Turn every guest WiFi login into an email address, marketing consent, and repeat customer. This guide shows you how, step by step.
Start Capturing Emails FreeTo capture emails from guest WiFi, you need a captive portal - a branded login page that requires guests to enter their email before accessing the internet.
Captive portal software like CaptiFi sits between your WiFi access points and the internet. When a guest connects, they see your branded splash page and must provide their email (or log in via social media) to get online. The email is captured automatically, marketing consent is recorded for GDPR compliance, and you can trigger follow-up emails, Google review requests, and marketing campaigns - all without any manual work.
CaptiFi is a guest WiFi marketing platform for venues, restaurants, hotels, cafés, retail spaces and short-term rentals. It turns branded WiFi logins into first-party customer data, automated Google review requests, repeat visitor insights and email marketing lists.
Select a WiFi marketing platform that supports your access points and includes email capture, marketing automation, and review requests. CaptiFi works with UniFi, TP-Link Omada, Cisco Meraki, Aruba, MikroTik, Ruckus, Cambium, and DrayTek - and includes a free starter device if you need one.
Create a branded WiFi login page with your logo, colours, and messaging. The page should ask guests for their email address (and optionally name and phone number) before granting internet access. CaptiFi includes a drag-and-drop splash page builder with professional templates.
Point your WiFi access points to the external captive portal URL provided by your platform. On UniFi, go to Settings → WiFi → Guest Portal and enter your CaptiFi portal URL. On TP-Link Omada, use the External Portal feature. Setup takes under 10 minutes on any hardware.
Add marketing consent checkboxes to your splash page. This is required by GDPR in the UK/EU and is best practice everywhere. CaptiFi handles consent capture, creates an audit trail for every guest, and applies automatic data retention policies.
Configure welcome emails, Google review requests, and follow-up marketing campaigns to trigger automatically after a guest connects. CaptiFi includes built-in email marketing, Mailchimp sync, Twilio SMS, and automated review requests - no extra tools needed.
Use your analytics dashboard to track email capture rates, repeat visits, review generation, and campaign performance. CaptiFi provides real-time analytics with AI-powered insights to help you optimise your splash page design and follow-up timing.
Send welcome sequences, promotions, event invitations, and seasonal offers to drive repeat visits.
Automatically request Google reviews from every guest who connects. Build your online reputation on autopilot.
Know which guests are regulars and which are first-timers. Target each segment with the right message at the right time.
Understand visit patterns, peak hours, dwell time, and customer demographics from your WiFi data.
Connect captured emails to loyalty platforms like Leat to reward repeat visitors and increase lifetime value.
If you capture phone numbers too, send SMS welcome messages and promotions via Twilio integration.
Yes, provided you obtain explicit consent and comply with GDPR (in the UK/EU) or relevant data protection laws. CaptiFi includes GDPR-compliant consent checkboxes, audit trails, and automatic data retention policies on every splash page.
You need a WiFi access point (UniFi, TP-Link Omada, Meraki, Aruba, etc.) and a captive portal platform like CaptiFi. CaptiFi includes a free starter device if you do not already have compatible hardware.
This depends on your venue footfall. A busy restaurant capturing emails from guest WiFi logins typically collects 200-1,000+ emails per month. CaptiFi has no limits on the number of emails you can capture.
Yes. CaptiFi includes native Mailchimp integration that automatically syncs new guest email addresses to your Mailchimp audience. It also integrates with HubSpot, Zapier, and other marketing tools.
You control the login method. CaptiFi supports email login, social login (Facebook, Google), SMS verification, and click-through access. Most venues use email login for maximum data capture.
Free starter device · 30-day trial · No annual contract · Works with your existing WiFi hardware
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