MikroTik hotspot vs PPPoE: which should you use?
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Hotspot and PPPoE both put a username and password between a customer and the internet. They suit different customers. Many small ISPs run both on the same router.
Side by side
| Hotspot | PPPoE | |
|---|---|---|
| How the customer logs in | A web page in the browser | Once, in their own router's settings |
| What the customer needs | Any phone or laptop | A router or device that supports PPPoE |
| Best for | Public Wi-Fi, cafés, short-term and voucher sales | Homes and offices on monthly plans |
| Typical sale | Hours, days, gigabytes | Monthly speed plans |
| Sharing a login | Limited by shared-users; MAC addresses can be copied | One session per account; harder to share |
| Devices behind the customer | Each device logs in | All devices sit behind the customer's router |
| Setup effort for the customer | None | Entering the account in their router once |
Choose hotspot when
- Customers come and go and pay for short periods.
- You sell printed vouchers.
- Customers connect phones directly to your Wi-Fi.
Start here: hotspot setup.
Choose PPPoE when
- Each customer has a cable or a wireless link to their home with their own router.
- You sell monthly plans by speed.
- You want one clear session per customer to limit and bill.
Start here: PPPoE server setup.
Running both
Put them on different interfaces: PPPoE on the ports or links that reach homes, hotspot on the public Wi-Fi. Speed limits, sessions and reports stay separate per service.
Where RadiusNest fits
RadiusNest treats both as the same thing with a different front door: one list of customers, one set of packages that can be for hotspot, PPPoE or both, and one report of your takings.
Start the free trial See pricing
Questions and answers
Is PPPoE more secure than hotspot?
It is harder to share or imitate: each account has one session and a password stored in the customer's router. Hotspot sessions are tied to a device's MAC address, which can be copied.
Can vouchers be used with PPPoE?
Vouchers are a hotspot idea: a code typed on a login page. PPPoE accounts are usually set up once and renewed.
Can I move a customer from hotspot to PPPoE?
Yes. With a central system the customer keeps their account and package; only the way they connect changes.