CaptiFi vs Purple 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 Purple WiFi?
Purple suits large enterprises that have a contracted, dedicated account manager and need location intelligence or wayfinding. On G2 it averages 4.08/5 across 39 reviews, 3.94 excluding partner reviews, but small-business reviewers average only 3.61/5, and support is its most-cited complaint. CaptiFi is built for independent venues and small chains: responsive support, a no-code splash builder with preview mode, easy CSV export, transparent pricing, and hardware included.
What is Purple WiFi?
Purple is one of the most established guest-WiFi platforms in the world, focused on enterprise multi-site operators (large hotel chains, retail brands, stadiums, transport hubs). They emphasise customer-journey analytics, location intelligence, and integrations with enterprise CRMs and analytics tools. Pricing reflects the enterprise positioning: they typically don't publish prices on the website and require a sales call. On G2 Purple averages 4.08 out of 5 across 39 reviews, 3.94 excluding partner reviews, and small-business reviewers average 3.61. Smaller, single-site operators are the most likely to find it hard to use and hard to get support from.
Feature comparison
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starter device included (refundable deposit) | Yes | No |
| Native UniFi support | Yes | Yes |
| Native TP-Link Omada support | Yes | enterprise tier |
| Native Cisco Meraki support | Yes | Yes |
| Aruba / MikroTik / Ruckus support | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-venue dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Live chat support, under 2 hour response | Yes | reviewers report slow |
| Splash page preview / test mode before publishing | Yes | No |
| Export your guest data anytime (CSV) | Yes | reviewers report slow exports |
| Visual splash editor, no HTML required | Yes | HTML knowledge helps |
| Built-in email marketing automation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Google review requests | Yes | limited |
| Toast POS / spend-based segmentation | Yes | enterprise add-on |
| Leat / loyalty integration | Yes | enterprise add-on |
| Twilio SMS welcome messages | Yes | enterprise add-on |
| Self-serve sign-up | Yes | No |
| Public, transparent pricing | Yes | No |
| Monthly billing (no annual lock-in) | Yes | No |
| 30-day free trial | Yes | No |
Last reviewed 13 June 2026. Pricing and features change: check the Purple WiFi site for the most current information.
Purple WiFi strengths
- Mature enterprise platform with many years in the market
- Deep customer-journey analytics and location-intelligence features
- Strong integrations with enterprise CRMs (Salesforce, etc.)
- Used by large global brands - proven at scale (10,000+ locations)
- Wayfinding / indoor-navigation product that most WiFi-marketing rivals do not offer
Where CaptiFi differs
- Support is the most-cited Purple weakness on G2. One 0/5 reviewer wrote: "You can always get through to sales but never to support." Several reviewers describe support as slow or hard to reach.
- Steep learning curve for smaller operators: on G2 small-business reviewers average 3.61/5 versus 4.59 for enterprise, and one 0/5 review says Purple "suits pros who look after large multi businesses, not for very busy mere mortals who have single access points"
- Splash-page editor has historically needed HTML knowledge; reviewers ask for a no-code visual builder
- No preview or test mode before publishing: one 0/5 reviewer spent 4 hours chasing a login loop with no way to test the change
- Data export is described as slow for large data sets, with reviewers reporting it is hard to get their own data out
- Pricing is opaque and typically only viable for multi-site enterprise contracts; sales-led, contract-based onboarding
- No advertised hardware-included option for SMBs
Honest recommendations
Pick Purple WiFi if
Large multi-site enterprises with a contracted, dedicated account manager, complex CRM stacks, location-intelligence or wayfinding needs, and budget for an enterprise contract and onboarding programme.
Pick CaptiFi if
Independent venues and SMB chains (1-50 locations) who want responsive support they can actually reach, a no-code splash builder with preview mode, easy data export, clear public pricing, self-serve onboarding, monthly billing, and a starter device included for the trial (refundable deposit).
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.
Purple WiFi
Quote-based / contact sales. Generally aimed at multi-site enterprise contracts; not optimised for single-venue SMB pricing.
Last reviewed 13 June 2026. Check the Purple WiFi site for current pricing.
How switching from Purple 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 Purple WiFi
Rebuild your splash page, turn on email and review automation, and cancel your Purple WiFi subscription once you're confident.
Weighing up a move? Read the Purple WiFi alternative guide or see all comparisons.
CaptiFi vs Purple WiFi FAQs
Is CaptiFi cheaper than Purple WiFi?
Quote-based / contact sales. Generally aimed at multi-site enterprise contracts; not optimised for single-venue SMB pricing.
When should I pick Purple WiFi over CaptiFi?
Large multi-site enterprises with a contracted, dedicated account manager, complex CRM stacks, location-intelligence or wayfinding needs, and budget for an enterprise contract and onboarding programme.
When is CaptiFi the better choice?
Independent venues and SMB chains (1-50 locations) who want responsive support they can actually reach, a no-code splash builder with preview mode, easy data export, clear public pricing, self-serve onboarding, monthly billing, and a starter device included for the trial (refundable deposit).
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.