Plain-English definitions of the terms behind captive portals, guest WiFi marketing, and data capture — written for venue owners, not network engineers.
A captive portal is a web page that public WiFi users see before being granted internet access — typically used to authenticate users, accept terms, and capture data such as email or social-login identity.
WiFi marketing is the practice of using a venue's guest WiFi network — typically via a captive portal — to capture customer data and deliver follow-up communications such as automated emails, SMS, review requests, and loyalty offers.
Guest WiFi is a public, internet-only WiFi network a business offers to customers, separate from its private back-office network, typically secured by a captive portal that requires sign-in.
WiFi data capture is the process of collecting customer information — typically name, email, mobile number or social-login identity — when a guest connects to a venue's WiFi via a captive portal.
WiFi email capture is the technique of collecting a guest's email address as a condition of free WiFi access, typically through a captive portal's sign-in form, so the venue can send marketing communications afterwards.
GDPR & guest WiFi refers to the UK and EU data-protection rules that apply when a venue captures personal data via a captive portal — requiring lawful basis, opt-in consent, an accessible privacy notice, audit trail, and the right to erasure.
CaptiFi gives you a fully-branded captive portal, automated email + SMS follow-ups, Google review requests, and every integration included — with free WiFi hardware and a 30-day free trial.