TP-Link Omada Captive Portal Setup Guide

What is a Captive Portal?

A captive portal is the login page guests see when they connect to your WiFi. Instead of an open network or a simple password, a captive portal lets you:

• Capture guest data - emails, names, phone numbers
• Show your brand - custom splash page with your logo and colors
• Automate marketing - send welcome emails, review requests, and promotions automatically
• Stay compliant - GDPR and CCPA compliant data collection with consent

CaptiFi is an external captive portal that works with TP-Link Omada (as well as UniFi, Meraki, Aruba, MikroTik, and more). It takes about 10 minutes to set up.

What You'll Need

• A TP-Link Omada Controller that CaptiFi can reach over the internet - a hardware controller (OC200/OC300), the self-hosted software controller, or the paid Omada Cloud-Based Controller. The free Omada Cloud Essentials tier is not supported (it has no external portal API) - a CaptiFi Plug & Play device is the quickest alternative if that's your setup
• One or more TP-Link EAP access points (EAP225, EAP245, EAP660 HD, EAP670, etc.)
• A free CaptiFi account - sign up here

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Create Your CaptiFi Account

Head to www.captifi.io/trial and create your free account. Once logged in, you'll see your dashboard with your unique External Portal URL and RADIUS server details. Keep these handy - you'll need them in Step 4.

Step 2: Log Into Your Omada Controller

Access your Omada Controller through its web interface. The address is your controller's own IP or domain plus the management port - for example, if your controller lives at 203.0.113.10, you'd browse to https://203.0.113.10:8043. This same address is what you'll give CaptiFi later, so it must be reachable from the internet (a public IP, a domain name, or a port-forward). On the paid Cloud-Based Controller, use the controller URL from your Omada cloud account.

Step 3: Create a Guest WiFi Network (SSID)

Go to Settings → Wireless Networks and create a new SSID specifically for guest access. Name it something like "Free WiFi" or "Guest WiFi - [Your Business Name]".

• Set Security to None (the captive portal handles authentication)
• Optionally create a separate VLAN for guest traffic to isolate it from your business network
• Set Rate Limiting if desired (e.g., 10 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload)

Step 4: Configure the External Portal

This is where the magic happens. Go to Settings → Authentication → Portal:

1. Enable Portal for your guest SSID
2. Set Authentication Type to External Portal Server
3. Paste your CaptiFi Portal URL into the External Portal URL field
4. Under RADIUS, add CaptiFi's RADIUS server IP, port, and shared secret (all found in your CaptiFi dashboard)
5. Set Authentication Timeout to your preference (we recommend 24 hours)

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Connect to your guest WiFi network from a phone or laptop. You should see your branded CaptiFi splash page. Enter an email address to test the login. Check your CaptiFi dashboard - the login should appear in real-time.

Compatible TP-Link Omada Hardware

CaptiFi works with all TP-Link Omada EAP access points, including:

Compatible with Omada Controllers CaptiFi can reach directly: OC200, OC300, the self-hosted Software Controller, and the paid Cloud-Based Controller. The free Omada Cloud Essentials tier is not supported.

What Happens After Setup?

Once your captive portal is live, CaptiFi automatically:

• Captures guest data from every WiFi login (email, name, phone, visit time)
• Sends a welcome email within minutes of their first visit
• Requests a Google review after they leave
• Sends win-back offers if they haven't returned in 30 days
• Tracks repeat visits so you know who your regulars are

All of this runs on autopilot. You set it up once, and it works 24/7 - capturing data, sending emails, driving reviews, and bringing customers back.

Why TP-Link Omada + CaptiFi?

TP-Link Omada gives you enterprise-grade WiFi at a fraction of the cost of Cisco Meraki or Aruba. CaptiFi gives you enterprise-grade marketing automation on top. Together, they're the most cost-effective guest WiFi marketing stack available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Get Started?

Setting up a TP-Link Omada captive portal with CaptiFi takes under 10 minutes. Start your free 30-day trial today and turn your guest WiFi into a marketing machine.