CaptiFi vs Yelp WiFi
A balanced 2026 comparison: feature matrix, pricing, ideal-customer profiles, and an honest verdict on which platform fits your business.
Quick verdict: CaptiFi or Yelp WiFi?
Yelp WiFi makes sense if you are a US restaurant already invested in Yelp advertising and only care about Yelp reviews. CaptiFi wins for venues that want Google review automation, email marketing, POS/loyalty integration, multi-vendor hardware support, and data ownership - at transparent pricing, available worldwide.
What is Yelp WiFi?
Yelp WiFi (originally Wavespot, acquired by Yelp) is a guest WiFi product bundled with Yelp for Business subscriptions. It provides a branded WiFi splash page that prompts guests to check in on Yelp and leave a review. The product is tightly integrated with the Yelp ecosystem - it excels at driving Yelp reviews and check-ins, but offers limited functionality outside Yelp. Marketing automation, email campaigns, and non-Yelp integrations are minimal compared to standalone WiFi marketing platforms.
Feature comparison
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starter device included (refundable deposit) | Yes | No |
| Native UniFi support | Yes | No |
| Native TP-Link Omada support | Yes | No |
| Native Cisco Meraki support | Yes | No |
| Aruba / MikroTik / Ruckus support | Yes | No |
| Multi-venue dashboard | Yes | via Yelp dashboard |
| Built-in email marketing automation | Yes | basic |
| Automated Google review requests | Yes | No |
| Automated Yelp review prompts | No | Yes |
| Toast POS / spend-based segmentation | Yes | No |
| Leat / loyalty integration | Yes | No |
| Twilio SMS welcome messages | Yes | No |
| Mailchimp sync (native) | Yes | No |
| Self-serve sign-up | Yes | via Yelp for Business |
| Public, transparent pricing | Yes | No |
| Monthly billing (no annual lock-in) | Yes | No |
| 30-day free trial | Yes | No |
| Available outside US | Yes | No |
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Pricing and features change: check the Yelp WiFi site for the most current information.
Yelp WiFi strengths
- Tight Yelp ecosystem integration - drives Yelp check-ins and reviews automatically
- Established Yelp brand recognition among US restaurant operators
- Simple setup if you are already a Yelp for Business customer
- Yelp review prompts built directly into the WiFi login flow
Where CaptiFi differs
- Only drives Yelp reviews - no Google review automation
- Bundled with Yelp advertising - not available standalone; overall cost is high
- Limited email marketing automation compared to dedicated WiFi marketing platforms
- US-centric - limited availability and relevance in UK/EU/AU markets
- No native integrations with POS systems (Toast, Square), loyalty platforms, or CRMs
- No multi-vendor hardware support - limited to Yelp-provided or Wavespot hardware
- Data stays in the Yelp ecosystem - limited data portability
- Product page no longer resolves: as of September 2026 the Yelp WiFi page (restaurants.yelp.com/products/yelp-wifi/) redirects to business.yelp.com and returns a 404, and Yelp's restaurant products directory lists no WiFi product, so confirm availability with Yelp before buying
Honest recommendations
Pick Yelp WiFi if
US restaurants already paying for Yelp for Business advertising who want to drive Yelp-specific reviews and check-ins through guest WiFi.
Pick CaptiFi if
Venues anywhere in the world who want to capture guest data, automate Google reviews (not just Yelp), run email marketing campaigns, integrate with POS and loyalty systems, and own their customer data - with transparent pricing and no lock-in to a single review platform.
Pricing side by side
CaptiFi
$59/month billed annually
or $69/month month-to-month
- Hardware included (refundable deposit)
- Every integration included on Growth and above
- 30-day free trial.
Yelp WiFi
Bundled with Yelp for Business plans (varies by market). Not available as a standalone product. Typically $149-$299+/month as part of broader Yelp advertising packages.
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Check the Yelp WiFi site for current pricing.
How switching from Yelp WiFi works
Start your free trial
Sign up in minutes. 30-day free trial. Hardware included (refundable deposit), and no plan payment is taken during the trial.
Connect your WiFi
Point your existing access points at CaptiFi (UniFi, TP-Link Omada, Cisco Meraki, Aruba, MikroTik, Ruckus and more) or plug in the starter device we ship.
Switch off Yelp WiFi
Rebuild your splash page, turn on email and review automation, and cancel your Yelp WiFi subscription once you're confident.
Weighing up a move? Read the Yelp WiFi alternative guide or see all comparisons.
CaptiFi vs Yelp WiFi FAQs
Is CaptiFi cheaper than Yelp WiFi?
Bundled with Yelp for Business plans (varies by market). Not available as a standalone product. Typically $149-$299+/month as part of broader Yelp advertising packages.
When should I pick Yelp WiFi over CaptiFi?
US restaurants already paying for Yelp for Business advertising who want to drive Yelp-specific reviews and check-ins through guest WiFi.
When is CaptiFi the better choice?
Venues anywhere in the world who want to capture guest data, automate Google reviews (not just Yelp), run email marketing campaigns, integrate with POS and loyalty systems, and own their customer data - with transparent pricing and no lock-in to a single review platform.
Competitor names and logos are trade marks of their respective owners and are shown only to identify the products being compared. CaptiFi is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any company named on this page. Feature and pricing notes describe each product as we found it on its public website when we last reviewed it, and may since have changed; check the vendor's current terms before you buy. Trade mark notices.
CaptiFi is a guest WiFi marketing and captive portal platform for restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, hotels, gyms, salons, retail and short-term rentals, built by CaptiFi Ltd in the UK and sold in GBP, USD, EUR, CAD, AUD and NZD to venues worldwide.