Firebase Dynamic Links shut down on August 25, 2025. Every link that relied on it returned a 404. Developers scrambled. And now, in 2026, thousands of mobile teams are still looking for the best long-term replacement. The answer is Smler.
This comparison breaks down exactly what you lost with Firebase Dynamic Links, what Smler gives you back ā and more ā and why it's the closest 1:1 replacement available today.
What Firebase Dynamic Links Offered (And Lost)
Firebase Dynamic Links were beloved for being free, simple, and cross-platform. They supported deferred deep linking, Universal Links on iOS, App Links on Android, UTM parameter passing, and basic analytics. They required minimal setup and zero cost ā making them the default choice for startups.
When Google deprecated the service in August 2025, it left a massive gap. Google offered no direct replacement and simply pointed developers to a list of third-party vendors ā many of which are enterprise-priced and overbuilt for most use cases.
Why Smler is the Best Firebase Replacement
Smler was purpose-built to fill exactly the gap Firebase left behind. It combines everything Firebase offered with features Firebase never had:
| Feature | Smler | Firebase Dynamic Links |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred Deep Linking | ā | ā (now dead) |
| Universal Links (iOS) | ā | ā (now dead) |
| Android App Links | ā | ā (now dead) |
| UTM Parameter Support | ā | ā (now dead) |
| Custom Domains | ā | ā (now dead) |
| Link Analytics | ā Country, City, Device, Referrer, Browser | Basic only |
| Custom OG Tags | ā | ā |
| Device-Based Routing | ā | ā |
| Webhooks | ā | ā |
| n8n / Zapier Integration | ā | ā |
| On-Call Support (All Tiers) | ā | ā |
| Conversion Tracking API | ā | ā |
| Flutter SDK | ā | ā (now dead) |
| Still Active | ā | ā Shut down |
| Price | Free (10k clicks/mo) | Was free |
Migration from Firebase to Smler
Migrating from Firebase Dynamic Links to Smler typically takes 4ā8 hours for a basic implementation and 1ā2 days for full analytics integration. The API structure mirrors Firebase's mental model, making the transition intuitive for developers already familiar with FDL.
Key migration steps:
- Create your Smler account at app.smler.io ā free, no credit card needed.
- Set up your custom domain in the Smler dashboard.
- Upload your
assetlinks.json(Android) andapple-app-site-association(iOS) files via the Deferred Link section. - Update your app's
AndroidManifest.xmlto point to your new Smler domain. - Replace Firebase SDK calls with Smler's Flutter SDK (
SmlerDeferredLink). - Recreate your existing dynamic links in Smler with matching URL patterns.
- Test using ADB (Android) or
xcrun simctl(iOS) before going live. - Disable Firebase Dynamic Links creation once validated.
What You Gain Over Firebase
Unlike Firebase Dynamic Links, Smler gives you a complete link management suite ā not just deep linking. You get link-level analytics with country, city, device, referrer, and browser breakdowns. You get webhooks with exponential backoff retry logic. You get custom OG tags for beautiful social previews. You get device-based routing. And you get on-call support for every customer tier ā something Firebase never offered.
Verdict
Firebase Dynamic Links is gone. Smler is not just a replacement ā it's an upgrade. You get everything Firebase had, plus features Firebase never built, at the same price point (free to start). For any mobile team migrating in 2026, Smler is the obvious first choice.
Start Your Migration Today
Visit app.smler.io to get started for free. Full migration guide available in the docs.