Better guest WiFi, for one venue or a thousand
IronWiFi provides a captive portal and cloud RADIUS for network authentication. Purple authenticates too - passwordless WPA2/3-Enterprise and Passpoint - and turns every sign-in into first-party data, footfall analytics and marketing. Better guest WiFi whether you run one venue or a thousand.
- Runs on the access points you already own - no hardware swap
- Guest, staff and multi-tenant WiFi from one platform
- Footfall and dwell analytics, not just authentication logs
- Free Connect tier to start, live in weeks
Start free with Purple
Tell us about your venue and we’ll get you live on the free Connect plan - no card, no commitment.
Join 80,000+ venues. We’ll never share your details.
Branded guest WiFi your visitors just tap into
Guests sign in once with a tap - Google, Apple or email - on a splash page branded to your venue. You capture first-party data at the point of connection, and Purple runs it on the access points you already own.
- Customisable splash page, live in weeks
- First-party data captured at sign-in
- Same experience across every site you run
Why venues move from IronWiFi to Purple
IronWiFi is built to authenticate the network.
Purple authenticates and turns each sign-in into first-party data, footfall analytics and marketing.
IronWiFi pushes guest data to external tools via webhook or API.
Purple runs WiFi-triggered email and SMS natively through Purple Engage, with 70+ CRM integrations.
IronWiFi reports sessions and probe-based presence.
Purple shows footfall, dwell time and repeat visits across every site.
IronWiFi states ISO 27001 alignment.
Purple is ISO 27001 certified, alongside GDPR, CCPA, Cyber Essentials and B Corp.
IronWiFi starts with a 14-day trial.
Purple starts free on the Connect tier, for one venue or a thousand.
One platform, whatever your size
Purple fits a single cafe and a national estate on the same platform. You pick the plan that matches where you are today, and grow into the rest whenever you are ready.
A single venue
Start free with Connect - a branded captive portal, data capture and the Purple App. Add the £69 Purple Hub if you need hardware.
A growing group
Manage every location from one dashboard, with tiered pricing that grows with you as you add sites.
Marketing teams
Footfall, dwell time and repeat-visit analytics, plus WiFi-triggered email and SMS - not just a contact list.
IT and security teams
Passwordless staff WiFi on your existing hardware, with ISO 27001, GDPR and B Corp compliance.
Why 80,000 venues choose Purple
See what those numbers look like for your venue.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Purple | IronWiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Branded captive portal | ✓Customisable splash, multiple auth and data-capture options | ✓Cloud captive portal across a wide range of access points |
| Cloud RADIUS & 802.1X authentication | ✓Passwordless WPA2/3-Enterprise, EAP-TLS, SAML/SSO | ✓Cloud RADIUS and IdP-driven 802.1X - a core product |
| Passpoint / OpenRoaming | ✓SecurePass, OpenRoaming federation member | ✓Core feature |
| Email & SMS marketing | ✓Purple Engage: WiFi-triggered email and SMS journeys, 70+ CRMs | ✕Not in product; pushes guest data to external tools via webhook/API |
| Footfall & dwell analytics | ✓Footfall, dwell, repeat-visit and multi-site dashboards | –Session reporting and probe-based presence only |
| Multi-tenant / iPSK WiFi | ✓Vendor-agnostic iPSK Private Area Networks for BTR, student and coworking | –Multi-tenant MSP accounts; iPSK not advertised, 802.1X-first |
| Runs on your existing hardware | ✓Vendor-agnostic (Cisco Meraki, HPE Aruba, Ruckus, UniFi) or the £69 Purple Hub | ✓45+ brands incl. Ubiquiti UniFi, MikroTik, TP-Link Omada |
| Enterprise compliance (ISO 27001) | ✓ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA, Cyber Essentials and B Corp certified | –SOC 2 Type II and GDPR; ISO 27001 alignment, not certified |
| Free plan | ✓Free Connect tier - ideal for one venue | ✕14-day trial only, no permanent free tier |
See how the switch from IronWiFi works on your setup.
Just getting started? Purple is free to begin
You do not need a separate tool for a single venue. Purple Connect is free guest WiFi - a branded captive portal, data capture and the Purple App - ideal for one location. Need hardware? Add the plug-and-play Purple Hub for a one-off £69, no engineer required. Move up to Capture and Engage for analytics and marketing automation as you grow. One platform, from your first venue to your fiftieth.
Frequently asked
Which has better Passpoint / OpenRoaming support?
Both are OpenRoaming federation participants and support Passpoint. IronWiFi makes it a core feature across a wide list of access point vendors; Purple delivers it through SecurePass with a track record across airports, stadiums and hotel chains.
Can Purple replace IronWiFi on a UniFi network?
Yes. Purple supports Ubiquiti UniFi natively alongside enterprise vendors. Migration typically takes one to two weeks, including captive portal design parity and historical analytics import.
Does IronWiFi offer marketing automation?
No. IronWiFi focuses on authentication and captive portals and pushes guest data to external tools via webhook or CRM sync. Purple Engage runs WiFi-triggered email and SMS campaigns natively, with 70+ CRM integrations on the same platform.
Is Purple worth it for just one venue?
Yes. Purple Connect is free guest WiFi - a branded captive portal, data capture and the Purple App - ideal for a single location. Add the plug-and-play Purple Hub for a one-off £69 if you need hardware, and move up to Capture and Engage for analytics and marketing automation whenever you are ready.
Where Purple beats IronWiFi
See the product hub and the industries where teams pick Purple over IronWiFi.