The best captive portal software depends on whether you need a simple guest login, venue marketing, MSP-style multi-client management, enterprise access control or a vacation-rental workflow. The category includes very different products, so we compare them by operating model before comparing feature checklists.
Captive portal software compared
| Platform | Best first fit | Why it belongs on the shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| MyWiFi | MSPs, agencies, resellers | White-label operations, multiple clients and locations, automation and reporting. |
| Beambox | Restaurants and local venues | Guest capture tied closely to email, SMS, reviews and repeat-visit marketing. |
| Purple | Enterprise and multi-site venues | Guest WiFi, analytics, CRM connection and broad enterprise hardware support. |
| Spotipo | Venues wanting clear per-location plans | Captive portal, guest capture, integrations, paid access and multi-location options. |
| IronWiFi | IT-led deployments | Guest captive portals plus RADIUS, Passpoint and employee-network options. |
| StayFi | Vacation rentals | Purpose-built guest data and marketing workflow for short-term rentals. |
1. MyWiFi: strongest fit for service providers
MyWiFi is designed around the operator who manages WiFi for other businesses. The important differentiators are not just portal templates; they are white-label administration, client access, multiple locations, automation, reporting and a pricing ladder built around a growing book of venues.
Read the MyWiFi review or compare MyWiFi vs Beambox.
2. Beambox: strong fit for venue-led marketing
Beambox combines branded guest WiFi with customer capture, email/SMS marketing, segments and reputation tools. It is easier to justify when the owner wants the WiFi login to lead directly into repeat-visit marketing rather than into a reseller operations dashboard.
Read the Beambox review or compare Beambox alternatives.
3. Purple: enterprise guest WiFi and analytics
Purple positions its guest WiFi product as a cloud layer over supported existing access points, with branded captive portals, visitor analytics and marketing/CRM workflows. Its free Connect tier gives single venues a lower-friction way to evaluate the platform before moving into data-capture and engagement tiers.
4. Spotipo: clear venue pricing and broad captive-portal features
Spotipo publishes per-location plans, a 14-day trial and a mix of guest capture, CRM integrations, payment login and account controls. It is worth comparing when you want a conventional captive-portal product without starting from an MSP-specific operating model.
5. IronWiFi: guest access plus deeper network identity
IronWiFi spans guest WiFi and employee network use cases. Its guest offering includes cloud-hosted captive portals and multiple authentication methods, while the broader platform also covers RADIUS and identity-driven network access. That makes it particularly relevant when IT requirements are as important as marketing.
6. StayFi: specialist choice for vacation rentals
StayFi is narrower by design. It is built around capturing guest data across short-term-rental stays, connecting with property-management workflows and marketing back to past guests. General venues should compare broader platforms; vacation-rental operators should include StayFi early.
Read the StayFi review or compare StayFi alternatives.
How to choose without overbuying
- Confirm your router/controller is supported.
- Decide who will operate the platform: venue staff, corporate IT, property manager or MSP.
- Choose the login method you actually need.
- Define one primary outcome: access control, data capture, reviews, retention, client reporting or paid access.
- Model total cost by locations, access points, guest records and messaging usage.
- Test the real captive portal on iOS and Android before rollout.
UniFi users
UniFi already includes native hotspot/captive-portal capabilities. A third-party portal makes sense when you need a stronger marketing, analytics, multi-client or integration layer. See best captive portal software for UniFi.
Primary sources checked: MyWiFi pricing · Beambox pricing · Purple guest WiFi · Spotipo pricing · IronWiFi pricing · StayFi pricing. Pricing and features can change; confirm time-sensitive details before buying.