WiFi That Works for You

Guest WiFi Login Made Simple

Turn every WiFi login into a chance to grow your business. Collect real customer data, build your email list, and even make money from your guest network — all while staying GDPR compliant.

Trusted by 1,000+ organizations in 108 countries

1,000+ Organizations
108 Countries
50M+ Authentications/Month

A captive portal is a web-based login page that controls guest WiFi access by requiring authentication before granting internet connectivity. IronWiFi provides a cloud-based captive portal platform supporting social login, email, SMS, and payment authentication methods, integrating with 50+ WiFi hardware vendors and deploying in under 15 minutes with no additional infrastructure.

Overview

What Is a WiFi Captive Portal Solution?

A captive portal is a web-based authentication page that intercepts a user's first network request and requires them to identify themselves before granting internet access. Defined in IETF RFC 8952, captive portals are the standard mechanism for controlling guest WiFi access in hotels, airports, retail stores, universities, and enterprise environments.

Modern captive portal solutions go beyond simple login pages. They authenticate guests through multiple methods (social login, email, SMS, payment), collect first-party marketing data, enforce bandwidth policies, and maintain compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. The authentication is handled by a RADIUS server (RFC 2865) that communicates with the WiFi access points to grant or deny network access.

Capabilities

What Features Does IronWiFi Include?

Social Login

Let guests log in with one tap using Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

Grow Your Email List

Collect real customer emails automatically — your marketing team will thank you.

SMS Verification

Add an extra layer of security and grab verified phone numbers at the same time.

Take Payments

Charge for WiFi access with Stripe, PayPal, Square, or Authorize.net — it's up to you.

See What's Happening

Watch who's using your WiFi, when they visit, and what they're doing — all in real-time.

Make It Yours

Add your logo, pick your colors, upload backgrounds — even write custom CSS if you're into that.

How It Works

How Does It Work?

Getting guests online is easier than you think

  1. Guest Joins Your WiFi
    They pick your network from their phone or laptop — just like any WiFi.

  2. Your Login Page Pops Up
    A branded splash page opens automatically in their browser.

  3. They Sign In
    One tap with social media, a quick email, text verification, or payment — their choice.

  4. They're Online
    That's it! They get internet access, and you get their contact info.

Authentication

How Can Guests Log In?

Pick what works best for your business

Social Media

One tap with Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter

Email Sign-up

Grab their email (plus any custom fields you need)

Text Message

Send a code to their phone via Twilio, Clickatell, or SendGrid

Click to Connect

Just accept terms and they're online — nice and simple

Pay for Access

Charge with Stripe, PayPal, Square, or Authorize.net

Access Codes

Hand out voucher codes for events, staff, or VIPs

Customization

How Do You Customize Your Captive Portal?

Your brand, your rules

Design It Your Way

  • Upload your logo
  • Pick your background and colors
  • Choose fonts that fit your vibe
  • Add custom CSS or HTML if you want

Say What You Want

  • Write your own welcome message
  • Edit your terms of service
  • Support multiple languages
  • Add promotional banners

Ask the Right Questions

  • Create your own form fields
  • Mark fields as required or optional
  • Add dropdown menus
  • Include checkbox agreements

Set the Rules

  • Limit how long sessions last
  • Control bandwidth speeds
  • Restrict devices if needed
  • Send guests to any page after login

Use Cases

Who Uses IronWiFi Captive Portals?

Businesses everywhere are already using IronWiFi

Hotels & Resorts

Link WiFi to room numbers and know who's connecting

Retail Stores

Collect customer data and send them back with offers

Restaurants & Cafes

Turn WiFi users into loyalty program members

Airports & Transit

Handle thousands of guests with smart time limits

Universities

Keep student and visitor networks separate and secure

Corporate Offices

Manage visitor access without the headaches

Can Your WiFi Actually Make You Money?

Here's what our customers are seeing

300% Bigger Email Lists
Way more signups than those boring website forms

82% Actually Fill Out the Form
Most guests complete login instead of bouncing

$15 Cheaper Than Ads
Lower cost per lead than paid advertising

Empowered Data Collection

Why Are Cookies Dying and What Replaces Them?

As of 2026, third-party cookies are going away, but WiFi data isn't. Every guest who logs in gives you real contact info — emails and phone numbers you actually own. No middlemen, no tracking drama.

No cookies needed - works on every device
Real emails and phone numbers, not random IDs
GDPR and CCPA compliant from the start

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Captive Portals

What is a WiFi captive portal solution?

A WiFi captive portal is a web-based authentication page that intercepts a user's first HTTP request and requires them to log in before granting network access. As defined in RFC 8952, captive portals enforce access policies by redirecting unauthenticated users to a login page.

What hardware do you need for a captive portal?

No additional hardware is required. Cloud-based captive portal solutions work with existing WiFi infrastructure from any vendor — Cisco Meraki, Aruba, UniFi, Fortinet, Ruckus, and 50+ other brands.

Is a captive portal GDPR compliant?

A properly implemented captive portal can be fully GDPR compliant. Key requirements include explicit consent checkboxes, data export and deletion capabilities for subject access requests, encrypted storage with regional data residency, and clear privacy policy presentation. IronWiFi includes all of these built in.

Can I track returning guests?

Yes. IronWiFi recognizes returning devices and can offer different experiences based on visit history. First-time visitors see a full registration flow, while returning guests can be fast-tracked with automatic re-authentication or shown personalized offers based on their visit frequency.