Got friends coming over? The first thing I do is write down the Wi-Fi password on a piece of paper. You know the drill. Guests walk in, get comfortable, and the first question is invariably about the Wi-Fi password. Now, if you are like me, with a fairly complex setup of IoT devices, NAS drives, and more on the network, you'd probably hesitate about giving access to your main wireless network. If you've been prudent about network security, you'd have set up a guest network completely blocked off from all critical devices using VLANs. But not everyone does that. But if you're a homelabber like me, you've probably invested in an Unifi setup and made use of guest vouchers. But much as I love it, it's not fast, and it takes forever to get through the menus for something so basic. There's got to be a faster way.
As is usually the case, there is a better way to handle guest Wi-Fi vouchers. I've been running a dead-simple open-source utility called Unifi Voucher Manager that handles it all for me. Here's why it's exactly what I needed.
6 tips to securely share guest Wi-Fi with friends
Make guest access easy backed by robust security
Running the voucher manager at home
From config to running in minutes
Look, if you haven't gotten around to fully securing guest access on your Wi-Fi network, it's likely that you're not a hobbyist network engineer. That's fine. I understand it can be daunting to get started with self-hosting, or even deciding where to host software such as this. But Unifi Voucher Manager makes it dead simple. Since I wanted it accessible across my home network, I decided to host the service on my NAS drive, but you can do it on your Mac or even a Windows machine. The Docker installation instructions are straightforward, and all you'll need are basics like the IP address of your router and some login credentials. With that quickly figured out, you can add in the information to the provided Docker Compose file, hit run, and get going. Drop in to your server's IP address and the port selected, and you're good to get started.
Making guest Wi-Fi effortless
A simple, clean interface
Getting the service up and running is only one part of the story. The real test for any tool is how it fits into daily life without becoming a chore in itself — like using Ubiquiti's built-in voucher service. Thankfully, this is where Unifi Voucher Manager shines.
For me, the biggest difference has been the difference in speed of access. The Unifi Controller does a lot of things well, but it is not built for quick and easy handling of guest Wi-Fi access on the fly. It takes too many clicks and diving into menus to generate a single voucher. Unifi Voucher Manager trims that down to a few seconds. Open the interface, or add it as a link to your Home Assistant dashboard, select how long you want the voucher to be valid, hit generate, and you are done. It is so quick that you don't have to think twice about offering guest Wi-Fi anymore.
In fact, the interface is deceptively simple. Up top, you'll find three tabs pointing you towards active vouchers, the option to create a quick voucher, and custom vouchers. The first tab is self-explanatory and lets you glance at any active vouchers that you might have created. The second tab is what I'd expect most users to get the most utility out of. Tap a button and select the desired duration. This can range from an hour to up to 24 hours. Give it a name if you want to, and hit create. That's it. Now, if you're hosting a party, you can create a voucher specifically for that party and give users a unique access code straight from this dashboard. And once the predetermined duration is over, the voucher will automatically expire, and users will no longer be able to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Simple as that.
The third tab gives you additional configuration options that might be of interest to some users. The custom voucher option not only lets you decide how many guests can use the voucher, but you can also define speed and data use limits. This can come in handy when handing over Wi-Fi access for one-time use. While I don't see much use for it at home, if you are running a similar setup for events or maybe even an Airbnb, it can be a handy way to limit control over the Wi-Fi network.
A kiosk-style design that fits anywhere
What I love about Voucher Manager isn't just the feature set. Which, I'll admit, is pretty solid. But it is the implementation. The software has been designed to easily fit into a kiosk-style environment and simplify access. At no point does creating a voucher take more than 3–4 taps. That's essential for a service like this. Moreover, it includes handy additions like a QR code to let users directly connect to your guest Wi-Fi network. Of course, you'll also find light and dark modes.
Too many of us hand out the main Wi-Fi password without thinking twice. However, access to your primary Wi-Fi network comes with its own set of issues, which you might not even realize before it's too late. Additionally, not everyone has the time or inclination to set up VLAN configurations and enterprise-level security features. Guest Wi-Fi doesn't have to be rocket science. And a simple, open-source, self-hosted app like voucher manager simplifies it greatly by tying into the voucher manager built into Ubiquiti hardware.