the most-purchased items are most easily accessed.
Other register functions include an offline mode (cash transactions only), custom receipts, pay-in/pay-out management, currency tracking, and open/close register. You can also set preferences like dine-in, take-out, and delivery and use the customizable loyalty program to encourage repeat customers with special deals.
eHopper’s higher plans include table management and online ordering. It accommodates split payments, pre-authorization, and partial payments for layaway programs or tabs.
Ecommerce (Paid Plan Only)
The online store is customizable and syncs with your in-store system.
eHopper eCommerce is a cloud-based online store that integrates with the physical POS system. You can manage orders online and sync inventory with the same modifications, sizing, and options for both. You can incorporate eHopper’s online store into your website or use eHopper’s hosting.
It integrates with Authorize.Net, PayPal, Stripe, and other payment providers. eHopper provides you with hosting and an SSL certificate..
While eHopper provides all the necessary management tools one would need for a POS system, we found most of them rudimentary, at the very least. For example, reports are not as customizable and in-depth as expected, and there are limited marketing tools.
Inventory
You can add modifiers to individual products or groups of products.
eHopper’s inventory management system lets you:
- Manage stock by description, modifiers, units, and more
- Set low stock alerts
- Make and print barcodes for labels
- Manage store transfers
- Create inventory matrices to optimize customer choices
- Adjust inventory when doing audits
- Track purchase orders
- Manage your vendors
With eHopper’s ingredients management, you can assign ingredients to products, including setting the quantity needed for each product. The system automatically deducts the ingredients from stock as the product is sold. You can assign ingredients to modifiers too.
Restaurant Tools
eHopper has basic modifier management.
While eHopper is not one of our recommended restaurant POS systems, it’s a viable option for small counter service or quick-service restaurants. Depending on your choice, you can take advantage of table management, ingredient tracking, or setting up modifiers for create-your-own pizzas or sandwiches.
Self-service kiosks and online ordering make it easy for customers to order ahead of time and pick up when the food is ready. eHopper accommodates liquor sales and has a credit card pre-authorization feature for starting tabs so that you can use it for your bar or if serving alcohol.
The system also lets you accept tips on receipts, terminals, or screens. You can also recommend amounts and have them applied to orders, split into payments, or entered manually. Tip reports not only show tips by time and employee but by other custom factors.
Employee Functions
Employees can clock in and out.
You can set employee roles and permissions, including what parts of the software they can access. Additionally, you can store their contact information, give them discounts, track their activity on the software, and manage their tips.
The time clock function lets employees clock in and out of their shifts on the software but does not have scheduling or payroll features. You can download a report, however.
We find eHopper POS an easy-to-implement solution for small retailers. Easy-to-find functions and clear tabs simplify refunding tickets and ringing up sales, discounts, and modifications. It effectively employs both tabs and drop-down menus to ensure smooth workflows.
eHopper has a clean, easy-to-use interface.
Users can find a thorough database of features, including how-to videos that walk you through the processes and illustrated articles. Users on paid programs can contact support by phone, email, and chat, whereas those on the free program, Essential, are limited to the online help section.
eHopper Setup & Installation
Signing up for eHopper is super easy. On the website, click the Sign Up Button, then fill in a simple form specifying your type of business. Once eHopper accepts your application, it sends you instructions for activating your account. Some videos walk you through getting started, including importing your inventory and setting up sales taxes.
We have looked at dozens of POS software and are impressed with eHopper’s user interface and features layout. The inventory section is perfect for small retailers and some quick-service restaurants. However, the price, scope, and features (supported by user reviews) suggest the software has limits, particularly regarding full-service restaurant functionality.
While eHopper reviews are mixed (mainly for its customer support), the software’s low price point and detailed inventory tools make it a popular choice for those looking for small grocery store and free POS systems.
eHopper User Reviews
Overall, users found the software easy to use. eHopper looks to have been struck with the pandemic, as after September 2019, it went from nearly consistent 4- and 5-star reviews to 1-star reviews. The most significant issues were the hit-and-miss customer support and problems with the QuickBooks integration. A running theme in the bad reviews over the past year was “you get what you pay for.”
The most recent user reviews dated 2022 are primarily positive, with almost all users commenting about how easy it is to learn and implement in their business.
- Capterra: 4.1 out of 5 stars based on about 50 reviews
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Attractive interface | Problems connecting to QuickBooks |
| Easy to use | Inconsistent customer support; extremely bad in 2020 |
Methodology: How We Evaluated eHopper
To evaluate eHopper and other POS systems, we looked for software that is affordable for independent business owners and included basic POS functions like check and order management, the ability to process multiple forms of payment, and inventory tracking. To find the best, we also looked for systems that support multiple business types or dominate the industry they serve.
Click through the tabs below to see the full evaluation criteria.
30%
Pricing
15%
Register Features
15%
Management Tools
20%
Ease of Use
20%
Expert Score
30% of Overall Score
We prioritized POS systems that include a free plan or free trial, affordable subscriptions, and additional plans so that you won’t grow out of the system. We also awarded points to systems with affordable integrated payment processing, flexible hardware options, and no restrictions on the number of users, inventory, and transactions. Finally, we penalized systems that require long-term contracts and hefty installation fees.
15% of Overall Score
Businesses need speedy and customizable checkout tools, easy customer management, mobility to sell anywhere, a process to track orders, and a way to process online orders. Because the way businesses operate has changed so much in recent years, we also considered contactless payments, integrated online ordering, and online store features.
15% of Overall Score
Inventory tracking was the most crucial feature we considered. We also considered how sophisticated and user-friendly the reporting dashboard of each system is and what marketing and employee management tools are available.
20% of Overall Score
We prioritized POS systems with 24/7 phone support. We also considered help tickets and email or chat support, installation processes, and whether or not the system has an offline mode or hybrid installation so that you can continue operations when you lose internet access. Finally, we considered if the system has an online knowledge base, training videos, or a training mode to help bring new employees up to speed.
20% of Overall Score
We considered the overall quality of each system’s features, along with system stability and security. We evaluated whether or not it offers a good value for its price point and standout features. Finally, we accounted for our experts’ experience using each system and interacting with customer service representatives, its reviews, and the unique experience of other small business owners.
*Percentages of overall score
eHopper Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is eHopper cloud-based?
Yes, eHopper is a cloud-based POS system compatible with many operating systems. You can also download it for a mobile system on Android or iOS.
Is eHopper free?
Yes, eHopper POS offers a free plan for one POS terminal, a limited number of products, and up to 300 monthly transactions. You can unlock another POS license and unlimited products and transactions by upgrading to a paid plan at $39.99/month.
Is eHopper suitable for businesses of all sizes?
eHopper is only suitable for small businesses. It is lacking detailed analytics and advanced inventory management tools to support large retail companies.
Is eHopper good for small businesses?
eHopper is pretty popular, and can be a good solution for some small businesses. However, it lacks basic features like gift card management, adequate reporting tools, and purchase ordering. If you need a free POS system, Square is our recommendation.
Bottom Line
eHopper is an inexpensive POS software that nonetheless packs a lot of functions while being easy to use. Reviews indicate customer service took a hit in 2020, but the online help section explains the tools well. Check out the system’s free version to see if it will meet your needs.
