LinSpot is software that turns a personal or small-business WiFi network into a paid hotspot, built around the idea of βSell your Air.β It uses a C2C model: visitors pay for wireless access by time, hotspot owners earn revenue, and LinSpot takes a 15% fee. Its positioning is closer to an early captive portal plus billing platform than to the developer API tools commonly seen today.
According to the available text, LinSpot can automatically display registration/welcome pages, supports PayPal payments, transparent billing reports, access logs, revenue sharing for roaming users, automatic updates, and free access for the ownerβs own devices. It is based on open-source components such as Apache, ISC DHCP, ISC BIND, and Squid. The Professional version also mentions credit card processing, prepaid scratch cards, customizable pricing and welcome pages, a built-in Radius server, and integration with MikroTik-like WiFi devices.
The published information is mainly focused on MacOS X. Linux Professional had previously entered alpha/beta, while the Windows beta was paused due to DHCP-related issues. Visitors do not need to install a client, so in theory it supports systems such as MacOS, Windows, and Linux. A 2007 news item stated that the entire codebase would be open-sourced under the GNU GPL, but the page does not provide a code repository or confirm the actual release status. Deployment requires a local installation, with the machine connected to the network via wired Ethernet. It can serve wireless routers connected through multiple Ethernet links, but payments, roaming, and logs clearly still depend on a central service.
The software is free, with revenue shared from visitor payments; LinSpot takes 15%. Example prices include 2.5 USD/EUR for 2 hours and 5 USD/EUR for 1 day. Payments use PayPal, and credit card information is sent directly to PayPal over SSL. Revenue from unverified credit cards may be held in quarantine for 3 months. It is also important to note that reselling home broadband may violate ISP terms and can involve tax and local regulatory issues.
Its strengths are a simple concept, a low-administration installation target, relatively detailed FAQ explanations around security and billing, and the use of mature open-source components. The downsides are also clear: the available materials date back to 2003β2007, maintenance status is unknown, platform support is incomplete, it depends on PayPal, and WEP is required to be disabled, leaving security reliant on access control, logs, and endpoint firewalls. It is better suited for researching early WiFi hotspot monetization, or for small hotspot operators with legacy requirements. For new projects, alternatives such as MikroTik HotSpot, pfSense captive portal, and CoovaChilli are more worth evaluating.
The text does not specify accessibility from mainland China. The FAQ only mentions restrictions on commercial activity in certain parts of China, and says LinSpot should only be used in special trade zones in China. Given the uncertainties around PayPal receiving, cross-border payments, and network reachability, Chinese users would need to verify real-world feasibility separately.
β This review is compiled from public sources and does not constitute a purchase recommendation. Verify all facts on the vendor's official site. Verify on linspot.com official site.
linspot.com is an Unknown Dev Tools provider. TG4G tracks its product information, an overall rating of 4.0/10, and a China-accessibility score of Workable. Click "Visit Official Site" to reach linspot.com directly.