Login Methods

XceedWiFi supports five distinct ways for people to get online through your hotspot. Every method comes down to the same three ingredients, arranged differently: how someone identifies themselves (a password, a voucher code, or a phone number), what package they land on (free trial or paid), and whether they pay before they browse.

General Rules

A few constraints apply no matter which method you choose:

• The minimum duration for any package—trial or paid—is one hour. This cannot be reduced under any circumstances.
• Every package has three defining properties: validity, speed/bandwidth, and data allowance (limited or unlimited).
• Paid access—vouchers or online package purchase—requires a price to be set when the package is created.
• Enabling online payment for a paid hotspot requires a payment gateway integration.
• OTP delivery via SMS carries a per-message charge on routes where SMS is used (for example, within India).

1. Password Login

Admin-provisioned username & password access

Subscribers are created manually by the administrator, who sets a password and assigns a package to each account. There's no self-service sign-up—people simply log in with the credentials they've been given.

How it works

• The administrator creates a subscriber account in XceedWiFi.
• A password is set and a package (speed, validity, data limit) is assigned to that account.
• Credentials are handed to the intended user—printed on a card, emailed, or given in person.
• The user enters the username and password at the login page and connects directly. No sign-up screen appears.

Setup requirements

• Administrator time to create and manage each subscriber account individually.
• A defined package to assign per subscriber.
• A secure way to distribute credentials to end users.

Best suited for

• Universities and campuses issuing login details to students or staff
• Offices or organizations with a fixed, known list of users
• Environments where accounts need central control rather than self-registration

Points to note

• Works best with a stable, known user base—manual creation doesn't scale for high-turnover public venues.
• Because sign-up is skipped, there's no self-service path for new or unlisted users.

See Managing Customers for how to create subscriber accounts.

2. Voucher Login

Batch-generated prepaid access codes

The system generates vouchers in batches, and each batch is tied to a specific package. That means you can create one batch of vouchers for a 50 Mbps plan and a separate batch for a 100 Mbps plan, then distribute or sell them individually.

How it works

• The administrator creates a voucher batch and assigns it a package—for example, ten vouchers for a 50 Mbps package.
• Different batches can be created for different packages.
• Voucher codes can be 5–12 characters long, generated as numeric, alphabetic, or alphanumeric.
• Sign-up can be included or skipped—the user can log in directly with the voucher code.

Setup requirements

• Package(s) defined in advance for each voucher batch.
• A voucher length and character-format choice.
• A distribution plan for the vouchers—printed, sold at a counter, etc.

Best suited for

• Cafes, hotels, and retail spaces selling or handing out time-boxed access
• Events or venues wanting tiered access—basic vs. premium speed
• Businesses wanting prepaid, trackable access without managing individual accounts

Points to note

• Requires planning voucher batches and packages ahead of distribution.
• A lost or shared code can be used by anyone until it's redeemed.

See Generating Vouchers for batch creation steps.

3. OTP Login — Free / Public Access

Mobile number verification for free trial access

Built for public venues offering free internet to anyone who signs up. The visitor provides a mobile number, receives an OTP that doubles as their password, and connects using a trial package.

How it works

• The visitor enters their mobile number at the login page.
• An OTP is sent by SMS and used as the login password.
• The user connects under a pre-configured trial package.
• Access ends automatically once the trial's time or data limit is reached.

Setup requirements

• A package created specifically as a Trial package type.
• Trial properties defined: validity (1 hour minimum), speed, and data limit.
• An SMS/OTP delivery route configured—charges may apply per message.

Best suited for

• Railway stations, exhibition halls, and other public venues
• Malls, airports, and similar high-footfall spaces offering complimentary Wi-Fi
• Any business wanting to capture visitor mobile numbers in exchange for free access

Points to note

• Access is time- or data-capped by design, with no built-in upgrade path.
• SMS costs still apply per OTP sent, even though the internet access itself is free.

4. OTP Login — Paid Hotspot

Mobile number verification with online package purchase

The same OTP-based sign-up as the free method, but no trial package exists here. After verifying their number, the visitor sees a list of paid packages, buys one online, and is redirected to the internet once payment clears.

How it works

• The visitor enters their mobile number and verifies it with an OTP.
• Instead of a trial, they see available paid packages—speed, validity, data limit, and price.
• The visitor selects and purchases a package through the integrated payment gateway.
• On successful payment, the user is redirected and connected to the internet.

Setup requirements

• One or more packages with bandwidth, validity, data limit, and price defined—no trial package.
• A payment gateway integrated so payments are credited to the operator's account.
• An SMS/OTP delivery route configured.

Best suited for

• Paid public hotspots wanting a fully self-service, unattended model
• Hotels, lounges, or transit hubs selling internet access directly to visitors
• Operators after recurring revenue without manual voucher handling

Points to note

• Requires a working payment gateway—this method can't function without one.
• Visitors who don't want to pay have no free alternative, unless another method is offered alongside it.

See Accepting Online Payments for payment gateway setup.

5. OTP Login — Free + Paid Combo

Free trial followed by a paid upgrade option

Combines both approaches: visitors get a limited free trial first, and once its time or data limit is reached, they're automatically redirected to a list of paid packages to continue.

How it works

• The visitor verifies their mobile number via OTP and connects under a trial package—for example, one hour, or capped at 50–100 MB, whichever comes first.
• Once that limit is reached, the user is automatically redirected to the paid package listing.
• The user selects and purchases a paid package via the payment gateway to keep going.

Setup requirements

• A Trial package with validity and/or data limit configured (1 hour minimum).
• One or more Paid packages with bandwidth, validity, data limit, and price.
• A payment gateway integrated for the upgrade step.
• An SMS/OTP delivery route configured.

Best suited for

• Businesses wanting visitors to try the service free before being asked to pay
• Cafes, co-working spaces, or lounges wanting a "freemium" Wi-Fi model
• Operators converting casual visitors into paying users without an upfront cost barrier

Points to note

• The most setup-intensive OTP method—needs both a trial and paid package, plus a payment gateway.
• Conversion depends on visitors actively choosing to purchase once the trial ends.

Method Comparison at a Glance

Method	Sign-up required?	Cost to user	Admin effort	Best for
Password login	No—admin pre-creates accounts	Free or paid, set by admin	High—manual per user	Campuses, offices, institutions with a known user list
Voucher login	Optional	Prepaid—cost of voucher	Medium—generate batches	Cafes, hotels, retail—controlled, sellable access
OTP — Free / public	Yes, via mobile OTP	Free	Low—one trial package setup	Public spaces: stations, exhibitions, malls
OTP — Paid	Yes, via mobile OTP	Paid—online purchase	Low–medium—needs payment gateway	Paid public hotspots wanting self-service monetization
OTP — Free + paid combo	Yes, via mobile OTP	Free trial, then paid	Low–medium—needs payment gateway	Businesses wanting a free taste before upselling data plans

Choosing a Method

Match your situation to the closest scenario below:

• Fixed, known user base—students, staff → Password login
• Sellable, trackable prepaid access without individual accounts → Voucher login
• Free public Wi-Fi with visitor number capture → OTP — Free / public
• Fully self-service, unattended monetization → OTP — Paid
• Free trial designed to convert into paid usage → OTP — Free + paid combo

These methods aren't mutually exclusive. Many XceedWiFi deployments combine two or more—for example, Password login for staff alongside OTP Paid access for public visitors—to serve different user groups on the same network.

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Next Steps

Set up the packages each method needs via Creating WiFi Plans, then configure customers via Managing Customers or Generating Vouchers.