eHopper POS
Free!
Jason Feemster
eHopper POS Review 2025: Features, Pricing, and Pros & Cons
Updated as of: October, 2025 • ⏱️ Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes
eHopper is one of the few POS systems with a legit $0 software plan—as long as you use their payment program and stay within limits. It’s a solid starter for food trucks, kiosks, and tiny retail operations. If you need multi-register/location, advanced inventory, or restaurant-grade tools, you’ll outgrow the free tier and should plan for a paid upgrade or consider alternatives.
👉 Comparing free options? See our Free POS Systems guide.
If you’ve been searching for a low-cost way to run your business, you’ve probably come across eHopper POS. But is it really free, and does it give you enough to run your shop or food truck? In this review, we’ll break down eHopper’s free plan, paid upgrades, pros and cons, and how it compares to other free POS systems. By the end, you’ll know whether it’s a good fit for your business—or if you should look elsewhere.
Quick Specs
| Feature | eHopper POS |
|---|---|
| Best For | Food trucks, kiosks, small retail, early-stage startups |
| Starting Price | $0/mo (Essential; requires eHopper payments) |
| Free Plan Limits | 50 products • 300 transactions/mo • 1 register |
| Devices | Android tablets, Windows PCs, eHopper all-in-one terminals |
| Payments | EMV, contactless & mobile wallets; cash-discount/surcharge option |
| Offline Mode | Yes — sales sync when back online |
| Support | Knowledge base & standard help on free plan; priority on paid tiers |
What Is eHopper POS?
eHopper is a cloud POS built for small businesses that want a low-cost way to start taking payments and tracking sales. The draw is its free Essential plan—great for micro-businesses and mobile sellers—with paid tiers that add multi-register/location, advanced inventory, restaurant tools, loyalty, and ecommerce.
Best For
- Food trucks & pop-ups: Simple setup, offline mode
- Small retail shops: Basic inventory, low overhead
- Kiosks & cafés: Counter-service workflows
- Startups: Testing the waters with minimal risk
Not Ideal For
- Full-service restaurants needing tables, coursing, or KDS out of the box
- High-volume operations that will exceed free plan caps
- Multi-location or multi-register retailers
Notable Features
- Free Essential plan with 50 products / 300 transactions per month
- Integrated EMV, contactless, and mobile wallet payments
- “Free processing” via cash discount/surcharge (check state rules)
- Basic inventory with stock counts & low-stock alerts
- Offline mode to process sales without internet
- Customer records & digital receipts in free tier
- Loyalty, ecommerce, gift cards & advanced inventory on paid plans
Pros & Cons
- True $0 software path for micro-businesses
- Clean, easy-to-train interface
- Works on Android/Windows; turnkey terminals available
- Offline mode keeps you selling when Wi-Fi drops
- Clear upgrade path as needs grow
- Strict free-plan caps (catalog/transactions/registers)
- Must use eHopper payments for the $0 plan
- Advanced inventory, loyalty, KDS require paid tiers
- Priority support reserved for higher plans
- Surcharge/cash-discount rules vary by state
Real User Feedback
✅ What Users Like
- Ease of use: Merchants consistently describe eHopper as simple to learn and quick for staff to pick up, especially in small retail or food truck settings.
- Onboarding experience: Many business owners note that setup support is helpful during the early stages, making it easier to get started without technical headaches.
- Value at $0: Users appreciate that the free plan delivers a working POS system with real offline capability, something not always found in other no-cost options.
⚠ What Users Complain About
- Support responsiveness: Some users mention long wait times or difficulty reaching customer service once they’re past onboarding.
- Reliability hiccups: Occasional login or licensing issues are reported, which can be frustrating for day-to-day use.
- Scaling limits: Businesses that grow beyond one register or a few hundred transactions a month often say they need to upgrade quickly or move to another system.
Takeaway: Overall, eHopper earns positive marks for being straightforward and affordable. It’s best suited for micro-businesses that need a starter POS. Larger retailers or restaurants, however, should expect to hit the limits of the free plan and may want to budget for an upgrade or alternative.
Pricing
Is it really free? Yes—if you enroll in eHopper’s processing and stay within free-plan limits. Need more capacity or BYO processing? You’ll move to a paid tier.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $0 (with eHopper payments) | 1 register, 50 products, 300 tx/mo; core POS, basic inventory & reports | Startups, food trucks, kiosks |
| Freedom | $17–$25/mo | Expanded catalog/usage, extra features, better support options | Small retail outgrowing free limits |
| Restaurant | $19.99–$29.99/mo | Table layouts, menu tools, KDS support | Quick-service & small table-service eateries |
| OmniChannel | $35–$39.99/mo | Multi-register/location, ecommerce, loyalty, advanced analytics | Growing retailers & restaurants |
Hardware: BYO Android/Windows or purchase an all-in-one terminal (typically $1,000+). Standard processing fees apply if you don’t use cash-discount/surcharge.
Now that you know what each eHopper plan costs, you’re probably wondering how it stacks up against other “free” POS systems. After all, Square and SkyTab are often mentioned in the same conversation. Here’s a quick side-by-side look at how eHopper compares to these popular alternatives.
eHopper vs Other Free POS Systems
| Feature | eHopper | Square | SkyTab (Free Hardware) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Cost | $0 (limits apply) | $0 (no software caps) | $29.95/mo (hardware $0 with Shift4) |
| Free Plan Limits | 50 items • 300 tx/mo • 1 register | No item/transaction caps | No cap; requires Shift4 merchant account |
| Hardware | Android/Windows or eHopper terminals | iOS/Android + Square hardware | Proprietary SkyTab terminals included |
| Best For | Food trucks, kiosks, tiny retail | Small retailers, cafes, services | Restaurants/bars wanting full hardware bundle |
| Biggest Catch | Strict free-tier caps + processor requirement | Higher processing rates vs negotiated | Processor lock-in (Shift4) |
As you can see, eHopper’s free plan is a good fit for ultra-small businesses that want a no-cost starter system, while Square offers more flexibility without caps, and SkyTab appeals to restaurants with bundled hardware. Your best choice really depends on whether you value unlimited usage, free equipment, or the lowest possible software cost.
FAQ
Is eHopper POS really free, or will I pay later?
The software is free on the Essential plan if you use eHopper’s payment program and stay within limits (50 products, 300 transactions/month, 1 register). Need more capacity or BYO processing? Move to a paid tier.
Can I use it for a restaurant?
Yes for counter-service. Full-service features like table layouts, coursing, and KDS are part of the Restaurant/OmniChannel tiers.
Does the free plan include support?
You get access to the knowledge base and standard help. Priority/expedited support is included with paid plans.
Does it work on my own hardware?
Yes—compatible with Android tablets and Windows PCs. eHopper also sells turnkey all-in-one terminals.
Can it work offline?
Yes. You can keep ringing sales when the internet drops; transactions sync once you’re back online.
Is the “free processing” really free?
It’s done via cash discount/surcharge programs where fees are passed to customers. This is common but regulated—check your state’s rules.
Final Verdict
If you’re launching lean and just need the basics, eHopper’s $0 software path is a practical on-ramp. It’s ideal for food trucks, kiosks, and very small retailers who value low cost and simple setup.
Once you grow—more products, more transactions, extra registers—you’ll hit the limits quickly. At that point, upgrade to a paid tier or compare alternatives like Square POS (unlimited free plan) or SkyTab POS (restaurant-focused with free hardware).
Related Resources
Specification: eHopper POS
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Photos: eHopper POS
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