8 Best Captive Portal Software Options
• October 17, 2026 
Updated October 2026
Compare the leading captive portal tools for guest WiFi, data capture, and managed access
Captive portal software controls how users access guest WiFi. It manages login methods, consent, branded access journeys, data capture, and integrations with the tools your business already uses.
Which captive portal software is best? The best captive portal software depends on your goal. For restaurants, bars and hotels, from one busy venue to multi-location groups, that want guest WiFi to drive reviews and repeat visits, MyPlace fits best. For global enterprises where IT security owns guest access, Cloudi-Fi. For vacation rentals, StayFi. For large public estates like shopping centres and airports, Purple. Choose on business outcome, not just login screens.
How we picked: we compared six widely used captive portal platforms, plus the free built-in and open-source options most venues start with, on login options, pricing, data capture, network compatibility, multi-location management, and business outcomes. MyPlace is our own product; we note where each competitor is the stronger choice.
This guide compares eight captive portal software options:
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- MyPlace
- Cloudi-Fi
- StayFi
- Purple
- Cloud4Wi
- Adentro
- Your WiFi brand’s built-in portal
- Open-source captive portals
Use this page to compare features, supported environments, and which platform may fit your business best.
If you need a dedicated captive portal solution from MyPlace, see:
Quick comparison: The leading captive portal software
Use this shortlist to compare the main strengths and entry pricing of eight captive portal software options. The right choice depends on whether you prioritise guest WiFi access control, data capture, marketing integrations, multi-location management, or enterprise scale.
| Platform | Best For | Key Strength | Entry Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyPlace | Restaurants, bars and hotels, from one venue to multi-location groups | Branded guest WiFi, verified email capture, marketing integrations, automated review generation | From $49/mo per location |
| Cloudi-Fi | Global enterprises and hotel chains needing secure, compliant guest access | Security-first guest, staff and device onboarding across many sites | Quote-based |
| StayFi | Vacation rental hosts and property managers | WiFi login, guest marketing and upsells built for short-term rentals | From $19/mo, plus $99 StayFi Express device |
| Purple | Shopping centres, airports, stadiums and other large estates | Guest, staff and multi-tenant WiFi with visitor analytics | Free Connect tier; paid plans quote-based |
| Cloud4Wi | Workplaces and retail chains | Secure guest WiFi and network access control | From $200/mo (billed annually) |
| Adentro | Restaurants and retailers buying Meta and Instagram ads | Retargets WiFi guests with ads and measures return visits | From $25/mo; typical pilot with ad spend about $1,000/mo |
| Built-in portal (UniFi, Meraki, Omada) | Venues that only need a basic login page | Already on your network, nothing extra to buy | Included with your hardware (Meraki needs an active licence) |
| Open source (pfSense, OPNsense, PacketFence) | IT teams that want full control | Free, fully customisable | Free community editions; pfSense Plus from $129/yr |
How MyPlace compares
MyPlace is strongest for businesses that want more than a basic login page.
It combines captive portal software with wider guest engagement tools such as:
- secure guest WiFi access
- customer data capture
- marketing integrations
- automated review generation from real guests
With MyPlace, these capabilities can work together across one connected platform.
Quick buying guidance
Choose based on your real priority:
- Need hospitality guest WiFi + growth tools, for one venue or many? MyPlace
- Need enterprise security and compliance? Cloudi-Fi
- Run vacation rentals? StayFi
- Need visitor analytics across large public estates? Purple
- Need workplace or retail network access control? Cloud4Wi
- Want to turn WiFi guests into ad audiences? Adentro
- Only need a basic login page? Your WiFi brand’s built-in portal
- Have an IT team that wants full control? Open source
Best captive portal software platforms reviewed
The best captive portal software depends on what you need the platform to do.
Some businesses simply need secure guest WiFi login pages. Others need customer data capture, CRM integrations, analytics, review generation, or multi-location control.
Below are eight options often considered in this category, with a clearer view of where each one fits.
1. MyPlace
Best for hospitality businesses that want captive portal software connected to growth tools
MyPlace is a captive portal software platform built for hospitality and venue-based businesses that want more than basic guest WiFi access.
It combines branded guest login journeys with customer data capture, integrations, review generation workflows, and wider guest engagement tools. This makes MyPlace especially relevant for operators who see guest WiFi as both an operational service and a commercial channel. For hotels weighing the review side specifically, we compared 11 hotel reputation management tools in a separate guide.
Unlike tools focused purely on access control, MyPlace helps businesses use captive portals as part of a wider system that can support:
- guest WiFi access management
- customer email capture
- CRM and marketing sync
- review generation after real visits
- hospitality guest engagement workflows
- multi-site management
Strong fit for:
- restaurants
- hotels
- bars
- cafés
- leisure venues
- single venues and multi-location hospitality groups
Strengths
- Verified capture cost: guest WiFi capture runs about $0.22 per verified email through an automated captive portal, versus roughly $1.91 per contact for manual signup, based on MyPlace deployment data across 500+ locations (MyPlace, 2026).
- Review generation with measured results: one MyPlace venue, AVA MediterrAegean, generated 64 new Google reviews in 30 days, 95% five-star, after connecting its captive portal to automated review requests (MyPlace customer data, 2026).
- Works with hardware you already own: UniFi, Meraki, Ruckus, Aruba, Omada and Cambium, so there is no rip-and-replace to get a branded portal running.
- Published pricing: from $49/mo per location with a 14-day free trial, so you can price a rollout without a sales call.
- Works for one venue or fifty: one login, per-location reporting, and guest data in one place across every venue.
Consider if:
You want your captive portal to support marketing and guest engagement, not just network access.
Pricing: from $49/mo per location, 14-day free trial.
2. Cloudi-Fi
Best for global enterprises that need secure, compliant guest access
Cloudi-Fi is a cloud captive portal and network access platform built for large organisations where IT and security teams own guest WiFi. It onboards guests, staff devices and connected devices across many sites from one platform, with a strong security and compliance focus.
Strong fit for:
- global hotel chains
- airports, rail and transport hubs
- healthcare
- financial services and corporate offices
Potential strengths
- security-first approach to guest and staff access
- built for estates spanning many countries and sites
- works across enterprise WiFi vendors including Cisco, Meraki, Aruba, Ruckus, Fortinet and Juniper Mist
Consider if:
Your guest WiFi is owned by an IT security team and runs across a large enterprise estate. Note that UniFi is not on its published list of supported networks.
Pricing: quote-based. Verified October 2026.
3. StayFi
Best for vacation rental hosts and property managers
StayFi is guest WiFi and guest marketing built specifically for vacation rentals. Guests log in through a branded WiFi page, and hosts use the captured details for email and text messages, a guest homepage with upsells, and occupancy alerts.
Strong fit for:
- short-term and vacation rental hosts
- vacation rental management companies
- small hotels and inns
- multi-family buildings
Potential strengths
- purpose-built for short-term rentals rather than adapted from retail or restaurants
- guest homepage for upsells
- works natively with UniFi and Ruckus, with its own StayFi Express device for other networks
Consider if:
You run vacation rentals and want guest contact details and direct-booking marketing from your WiFi.
Pricing: from $19/mo, plus $99 one-time for the StayFi Express device where needed. Verified October 2026.
4. Purple
Best for large public estates needing guest WiFi plus analytics
Purple is one of the most recognised names in guest WiFi and captive portal software, particularly in enterprise and public-space environments.
Its offering focuses on secure guest connectivity, branded captive portals, visitor analytics, CRM connectivity, and larger-scale deployments.
Purple is often strongest where organisations need governance, reporting, analytics, and estate-wide consistency.
Strong fit for:
- shopping centres
- airports
- stadiums
- universities and hospitals
- enterprise estates
- retail chains
- public venues
Potential strengths
- mature enterprise platform
- analytics-led positioning
- large deployment suitability
- strong compliance messaging
Consider if:
You operate multiple public venues or need enterprise-grade reporting and visitor insight.
Pricing: free Connect tier; Capture and Engage plans are quote-based. Verified October 2026.
5. Cloud4Wi
Best for workplaces and retail chains needing secure guest WiFi
Cloud4Wi (now at cloud4wi.ai) positions itself as an AI-powered WiFi platform for secure guest WiFi, apartment and student housing WiFi, and network access control. Workplaces and retail lead its list of industries.
Strong fit for:
- workplaces and offices
- retail chains
- shopping centres
- student housing
Potential strengths
- secure guest access and network access control
- 30-day free trial
- enterprise WiFi vendor support (Aruba, Cisco, Extreme, Meraki, Ruckus)
Consider if:
You need secure guest and resident WiFi across offices, stores or housing.
Pricing: Professional from $200/mo billed annually; Enterprise quote-based. Verified October 2026.
6. Adentro
Best for businesses that want to turn WiFi guests into ad audiences
Adentro (formerly Zenreach) captures guest WiFi sign-ins and uses them to retarget guests with email and Meta and Instagram ads, then measures how many come back. Its model is built around advertising: a small platform fee plus ad spend.
Strong fit for:
- restaurants and retailers running paid social ads
- malls and entertainment venues selling sponsorship
Potential strengths
- ad audience building
- return-visit measurement
- works on existing Cisco and Meraki access points
Consider if:
Your main goal is paid-ad customer acquisition rather than reviews or your own marketing list.
Pricing: from $25/mo (Capture pilot); full platform $49.99/mo; a typical pilot with managed ad spend runs about $1,000/mo. Verified October 2026.
7. Your WiFi brand’s built-in portal
Best for venues that only need a basic login page
Most business WiFi brands include a simple guest portal at no extra cost: the UniFi Hotspot Portal, the Meraki splash page and the TP-Link Omada portal. They get guests online with click-through, a shared password, vouchers or RADIUS, and some add text-message codes or paid access.
Strong fit for:
- venues that want guests to accept terms before connecting
- hotels selling time-limited WiFi vouchers
- IT teams that want nothing extra to install
Potential strengths
- already part of your network, nothing new to buy
- managed in the same dashboard as your access points
Limits to know:
None of them sends guest emails to marketing tools like Mailchimp or Klaviyo, and none asks guests for reviews. Facebook WiFi login ended in June 2023, so the social login many venues relied on is gone. Each only runs on its own brand’s hardware.
Pricing: included with your hardware. UniFi has no required licensing; Meraki access points need an active Meraki licence. Verified October 2026.
8. Open-source captive portals
Best for IT teams that want full control
pfSense and OPNsense are open-source firewalls with a captive portal built in. PacketFence is open-source network access control used by campuses and large organisations. All three can run guest login pages on your own server or firewall box.
Strong fit for:
- venues with an in-house IT team or IT provider
- campuses and large estates with network engineers
Potential strengths
- free community editions
- full control over the login flow and data
- PacketFence supports guest self-registration, social login and payments
Limits to know:
You need your own firewall or server and someone to run it. None connects to marketing tools out of the box, and anything beyond a login page, such as email capture or review requests, means custom code.
Pricing: free community editions. pfSense Plus from $129/yr per install, OPNsense Business Edition 149 EUR/yr, PacketFence cloud from $5,000/yr. Verified October 2026.
Quick summary
Choose based on your real priority:
- Hospitality growth + guest engagement, one venue or many: MyPlace
- Enterprise security and compliance: Cloudi-Fi
- Vacation rentals: StayFi
- Large public estates + visitor analytics: Purple
- Workplace and retail network access: Cloud4Wi
- Ad-led customer acquisition: Adentro
- A basic login page only: your WiFi brand’s built-in portal
- Full control with your own IT team: open source
Why businesses choose MyPlace for captive portals
MyPlace is not a generic networking utility. It is a captive portal software platform designed to help hospitality businesses control guest WiFi access while turning that connection into a useful customer touchpoint.
That matters because many businesses do not just need a login page. They need a system that can manage access, stay compliant, capture useful data, and connect with the tools they already use.
Captive portal functionality inside a wider platform
With MyPlace, businesses can use captive portal capabilities such as:
- branded guest login journeys
- email or social authentication
- consent collection and logging
- user data capture
- return-guest recognition
- bandwidth / access controls
- integrations with external tools
Strong fit for hospitality businesses
MyPlace is built for restaurants, hotels, bars, cafés, and venues where guest WiFi can support both operations and customer growth.
That makes it especially relevant where businesses want to:
- provide secure guest WiFi
- collect verified customer data
- connect data to marketing tools
- generate more repeat visits
- request more reviews after real visits
MyPlace product ecosystem
Businesses can also use MyPlace as separate but connected products depending on need:
Guest WiFi
Secure managed guest access through captive portal, PPSK, or other controlled methods.
WiFi Marketing
Turns guest WiFi connections into verified marketing data and automation workflows.
Review Generation
Generates new Google and TripAdvisor reviews from real guests automatically, with or without Guest WiFi.
When MyPlace is the strongest choice
MyPlace is often the best fit when you want:
- captive portal software built for hospitality
- guest WiFi connected to marketing outcomes
- review generation tied to real visits
- multi-location venue use cases
- one vendor covering access + growth tools
Explore MyPlace solutions
- Captive Portal Software
- Guest WiFi Software
- WiFi Marketing
- Review Generation
Best captive portal software by WiFi network
The right captive portal tool depends partly on the WiFi hardware you already run. Integration methods, setup steps, and even which tools are available differ by vendor. We maintain dedicated comparisons for the most common networks:
- UniFi: UniFi supports external portals through its One Way Method. For the full comparison, see best captive portal software for Ubiquiti UniFi
- Meraki: see our full comparison of the 5 best captive portal tools for Meraki guest WiFi, including Meraki’s built-in splash page and the EXCAP external portal pattern.
- Ruckus: see captive portals on Ruckus.
- Omada: see captive portals on TP-Link Omada.
- Cambium: see captive portals on Cambium.
- Cisco: see Cisco captive portal software.
The six paid platforms reviewed above work across multiple WiFi vendors, while built-in portals only run on their own brand’s hardware; the vendor guides cover hardware-specific setup and any tools unique to that ecosystem.
What is captive portal software?
Captive portal software controls how users access guest WiFi.
It manages the login process shown before internet access is granted, helps businesses apply access rules, capture consent, collect user data, and manage the overall guest connection experience.
In practical terms, captive portal software is commonly used to:
- require login before access
- collect email or social sign-in details
- display a branded guest access page
- record consent or terms acceptance
- apply session or access controls
- connect captured data to external systems
Many businesses use captive portal software in restaurants, hotels, cafés, retail stores, leisure venues, and public-facing spaces where guest WiFi is offered.
Captive portal software vs splash page
These terms are often confused, but they are not the same thing.
Splash page
The page a user sees when connecting to guest WiFi. It may contain branding, login options, offers, or terms.
Captive portal software
The system behind that page which controls authentication, access permissions, data capture, and the full connection process.
In short:
The splash page is what users see.
The captive portal software is what runs the experience.
Why businesses use it
Businesses typically choose captive portal software when they need to:
- offer guest WiFi professionally
- protect internal networks
- collect first-party customer data
- keep access compliant
- manage multiple locations consistently
- connect guest access with wider customer workflows
The demand is proven: 58% of U.S. adults say they are more willing to share personal information with a business when the only requirement is providing an email address (The Trade Desk / YouGov, 2023).
Yet most venues never capture it. In hospitality, only 34% of guest records hold a valid, directly captured email address, meaning roughly two-thirds of guests pass through without usable contact data (Revinate 2025 Hospitality Benchmark Report). A captive portal is how a venue closes that gap.
Where MyPlace helps most
MyPlace is especially useful for hospitality businesses that want managed guest WiFi plus wider engagement tools such as marketing integrations and review generation.
Guest WiFi capture costs about $0.22 per verified email through an automated captive portal, versus roughly $1.91 per contact for manual signup, based on MyPlace deployment data across 500+ locations (MyPlace, 2026).
One MyPlace venue, AVA MediterrAegean, generated 64 new Google reviews in 30 days (95% five-star) after connecting its captive portal to automated review requests (MyPlace customer data, 2026).
How to choose captive portal software
The best captive portal software is not always the platform with the longest feature list. It is the platform that best matches your network setup, business model, and customer goals.
Some businesses only need secure guest WiFi login. Others need customer data capture, marketing integrations, analytics, or multi-location control.
Use the criteria below to choose more effectively.
1. Login and authentication options
Different businesses need different access methods.
Look for platforms that support options such as:
- email login
- social login
- click-through access
- voucher or code access
- PPSK or controlled secure access
If user convenience matters, simple login flows can improve completion rates.
2. Branding and guest experience
Your captive portal is often the first digital touchpoint a guest sees on-site.
Look for software that allows you to:
- add logo and brand colours
- customise text and messaging
- control redirect destinations
- create a consistent experience across locations
3. Data capture and integrations
Many businesses use captive portal software to turn guest WiFi into a first-party data source.
If that matters to you, review:
- email capture quality
- consent collection
- CRM integrations
- email platform sync
- webhook / API options
- export options
4. Network compatibility
Always confirm compatibility with your current WiFi infrastructure.
Common environments mentioned across category vendors include:
- UniFi
- Meraki
- Ruckus
- Aruba
- Cambium
- Omada
Changing platforms is easier than replacing hardware.
5. Multi-location management
If you operate multiple venues or properties, look for centralised controls such as:
- location dashboards
- user permissions
- standardised branding
- group reporting
- per-site management
6. Compliance and logging
For public guest WiFi, many businesses need clear consent and access records.
Look for:
- consent logging
- terms acceptance records
- session timestamps
- data retention controls
- privacy workflow support
7. Business outcomes, not just WiFi access
Ask what success actually looks like.
Do you need:
- simpler guest access?
- better visitor experience?
- customer data capture?
- more repeat visits?
- review generation?
- enterprise analytics?
Your answer should determine the platform.
Typical buying paths
Choose MyPlace if you want:
- hospitality-focused captive portal software
- guest WiFi connected to marketing outcomes
- review generation workflows
- single-venue and multi-location hospitality fit
Choose Cloudi-Fi if you want:
- enterprise security and compliance
- guest and staff access across a global estate
Choose StayFi if you want:
- vacation rental guest WiFi
- direct-booking marketing
Choose Purple if you want:
- enterprise estates
- visitor analytics
- large public venue deployments
Choose Cloud4Wi if you want:
- workplace and retail network access control
Choose Adentro if you want:
- ad-led customer acquisition
Choose your WiFi brand’s built-in portal if you want:
- a basic login page
- nothing extra to buy
Choose open source if you want:
- full control
- your own IT team to run it
Final rule
Do not choose based on feature count alone.
Choose the platform that best fits:
- your hardware
- your customer journey
- your internal resources
- your growth priorities
How to set up a guest WiFi captive portal in 5 steps
Create a guest SSID and enable your captive portal.
Configure the splash page and choose login method, email or social.
Turn on consent logging and set session, bandwidth, and idle limits.
Add your portal, payment, and analytics domains to the walled garden.
Test with a fresh device; if the portal doesn’t show, try a non-HTTPS page to bypass HSTS and confirm the redirect is working
Captive Portal Software – FAQ
What is the best captive portal software?
It depends on your goal. For hospitality venues, from one busy venue to multi-location groups, that want guest WiFi to build an email list and generate Google reviews, MyPlace. For enterprise security and compliance, Cloudi-Fi. For vacation rentals, StayFi. For large public estates, Purple.
What is captive portal software?
It’s the system that runs your guest WiFi login flow. It handles the login screen, captures emails or social logins, and sends that data to your CRM or email tool.
How is it different from a splash page?
The splash page is just what the user sees. The captive portal is the engine behind it. It controls access, collects data, logs visits, and makes sure the whole process works.
Do I need it to offer guest WiFi?
Yes. If you want to collect data, stay compliant, and connect WiFi with your marketing tools, you need captive portal software.
Can I use captive portal software with my existing WiFi setup?
Usually yes. Most tools work with popular routers like UniFi, Meraki, Ruckus, and more. Just plug the software into your network.
What kind of data can I collect?
Emails, phone numbers, login times, device info, repeat visits, dwell time, and more. Some tools also track content filtering and behavioral patterns.
Will captive portal software help with reviews and loyalty?
Definitely. Some platforms, like MyPlace, let you trigger review requests, send NPS surveys, or enroll customers into loyalty programs after they log in.
What should I look for when choosing a platform?
Start with the basics: login types, branding, integrations. Then look at unique features like automation, analytics, and content filtering to find your best fit.
Do I need a captive portal for guest WiFi?
Yes, if you want access control, consent logging, analytics, and to connect WiFi data to your CRM.
Splash page vs captive portal for guest WiFi, what’s the difference?
The splash is what users see. The captive portal is the engine that controls access and data.
The captive portal isn’t showing on guest WiFi, what should I check?
Test with a non-HTTPS URL, confirm your walled garden, and check the device’s captive network assistant behaviour
📘 Glossary: Captive Portal Software Terms
Captive Portal Software
The engine that runs your guest WiFi login flow. It handles user access, collects data, syncs with your tools, and keeps everything compliant.
Splash Page
The login screen your guests see before getting online. Usually branded, sometimes includes a form, offer, or social login button.
User Authentication
The process of verifying who’s trying to connect. Can be as simple as an email, social login, or even a click-to-connect.
Social WiFi
Letting users log in to WiFi using Facebook, Google, or Apple. Easy for them. Still useful for you.
Device Recognition
Once someone connects, the system remembers their device. So next time, they log in automatically.
CRM Integration
Your captive portal pushes contact data to your CRM. That way, your marketing list grows without lifting a finger.
Webhooks
These send real-time updates to other tools. For example, when someone logs in, your email tool gets the info instantly.
Micro-Targeting
Customizing the WiFi experience based on location or audience segment. Show one offer in one store, and something else in another.
Analytics Dashboard
Your backend view. Tracks logins, return visits, dwell time, and more. Use it to see what’s working and what’s not.
Web Content Filtering
Lets you block certain types of websites on your guest WiFi. Useful if you want to keep things clean and secure.
Data Export
Sometimes you just want a spreadsheet. This lets you download your contacts or behavior data and use it however you like.