Firebase Dynamic Links Shut Down: 5 Best Alternatives for 2026

Sarah @ ChottuLink

• 7 min read

Firebase Dynamic Links officially sunset in August 2025. If you haven’t migrated yet, or if your replacement isn’t working well, here are the 5 best alternatives — compared on features, pricing, and migration ease.

Google deprecated Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL) starting in August 2025. All existing dynamic links created through FDL continue to redirect, but you can no longer create new links, and Google has stopped maintaining the service.

This affects any app that relied on Firebase for:

  • Deferred deep linking
  • Social sharing links
  • Referral programs
  • QR codes
  • Cross-platform routing (iOS/Android/Web)

If your app still depends on Firebase Dynamic Links infrastructure, migrating to a dedicated deep linking platform is not optional — it’s urgent.

Before comparing alternatives, here’s a checklist of what your replacement should offer:

Deferred deep linking — the core feature most teams used FDL for

Universal Links (iOS) + App Links (Android) — proper modern deep link support

Custom branded domains — use your own domain (e.g., link.yourapp.com)

Social previews — control how links look when shared on WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.

QR code generation — built-in QR codes for each link

Link analytics — clicks, installs, opens, device breakdown

SDKs for your stack — Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, etc.

REST API — create and manage links programmatically

Reasonable pricing — Firebase was free; your replacement shouldn’t cost thousands

Migration path — easy transition without breaking existing user flows

What it is: A dedicated deep linking platform built as a direct replacement for Firebase Dynamic Links. ChottuLink focuses exclusively on deep linking, deferred deep linking, and link management — without bundling attribution or MMP features you don’t need.

Key features:

  • Deferred deep linking (iOS + Android)
  • Universal Links + App Links
  • Custom branded domains
  • Unlimited links and QR codes on the free plan
  • Social preview customization
  • Real-time analytics
  • SDKs: Android (Kotlin), iOS (Swift), Flutter, React Native, Unity, Capacitor
  • REST API for programmatic link creation
  • Dedicated Firebase migration support

Pricing:

  • Free: Up to 25K MAU, unlimited links, unlimited QR codes
  • Indie: $19/mo (up to 75K MAU)
  • Growth: $39/mo (up to 150K MAU)
  • Scale: $99/mo (500K+ MAU)

Why it stands out: ChottuLink is the closest thing to a 1:1 Firebase Dynamic Links replacement. The free tier is extremely generous (25K MAU with unlimited links vs Firebase’s limits), and the pricing doesn’t scale with MAU the way most competitors do. Setup takes about 15 minutes.

→ Try ChottuLink free

2. Branch — Best for Enterprise Attribution

What it is: Branch is a Mobile Linking Platform (MLP) that combines deep linking with cross-platform attribution and analytics. It’s the most widely adopted deep linking platform among enterprise apps.

Key features:

  • Deep linking and deferred deep linking
  • Cross-platform attribution (web, email, paid ads, organic)
  • Journeys smart banners (web-to-app)
  • QR code generation
  • Universal Ads for paid campaign measurement
  • SDKs for most platforms

Pricing:

  • Free tier available (limited features)
  • Paid plans start at $500+/mo (custom pricing on request)

Why choose it: If you’re a large enterprise that needs attribution + deep linking in one platform, Branch is the most established option. But if you’re primarily looking for a Firebase replacement and don’t need attribution, Branch is significantly more expensive and complex than necessary.

Firebase migration: Branch offers migration guides and tools, but the setup is more involved than a dedicated deep linking platform.

3. AppsFlyer — Best for Paid Marketing Attribution

What it is: AppsFlyer is a Mobile Measurement Partner (MMP) focused on marketing attribution, fraud detection, and campaign analytics. It includes deep linking as part of its OneLink feature.

Key features:

  • Deep linking via OneLink
  • Deferred deep linking
  • Full attribution for paid campaigns (Meta, Google, TikTok, etc.)
  • Fraud detection (Protect360)
  • Custom branded domains
  • SDK for major platforms

Pricing:

  • Free tier: Up to 10K conversions/month
  • Paid plans: Custom pricing (typically $500–$2,000+/mo depending on scale)

Why choose it: If your team runs heavy paid advertising and needs attribution alongside deep linking, AppsFlyer is a strong choice. But if you don’t run paid campaigns, AppsFlyer’s MMP features are unnecessary overhead.

Firebase migration: Supported, but you’ll be changing from a deep linking tool to a full MMP — a much bigger platform shift.

4. Adjust — Best for Privacy-Focused Attribution

What it is: Adjust (now part of AppLovin) is an MMP with strong privacy features, SKAdNetwork support, and deep linking through its own SDK.

Key features:

  • Deep linking and deferred deep linking
  • Attribution for paid and organic campaigns
  • SKAdNetwork and Privacy Sandbox support
  • Fraud prevention
  • Audience segmentation
  • SDK for major platforms

Pricing:

  • Custom pricing only — no public pricing page. Typically starts at $500+/mo.

Why choose it: Adjust is well-suited for apps that need privacy-compliant attribution alongside deep linking. Strong in markets with strict privacy regulations (EU, APAC).

Firebase migration: Adjust provides migration support, but like AppsFlyer, you’re migrating to a full MMP — which may be more than you need.

5. Singular — Best for Combined Attribution + Cost Aggregation

What it is: Singular combines mobile attribution with marketing analytics and cost aggregation — pulling in spend data from ad networks to give a unified ROI view.

Key features:

  • Deep linking and deferred deep linking
  • Attribution across paid and organic channels
  • Cost aggregation from 1,000+ ad networks
  • Fraud prevention
  • Creative analytics
  • SDK for major platforms

Pricing:

  • Free tier available (limited features)
  • Paid plans: Custom pricing (mid-range for MMPs)

Why choose it: If you need deep linking AND want to understand your marketing ROI by combining attribution data with ad spend across multiple networks, Singular is a good fit.

Firebase migration: Supported, but this is a full marketing analytics platform — significant setup required.

Comparison Summary

Primary purpose

ChottuLink: Dedicated deep linking platform

Branch: Mobile Linking Platform + Attribution

AppsFlyer: MMP (attribution + deep linking)

Adjust: MMP (privacy-focused attribution)

Singular: MMP + Cost Aggregation

Best for

ChottuLink: Enterprise Apps that need affordable, reliable deep linking

Branch: Enterprise teams needing attribution + linking

AppsFlyer: Paid marketing-heavy organizations

Adjust: Privacy-regulated markets (EU, APAC)

Singular: Teams optimizing cross-network ad spend

How to Choose

Choose ChottuLink if:

  • You used Firebase primarily for deep linking and deferred deep links
  • You don’t run significant paid ad campaigns that need attribution
  • You want a fast migration (most teams complete it in under a week)
  • You want predictable, flat pricing that doesn’t explode with MAU growth
  • You want unlimited links even on the free plan

Choose Branch if:

  • You’re a large enterprise and need cross-platform attribution
  • Budget is not a constraintYou need Journeys (smart web-to-app banners)

Choose AppsFlyer or Adjust if:

  • Your primary need is paid ad attribution and fraud prevention
  • Deep linking is a secondary feature for you
  • You’re spending $10K+/month on paid ads and need ROI tracking

Choose Singular if:

  • You need cost aggregation across multiple ad networks
  • You want to understand blended ROI across all marketing channels

For most teams migrating from Firebase Dynamic Links, the need is clear: you had deep linking, and you need deep linking. You didn’t have attribution, and you probably don’t need it now. A dedicated deep linking platform like ChottuLink is the closest replacement in terms of features, simplicity, and cost.

Here’s the general migration process (applicable to any alternative, but shown with ChottuLink):

  • List all active links and their destinations
  • Identify which features you use (deferred deep linking, social previews, analytics)
  • Note your custom domain configuration (if any)

Step 2: Set up your new platform

  • Create an account on ChottuLink (or your chosen alternative)
  • Add your app details (iOS Bundle ID, Android package name)
  • Configure your custom domain (e.g., link.yourapp.com)

Step 3: Integrate the SDK

  • Replace the Firebase Dynamic Links SDK with the new platform’s SDK
  • Update your deep link handling code to use the new SDK’s callbacks
  • ChottuLink provides SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, Unity, and Capacitor
  • Create new deep links in the new platform
  • Use the REST API for bulk link creation if you have many links
  • Update your app’s share functionality to generate links through the new platform

Step 5: Test everything

  • Test standard deep links (app installed)
  • Test deferred deep links (app not installed → install → open)
  • Test social previews on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, LinkedIn
  • Test across iOS, Android, and different browsers

→ Validate your setup with the ChottuLink Deep Link Tester — free, no signup required.

  • Update links in your marketing materials, emails, and social profiles
  • Update any hard-coded links in your backend or CMS
  • Set up redirects from old Firebase links if needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Existing Firebase Dynamic Links continue to redirect users, but you can no longer create new links. Google has stopped maintaining the service, so reliability may degrade over time. Migration is strongly recommended.

Can I keep my existing Firebase domain?

Firebase-assigned domains (like yourapp.page.link) will continue to work for existing links, but you can’t create new links on them. For your new platform, you should set up a custom branded domain that you fully control.

How long does migration take?

With a dedicated deep linking platform like ChottuLink, most teams complete migration in under a week. The SDK integration typically takes 1-2 hours, and link recreation depends on how many links you have. ChottuLink offers dedicated migration assistance to help with the transition.

Will my existing users be affected by the migration?

Not if you handle the migration correctly. Existing Firebase Dynamic Links continue to work. New links will use your new platform. Users won’t notice the transition as long as:

  1. The new links work correctly (test thoroughly)
  2. Your app’s SDK is updated to handle the new deep link callbacks
  3. You maintain web fallback pages for new links

Yes. ChottuLink’s free tier includes up to 25,000 Monthly Active Users, unlimited links, and unlimited QR codes — with no time limit. You only need a paid plan when you exceed 25K MAU.

Yes. Each deep linking platform uses its own domain for AASA and assetlinks.json files. When you switch platforms, you’ll need to update your app’s configuration to use the new domain. ChottuLink’s documentation walks you through this step by step.

Firebase Dynamic Links served the community well, but it’s time to move on. The good news: modern alternatives are better, faster, and in many cases cheaper. Pick the one that matches your actual needs — not the one with the biggest feature list you’ll never use.

→ Get started free with ChottuLink →