CaptiFi vs Yelp WiFi - Honest Comparison (2026)

Quick verdict: CaptiFi or Yelp WiFi?

Yelp WiFi makes sense if you are a US restaurant already invested in Yelp advertising and only care about Yelp reviews. CaptiFi wins for venues that want Google review automation, email marketing, POS/loyalty integration, multi-vendor hardware support, and data ownership - at transparent pricing, available worldwide.

About Yelp WiFi

What is Yelp WiFi?

Yelp WiFi (originally Wavespot, acquired by Yelp) is a guest WiFi product bundled with Yelp for Business subscriptions. It provides a branded WiFi splash page that prompts guests to check in on Yelp and leave a review. The product is tightly integrated with the Yelp ecosystem - it excels at driving Yelp reviews and check-ins, but offers limited functionality outside Yelp. Marketing automation, email campaigns, and non-Yelp integrations are minimal compared to standalone WiFi marketing platforms.

restaurants.yelp.com/products/yelp-wifi/

Side by side

Feature comparison

Feature
Starter device included (refundable hold)	Yes	No
Native UniFi support	Yes	No
Native TP-Link Omada support	Yes	No
Native Cisco Meraki support	Yes	No
Aruba / MikroTik / Ruckus support	Yes	No
Multi-venue dashboard	Yes	via Yelp dashboard
Built-in email marketing automation	Yes	basic
Automated Google review requests	Yes	No
Automated Yelp review prompts	No	Yes
Toast POS / spend-based segmentation	Yes	No
Leat / loyalty integration	Yes	No
Twilio SMS welcome messages	Yes	No
Mailchimp sync (native)	Yes	No
Self-serve sign-up	Yes	via Yelp for Business
Public, transparent pricing	Yes	No
Monthly billing (no annual lock-in)	Yes	No
30-day free trial	Yes	No
Available outside US	Yes	No

Last reviewed 2026-05-08. Pricing and features change - check Yelp WiFi's site for the most current information.

Yelp WiFi strengths

Tight Yelp ecosystem integration - drives Yelp check-ins and reviews automatically
Established Yelp brand recognition among US restaurant operators
Simple setup if you are already a Yelp for Business customer
Yelp review prompts built directly into the WiFi login flow

Where CaptiFi differs

Only drives Yelp reviews - no Google review automation
Bundled with Yelp advertising - not available standalone; overall cost is high
Limited email marketing automation compared to dedicated WiFi marketing platforms
US-centric - limited availability and relevance in UK/EU/AU markets
No native integrations with POS systems (Toast, Square), loyalty platforms, or CRMs
No multi-vendor hardware support - limited to Yelp-provided or Wavespot hardware
Data stays in the Yelp ecosystem - limited data portability

Who should pick what

Honest recommendations

Pick Yelp WiFi if

US restaurants already paying for Yelp for Business advertising who want to drive Yelp-specific reviews and check-ins through guest WiFi.

Pick CaptiFi if

Venues anywhere in the world who want to capture guest data, automate Google reviews (not just Yelp), run email marketing campaigns, integrate with POS and loyalty systems, and own their customer data - with transparent pricing and no lock-in to a single review platform.

Pricing

Pricing side by side

CaptiFi

£39/month billed annually

or £49/month month-to-month

Hardware included (refundable hold)
Every integration included on every plan
30-day free trial. £0 today.

See full CaptiFi pricing

Yelp WiFi

Bundled with Yelp for Business plans (varies by market). Not available as a standalone product. Typically $149-$299+/month as part of broader Yelp advertising packages.

Last reviewed 2026-05-08. Check Yelp WiFi's site for current pricing.

Proof

A real venue on CaptiFi

Case Study

PytchAir

hospitality

How Johnny Palmer turned guest WiFi on his Boeing 727 Airbnb into a direct marketing channel: 400+ guest emails captured monthly and a 35% return booking rate.

400+

Emails Per Month

35%

Return Booking Rate

Read the case study

The switch

How switching from Yelp WiFi works

1

Start your free trial

Sign up in minutes. 30-day free trial. £0 today. Hardware included (refundable hold), and nothing is billed during the trial.

2

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.

3

Switch off Yelp WiFi

Rebuild your splash page, turn on email and review automation, and cancel your Yelp WiFi subscription once you're confident.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo

Weighing up a move? Read the Yelp WiFi alternative guide or see all comparisons.

Common questions

CaptiFi vs Yelp WiFi FAQs

Is CaptiFi cheaper than Yelp WiFi?

Bundled with Yelp for Business plans (varies by market). Not available as a standalone product. Typically $149-$299+/month as part of broader Yelp advertising packages.

When should I pick Yelp WiFi over CaptiFi?

US restaurants already paying for Yelp for Business advertising who want to drive Yelp-specific reviews and check-ins through guest WiFi.

When is CaptiFi the better choice?

Venues anywhere in the world who want to capture guest data, automate Google reviews (not just Yelp), run email marketing campaigns, integrate with POS and loyalty systems, and own their customer data - with transparent pricing and no lock-in to a single review platform.