MO  Very good but also too expensive!

For $19.95 or unlimited free upgrades I would consider buying it. At $38, 2 years is far too short.  
(Version 4.3)

ANMC  This is one of those apps that is very specialised, but once you start using it, there is no going back.

So much easier than struggling with the Character Palette (lang & keyboard options in the menu bar) - at least I found it so.

Good value too - several years of free upgrades with a purchased licence and a development team that is continually adding features.

Once you have the icon in your menu bar (at the corners or in the middle - even invisible until you mouse to it, if you prefer) there is no excuse for not including those pesky trademark and copyright symbols or whatever else you need.

Recommended very highly for what it does!  
(Version 4.2)

SUNDAYS  The price goes always higher since I tested it.

It is a very helpful program.  
(Version 4.1.1)

DRFRANK  Three clicks* on the PopChar 4.1 menubar icon caused my system to hang; everything except my cursor was frozen and I was forced to power down. Unfortunately, this 'hang' was reproducible. Ergonis support responded quickly, but was to recommend a solution. I've been using OS X since it was introduced, this is my first system hang.

*Clicks

Click 1 - PopChar window opened

Click 2 - PopChar window closed

Click 3 - System hang  
(Version 4.1)

CORPSECORPS  It's looking very good with some of the more recent developments.

It's still NOT looking like enough functionality to cost $40.  
(Version 4.1)

BOSSKEV  PopChar is an excellent utility. I have been using PopChar as a paid/registered user for many, many years and through many, many versions of the Mac OS. I consider PopChar a MUST-HAVE tool and, while I have to admit I'd like the license key to be just a tiny bit lower than the equivalent of $38 US--blame it on the US economy, not the developer's €29.99--it is nonetheless a product I feel is worth owning. I use it daily to call up those hundreds of oddball characters, such as ® ™ ¶ æ Ω ç and €. I don't have to try and remember any of the keyboard contortions to access these infrequently typed characters, I just pull up PopChar, see the character I want, tap on it and the character pops into my text for me. Hey, look at that...character pops...do I see a product name here? ;^)

FYI, I also wrote a reply to the previous reviewer who I believe misunderstands how the PopChar license key works. Bluntly stated, the previous guy is wrong, see my reply there. I don't want one unfortunately incorrect review to throw people off track and possibly hurt the longevity of a product I consider essential.  
(Version 4.1)

SHANE C SMITH  Ha ha ha! Oh my.... the people at Ergonis Software are sure funny. $38 for a character viewer, good one Ergonis. So how much is it really? Oh its not a joke, $38... hummmmmm... yeah I think I will pass.

For the people who actually were considering purchasing this software be aware after 2 years your license expires. So if they only make an upgrade to say 4.3 within 2 years you have to purchase another license even though they haven't made any significant changes.  
(Version 4.1)

CORPSECORPS  This has always been a great little app. It's easier to use and slicker than the OS X character palette and this version takes it even farther.

However, it was overpriced at $30.

Now they want $45?! )8^H

Now we're in la-la land. It's not even REMOTELY close to $45 dollars better than the free character palette.

For $15 i'd snap it up.

.  
(Version 4.0.1)

PLASTERPYRUS  45 dollars, You have got to be kidding! You know for the life of me I can't understand developers like this guy. They make a nice little application like this, that is basically is a one trick pony, a bit extravagant I suppose but none the less, a one trick pony (like some one said it's a glorified character pallet ) and then they ask an excorbadent amount of money than the average user can't afford and than what? Does it just exist sitting there without many people buying it except the few that don't know about the character pallet that comes with the OS X, that even has a way to launch it from your menu bar! I mean does some one like this really makes any money from his creation?  
(Version 4.0.1)

BOBZOZUS  At least under Tiger, I believe that the previous reviewer is correct. The Mac OS provides similar functionality. The only benefits I can see from PopChar over the character palette is the fact that PopChar does not take space on your menu bar- and does offer a more complete listing of possible character types to insert in a document.

For those thinking of purchasing- I would first try the Mac OS Menu bar solution. And, then try PopChar. Only then can one judge whether PopChar is worth $45. I think that price is quite high, actually.

I bought PopChar as part of the Macility bundle- which costs around $70 USD for PopChar, KeyCue, & Typinator. This is one of those times where I believe I made a mistake in my software purchase. PopChar is not such an improvement over the Mac OS system functionality that it is worth more than $20 USD to me. Rather than Typinator, I use TypeIt4Me- which has the ability to select your abbreviation from the menu item- and is just generally a more robust type expander- in my view. KeyCue is useful rarely to remind me of keyboard short-cuts: but to be honest, has only proven useful a few times in about 6 months of use. I think it would be worth $10 USD for me. So, I paid $70 for what I think should have cost me- at most- $30 (since I just use PopChar & KeyCue)! Of course, your mileage may vary. That is why it is so important to utilize shareware before you buy. That is why I wrote this- to encourage those interested in this app- or the Macility Bundle- to try it on for size before purchasing. Do not buy without kicking the tires. I wish I did. Have no one to blame but myself!  
(Version 4.0.1)