Is Beambox or CaptiveFlow cheaper?

CaptiveFlow starts at £29 per month with hardware included and no per-guest charges. Beambox starts at $25 per month (USD) but charges overage fees above 1,000 guests and additional fees for extra access points. For a UK venue, CaptiveFlow is typically the more predictable and cost-effective option.

Does Beambox work in the UK?

Yes, Beambox works globally including in the UK. However, it is a US-based platform that prices in USD and is not specifically designed around UK GDPR and PECR requirements. CaptiveFlow is UK-based, prices in GBP, and is built for UK data protection compliance.

Does CaptiveFlow have Google review automation like Beambox?

No. CaptiveFlow focuses on WiFi email capture and marketing list building. It does not include automatic Google review prompts. If Google review automation is a priority, Beambox offers this as a built-in feature.

CaptiveFlow vs Beambox

CaptiveFlow and Beambox are both captive portal platforms aimed at small and medium hospitality venues. Beambox is a US-based platform used by 12,000+ businesses worldwide, with strong content marketing and a broad hardware compatibility list. CaptiveFlow is UK-based, prices in GBP, and is built around UK GDPR and PECR requirements.

This page compares both platforms honestly so you can decide which suits your venue.

Comparison Table

Feature	CaptiveFlow	Beambox
Target market	UK pubs, restaurants, hotels	Global SMBs (restaurants, retail, gyms, salons)
Pricing	£29/month (Solo), £39/month (Pro). GBP, transparent	$25/month (Grow), $45/month (Pro). USD pricing. Guest database overage fees above 1,000 guests
Hardware	Included with subscription, no upfront cost	Plug-and-play Beambox included with trial. Additional APs at extra cost
Currency	GBP	USD
Captive portal	Branded splash page, email capture, marketing consent	Branded splash page, email/social capture, review automation
Google review automation	No	Yes (a key Beambox feature)
SMS marketing	No	Yes (Pro tier)
Marketing consent	Unticked checkbox, GDPR compliant by design	Configurable, GDPR support available
Network integrations	UniFi, Meraki	UniFi, Meraki, Omada, Aruba, MikroTik, Ruckus, Cambium
Email marketing integration	Built-in Mailchimp integration, CSV export	Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, and others
Guest database limits	No per-guest charges	Overage fees above 1,000 guests on Grow plan
UK GDPR/PECR focus	Built for UK compliance from the ground up	Global compliance, not UK-specific
Best for	UK hospitality venues wanting simple, affordable WiFi marketing in GBP	Global SMBs wanting WiFi marketing with Google review automation and broad hardware support

Where Beambox Wins

Beambox is the stronger choice if you want built-in Google review automation (Beambox automatically prompts guests to leave a Google review after connecting, which is a feature CaptiveFlow does not offer), need SMS marketing alongside email, use hardware beyond UniFi and Meraki (Beambox supports Omada, Aruba, MikroTik, Ruckus, and Cambium), want a broader set of email marketing integrations (ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, and others), or operate outside the UK and want USD pricing.

Beambox also has a large content library ("Town Square") with dozens of guides and articles, and a strong G2 rating (4.84/5 from 34 reviews as of mid-2026).

Where CaptiveFlow Wins

CaptiveFlow is the stronger choice if you are a UK venue and want pricing in GBP with no currency conversion, want hardware included with every subscription (Beambox includes one device with the trial but charges for additional access points), want no per-guest overage fees (Beambox's Grow plan charges extra above 1,000 guests in the database), need a platform built specifically around UK GDPR and PECR (CaptiveFlow enforces an unticked marketing checkbox by default and cannot be overridden), or want a simpler product focused purely on WiFi email capture without the complexity of review automation and SMS.

CaptiveFlow's FlowBox Solo also works with any broadband router, not just managed network hardware.

Pricing

CaptiveFlow: £29 per month (Solo) or £39 per month (Pro). Hardware included. No setup fees. No per-guest charges. No contracts.

Beambox: $25 per month (Grow) or $45 per month (Pro). USD pricing. The Grow plan includes basic portal and email capture but charges overage fees above 1,000 guests in the database. The Pro plan adds advanced automation, custom branding, analytics, and SMS marketing. Enterprise pricing is custom. One plug-and-play device is included with the trial; additional access points cost extra.

For a UK venue, CaptiveFlow's pricing is more predictable: a flat monthly fee in GBP with no guest limits and no hardware surcharges.

The Bottom Line

If you want Google review automation, SMS marketing, or broad hardware support across many AP brands, Beambox is a strong option with a proven track record and good reviews.

If you are a UK hospitality venue that wants transparent GBP pricing, included hardware, no per-guest fees, and a platform built around UK data protection rules, CaptiveFlow is the more focused choice.

See CaptiveFlow pricing and features · Visit Beambox's website