Finding and inserting special characters is one of the most annoying things all writers and designers have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.
What is that character that looks like a horseshoe (Ω)? What is the code for the infinity symbol (∞)? Oftentimes, figuring out what to search for is the biggest battle. With Google and AI, this process is now a bit simpler but when you have to do it regularly, it’s a huge waste of time. Thankfully, we finally have a solution.
PopChar is an amazing little app that will solve this problem once and for all. It allows you to easily find special characters and insert them into your documents and designs with just one click. This app will help you avoid making mistakes when using special characters and save a ton of valuable time.
Let’s dive in and explore how this app can be useful for almost everyone who uses a computer.
What is PopChar?
PopChar is a simple yet very useful app for finding special characters that are not available on the keyboard. With a sleek and simple user interface as well as multiple ways to easily find special characters, this app will help you copy and insert characters into your documents and designs effortlessly while saving time and working more efficiently. Some of the legendary inventors, such as Steve Wozniak are also using this app.
PopChar is basically a supercharged version of the Character Map application available on your system. The app streamlines the process of finding special characters with a much more user-friendly interface and a zoom-in function that makes it easier to see more details about each character.
There are lots of other cool features in this app as well.
Multiple Ways to Search
The main purpose of using an app like PopChar is to find special characters more easily and this app does this job perfectly by providing you with more than one way to search for characters.
The app has an organized user interface where you can browse fonts and explore characters. There’s a search bar that lets you easily find any character in a font. All you have to do is type the name of a symbol or character.
But what if you don’t know the name of a special character? Then you can click on the small pencil icon right next to the search bar to bring up a drawing window. Here, you can draw the symbol using your mouse or drawing pad to quickly find any special character by memory.
Then click on the character to copy it. Or, if you have a text editing app opened, the character will be instantly inserted into the editor.
Detailed View of Each Character
PopChar has a useful Zoom function that lets you see more details about each character. When enabled, this function shows you information about the characters, such as the shortcut keys, HTML codes, and more just by hovering your mouse over a character.
You can also right-click to show additional details about the characters as well.
Arrange & Organize Characters
The user interface of the PopChar app can also be organized to view specific types of characters. For example, the Alphabet layout is best for finding the accented characters. There are also other layouts for emojis, symbols, and more.
Easily Find Ligatures and Emojis
PopChar is also the perfect tool you can use to quickly find ligatures. The app organizes all of the ligatures of the font in a separate section of the character table for easier access.
Finding specific emojis in emoji fonts is also easier with PopChar as it lets you find emojis by name and even in different skin tones.
Find the Perfect Font
Another cool feature in PopChar is the sample text preview option. You can use this function to preview fonts in different paragraph styles. It even lets you switch between popular sample text options like Lorem Ipsum and Fillerati. Or you can use your own custom text as well.
Cross-Platform & System-Wide Integration
PopChar works seamlessly across both Mac and Windows. The app features a smooth system-wide integration that makes it compatible with not just text editors and design software but almost every app on your computer.
Pricing Plans
PopChar costs $19.99 per year and it allows you to use the app on up to two computers.
The Business plan for PopChar costs $39.99 per year and it lets you use the app on up to five computers per user.
You can also buy the app for a one-time cost of $39.99 but it will only include minor bug fixes and a license for a single computer.
The biggest benefit of getting the subscription is that it lets you use both Mac and Windows versions of the app. It also offers regular updates, including upgrades to new versions of PopChar.
Should You Use PopChar?
Designers, writers, and marketers often have to deal with special characters. For example, the copyright symbol is a commonly used special character in various written and graphic design projects. But it’s difficult to remember and keep track of the keyboard shortcut code for this symbol and many others that you use regularly.
This means you’ll often have to use Google to search for the symbol, find the shortcut code, go back to your text editor, and use the keyboard shortcut. Imagine doing that multiple times every day.
If you struggle with finding special characters, PopChar is definitely worth checking out. It will make your life so much easier as it works across all types of apps from Microsoft Word to Google Docs, PowerPoint, InDesign, email apps, and more. Simply put, the app is designed to help you save time and work more efficiently.
PopChar has a free trial with limited features that lets you try it out before purchasing. If you do decide to buy the app, be sure to use the code “DSHACK-40” to get a 40% discount on the subscription for the first year.