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Guide · updated 2026-09-10The short answer
If you have a handful of properties and want to see the price before a demo, keep the router you already own, and never pay more as your list grows, SignInStay is the alternative to look at (free for one property, from $9/property/month). If you want a company to ship and install hardware for a large portfolio, or you rely on a PMS we don't connect to yet, StayFi is still the stronger choice.
StayFi created the category: a branded WiFi splash page captures every guest's name and email (not only the booker), feeds an email/SMS tool, and integrates with 20+ property-management systems. Reviews are strong (5.0 on Capterra from 70+ reviews as of mid-2026), support is praised, and their managed UniFi hardware is reliable.
| StayFi | SignInStay | CaptiFi | Generic guest-WiFi (Purple, Beambox…) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Quote-based; ≈$19+/property/mo reported | Free for 1 property; $9–$15/property/mo published | From C$89/mo | $25–45/venue/mo |
| Contacts | Email tiers by contact count | Unlimited on every plan | Varies | Varies |
| Hardware | $99–$284 per property, installed | None required; BYO UniFi/Omada/OpenWrt; $79 box coming soon | BYO or included device | BYO enterprise APs |
| Reservation matching | Yes (20+ PMS) | Hospitable live; iCal & Zapier for any PMS; Hostaway, Guesty, OwnerRez, Lodgify, Smoobu in beta | Limited | No |
| Consent (CASL/GDPR) | Email required by default | Separate unchecked opt-in, never a condition of WiFi, logged | Configurable | Configurable |
| Best for | Larger portfolios wanting managed hardware | 1–20 properties, DIY, Canadian hosts | Mixed hospitality (pubs, cafés, rentals) | Cafés, hotels, venues |
BetterSTR, a guidebook company, sells a WiFi add-on that is the closest thing to SignInStay on price: a QR “WiFi sign” at 20¢ per scan, or a captive portal at $5/month plus $2 per access point on UniFi/Omada hardware you own — cheaper than us for multi-unit owners who already run enterprise access points. What it doesn’t do: send email (CSV export only), match sign-ins to reservations, or enforce separate consent (it can be made mandatory). If you want the cheapest capture on UniFi gear and will run Mailchimp yourself, look at BetterSTR; if you want the list to work by itself and consent handled, look at us.
Competitor details from public pricing pages and reviews, September 2026. Corrections welcome at info@signinstay.com.
SignInStay is built for hosts with 1–20 properties: published pricing from $9/property/month, a free plan for one property, unlimited contacts, and no required hardware. StayFi remains the better choice if you want a supplied hardware bundle with an installation call or need one of its 20+ PMS integrations.
StayFi does not publish full pricing; its site lists “WiFi Essentials from $19/month”, email tiers priced by contact count, and hardware from $99 to $284 per property. Third-party reviews report $5–$15 per property per month for larger portfolios. Quotes come through a demo.
Not with SignInStay: the free password-gate mode replaces the WiFi card with a QR code that reveals the password after sign-in, and works with any router. For forced sign-in (captive portal) you need a router that supports it — UniFi, TP-Link Omada or any OpenWrt device — or a plug-in gateway box.
Yes, when marketing consent is a separate, unchecked checkbox that is never a condition of WiFi access, and each consent is recorded. That is SignInStay's default. Requiring an email in exchange for WiFi is fine under CAN-SPAM in the US but should not be tied to marketing consent under CASL.
Yes. SignInStay exports every contact, consent record and reservation match to CSV on every plan, including free.