Why switch

What CaptiFi gives you that Purple WiFi doesn't

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 free hardware option for SMBs

Is Purple WiFi a bad product?

No. Purple WiFi is a serious platform with real strengths. Here's where it genuinely shines: 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. If that sounds like you, Purple WiFi may be the right fit. CaptiFi is built for venues who want simpler pricing, free hardware, and every integration included on every plan.

Side by side

The five-minute comparison

Feature
Free starter device included	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

Read the full CaptiFi vs Purple WiFi comparison

Ready to switch?

30-day free trial. Free hardware shipped to your venue. No setup fee. Cancel any time.

Start free trial See pricing

The migration

What switching from Purple WiFi looks like

Purple is an enterprise platform, so the most common reason independent venues and small chains move to CaptiFi is that they have outgrown the friction rather than the features. You start a 30-day CaptiFi trial, we ship a free starter device, and you rebuild your splash page in a visual editor that needs no HTML. That last point matters: several Purple reviewers on G2 say the splash editor historically required HTML knowledge, and one 0/5 reviewer described spending four hours chasing a login loop with no way to test the change first. CaptiFi gives you a preview and test mode before you publish, so you see exactly what a guest sees.

The other change operators feel quickly is support. Support is Purple's most-cited weakness on G2. One 0/5 reviewer wrote, "You can always get through to sales but never to support." CaptiFi offers live chat and email support with an under two hour response target. Your guest data comes with you too: CaptiFi lets you export your contacts to CSV any time, where Purple reviewers report slow exports and difficulty getting their own data out.

Cost

Purple WiFi pricing vs CaptiFi

Purple does not publish prices. It is quote-based and sold through enterprise contracts, which works if you have procurement and a dedicated account manager, but it is opaque for a single venue or a small chain. CaptiFi publishes its prices for every tier, bills monthly with no annual lock-in, includes a free starter device, and bundles every integration at the same price tier. Extra sites are a flat GBP25 each. You can read the current figures on the CaptiFi pricing page and decide before you ever speak to anyone.

On G2, Purple averages 4.08 out of 5 across 39 reviews, 3.94 excluding partner reviews. The split by company size is telling: small-business reviewers average 3.61, while enterprise reviewers average 4.59. That gap is the heart of the decision below.

An honest note

Who should not switch from Purple

Purple is the right platform for large enterprises that have a contracted, dedicated account manager and need its deeper capabilities. If you run a stadium, a transport hub, a large retail estate or a hospital that uses Purple's wayfinding and indoor-navigation product, or you rely on its enterprise CRM integrations and location intelligence, you should stay with Purple. Those are real strengths that CaptiFi does not try to replicate. CaptiFi is built for the operators Purple's own G2 reviewers say it serves least well: independent venues and small chains who want support they can reach, a no-code splash builder with preview mode, easy data export, and transparent self-serve pricing.

Common questions

Purple WiFi alternative FAQs

Is CaptiFi support better than Purple WiFi?

Support is Purple's most-cited weakness on G2, with reviewers describing it as slow or hard to reach. One 0/5 review reads, "You can always get through to sales but never to support." CaptiFi offers live chat and email support with an under two hour response target.

Is CaptiFi easier to set up than Purple?

For smaller operators, yes. On G2, Purple's small-business reviewers average 3.61 out of 5 versus 4.59 for enterprise, and several describe a steep learning curve. CaptiFi uses a no-code visual splash builder with a preview and test mode so you can see what a guest sees before publishing.

Can I export my guest data from CaptiFi?

Yes, any time, to CSV. Purple reviewers report slow exports and difficulty getting their own data out. CaptiFi treats your guest list as yours, so you can export it whenever you need it.

Looking for a Purple WiFi alternative?