UniFi Captive Portal Setup Guide — WiFi Email Capture with CaptiFi (2026)

Ubiquiti UniFi is the go-to WiFi system for thousands of restaurants, hotels, bars, and retail stores worldwide. But most businesses leave money on the table by not capturing guest data from their WiFi. In this guide, we'll show you how to set up a UniFi captive portal with CaptiFi to automatically capture guest emails and turn WiFi logins into repeat customers.

Why Add a Captive Portal to Your UniFi Network?

Right now, guests connect to your WiFi and... that's it. You have no idea who they are, whether they come back, or how to reach them. A captive portal changes everything:

• Capture every guest's email automatically when they connect
• Send automated follow-ups — welcome emails, review requests, special offers
• Track visit frequency — know who your regulars are and who hasn't been back
• Drive Google reviews — automated requests after each visit
• Stay GDPR & CCPA compliant — built-in consent management

UniFi has a built-in guest portal, but it's limited — no email marketing, no review automation, no customer analytics. CaptiFi adds all of that on top of your existing UniFi setup.

Compatible UniFi Hardware

CaptiFi works with all Ubiquiti UniFi access points:

Also works with UniFi Dream Machine, UDM Pro, Cloud Key, and self-hosted UniFi Network Server.

Step-by-Step: UniFi Captive Portal Setup

Step 1: Sign Up for CaptiFi

Go to app.captifi.io/register and create your free account (no credit card needed). From your dashboard, you'll need your External Portal URL — this is the URL UniFi will redirect guests to.

Step 2: Create a Guest WiFi Network

In your UniFi Network Controller, go to Settings → WiFi and click Create New:

• Name: Something guests will recognize (e.g., "Free WiFi" or "[Business] Guest")
• Security: Open (the captive portal handles authentication)
• Network: Assign to a guest VLAN if you want to isolate traffic (recommended)
• Band: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (both)

Step 3: Enable Hotspot Portal

Still in your WiFi network settings, scroll down to Hotspot Portal:

1. Toggle Hotspot Portal to ON
2. Select External Portal Server
3. Paste your CaptiFi Portal URL into the redirect URL field

UniFi will now redirect any guest who connects to your WiFi to the CaptiFi splash page. Once they submit their details, CaptiFi authorizes them via the UniFi Controller API.

Step 4: Connect CaptiFi to Your UniFi Controller

Back in your CaptiFi dashboard, add your UniFi Controller connection. CaptiFi needs API access to authorize guests after they complete the splash page. You have two options:

• Option A — Local Admin Credentials: Create a dedicated local admin account in UniFi (Settings → Admins) with a read-only or limited role. Enter the username, password, and your Controller URL in CaptiFi.
• Option B — API Key: If your UniFi Controller supports API keys, generate one and enter it in CaptiFi along with your Controller URL.

CaptiFi uses the UniFi Controller API to authorize guests — no RADIUS configuration needed. This is simpler and more reliable than RADIUS-based setups.

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Connect to your new guest WiFi from a phone. You should be redirected to your branded CaptiFi splash page. Enter a test email and verify it appears in your CaptiFi dashboard.

What CaptiFi Adds to UniFi

Real Results from UniFi + CaptiFi

Businesses using CaptiFi with their UniFi networks typically see:

• 300-500+ guest emails captured per month per location
• 45% open rate on automated welcome emails
• 3-5x increase in Google reviews within 60 days
• 25% increase in repeat visits from win-back campaigns

FAQ