Captive Portal
Your brand. Your rules.
Every guest that connects to your WiFi sees your splash page — not a generic login screen. Your logo, your message, your network.
How it works, end to end
The captive portal is the gateway between your router and the open internet. Here's the full flow from connection to browsing:
Guest connects to your WiFi
They see your network name and tap to join. Their device connects but has no internet access yet — the router holds the gate closed.
Browser redirects to your splash page
On any HTTP request, the router redirects to your branded portal. The guest sees your logo, your welcome message, and your auth form — not a generic screen.
Guest authenticates
Email-based login or a voucher code. Existing Weird Network members authenticate instantly with their membership.
Session begins, internet opens
A timed session is created in the database. The router grants internet access. The guest browses. You get the data.
Session recorded for analytics
Duration, device type, and repeat vs. first-time visitor status are logged. No PII retained beyond the email for auth.
Custom branding options
The portal renders with venue-specific branding. What you can customize today:
Logo
Your venue logo displayed prominently on the portal splash screen. Guests immediately know they're at your venue.
Welcome message
Custom headline and body copy. Tell guests about your network, your rules, or a promotion — your call.
Auth method
Email-based sessions, voucher codes, or membership tokens. Mix and match per venue.
Session duration
Set how long a guest session lasts before re-authentication is required. Default is configurable per venue.
Your customers see YOUR brand, not ours. The portal URL, the splash design, and the welcome copy are all yours. Weird Network infrastructure is invisible to your guests.
What this is built for
The captive portal is designed for venues that have guest WiFi but get nothing from it — coffee shops, inns, coworking spaces, breweries, lobbies. You're already paying for the router and the bandwidth. The portal turns that cost into a data asset and a revenue channel.
Small businesses especially: you don't need an IT department to run this. If your router supports redirecting HTTP traffic (most do), you're set. The router setup guide covers the common configurations.
Common use cases
Coffee shops
Give paying customers a code, charge overstayers. Branded portal reinforces your shop identity.
Inns & B&Bs
Auto-issue guest vouchers at check-in. Collect emails. See which rooms connect and when.
Bars & breweries
Loyalty-tier access. Members of the Weird Network get faster speeds. Non-members see a clear upgrade path.
Coworking spaces
Tier access by membership plan. Day-pass vouchers. Guest sessions for visitors.
- captive portal for small business
- branded guest WiFi portal
- WiFi splash page software
- guest wifi authentication
- hotspot portal software