Choose your deep linking platform with the full picture
Deep linking tools differ in three ways that matter: what the free tier actually includes, how pricing scales as your app grows, and whether you need a sales call to get started. Here is the honest side by side. Every competitor claim on this page is dated and linked to its public source.
| Feature | Smler | Branch | Linkrunner | Dub | Firebase Dynamic Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Mobile app teams that want deep linking and install attribution at a flat price | Large enterprises with dedicated growth teams | Apps running paid ad campaigns that need a mobile measurement partner | Web first link management and marketing attribution | Nobody. Shut down 25 August 2025 |
| Free tier | 25,000 attributed installs every month, recurring | Limited free tier, paid plans commonly cited from around $299 per month past 10,000 MAU | First 25,000 installs free, one time pool, not monthly | Free plan for basic links | Was free. Discontinued |
| Deferred deep linking | Included on every plan, including Free | Included on paid plans | Included on paid plans | Enterprise plans only, custom pricing | Discontinued |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly price. Plans from $19. Your install growth is not a billing event | MAU based, pricing not public | Metered, from $0.01 per attributed install after the free pool | Flat plans from around $24 per month, usage limits apply | Discontinued |
| Cost at 25,000 installs per month | $0 on the Free plan | Custom quote | Around $250 per month once the free pool is used | Not applicable, installs are not the pricing metric | Discontinued |
| Link expiry | Links never expire, on every plan | Links persist | Links persist | Links persist | All links stopped working at shutdown |
| Custom domains | From the Builder plan at $19 per month | Available | Available | Available from paid plans | Was available |
| Install attribution | Link level install attribution on every plan. Know which link, campaign and channel drove each install | Full attribution suite | Full MMP attribution including ad network integrations | Conversion and revenue attribution, web focused | Discontinued |
| SKAN 4 and AdAttributionKit | Available on Enterprise, talk to us | Supported | Supported | Not a focus | Discontinued |
| Getting started | Self serve, no credit card, live in minutes | Sales conversation for meaningful usage | Self serve start, sales contact for SmartLink and enterprise plans | Self serve | Discontinued |
Detailed comparisons
Smler vs Branch
Flat pricing against MAU based pricing, and what you actually give up.
Read the comparisonSmler vs Linkrunner
Deep linking platform against mobile measurement partner. Different tools, honest breakdown.
Read the comparisonSmler vs Firebase Dynamic Links
What Firebase shut down, what Smler replaces, and how to migrate in under a day.
Read the comparisonSmler vs Dub
Web link attribution against mobile deep linking. Which one your links actually need.
Read the comparisonWhen Smler is the right choice
You are replacing Firebase Dynamic Links
Smler gives you what Firebase Dynamic Links gave you for free, still free. Deep links, deferred deep linking and install attribution, with 25,000 attributed installs every month on the Free plan. And it does not shut down.
You want deferred deep linking without enterprise pricing
Deferred deep linking is the feature that makes a link survive the app store. A new user taps your link, installs the app, and lands exactly where you sent them. Most platforms gate this behind sales calls or expensive plans. Smler includes it on every plan.
Your growth should not raise your bill
Metered pricing means every new user costs you more. Smler plans are flat. Whether your campaign drives 500 installs or 50,000, your price stays the price you chose.
When Smler is not the right fit
If you spend heavily on paid user acquisition across multiple ad networks and need certified campaign level attribution for Meta and Google iOS campaigns, you need a certified mobile measurement partner. That is AppsFlyer, Adjust, Branch or Linkrunner territory, and they are good at it. Smler focuses on deep linking, deferred deep linking and link level install attribution, at a price that does not scale against you. Many teams run Smler for linking alongside an MMP for paid attribution.
Migrating is smaller than you think
From Firebase Dynamic Links
Recreate your links on Smler, update your domain configuration, and your deferred deep linking works again. Most teams finish in under a day. Read the migration guide.
From Branch or another platform
Smler links use standard Universal Links and Android App Links. Point your new links at Smler, keep your old links live during transition, and switch traffic at your own pace. No lock in either direction.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 25,000 free install allowance really monthly?
Yes. It resets every month on every Free account. It is not a one time trial pool.
What happens if I go over my plan allowance?
Nothing breaks and links keep working. We will contact you about the right plan. Overage beyond plan allowances is $1.50 per 1,000 attributed installs, and almost no one reaches it.
What counts as an attributed install?
An install where the user's first app open came from a Smler link. Regular clicks, redirects and QR scans do not count against the allowance.
Does Smler replace Firebase Dynamic Links?
Yes. Deep links, deferred deep linking and link analytics are all covered, with a free tier sized for real apps.
Do you support SKAdNetwork or AdAttributionKit?
Available on Enterprise plans. Contact us and tell us about your setup.
See it working in the next ten minutes
Create a deep link, install your test build, and watch the attribution land.
Competitor pricing and features verified from public pages as of July 2026 and may change. Branch pricing is not publicly listed and figures reflect commonly cited plan levels. Sources: linkrunner.io/pricing, dub.co/pricing, firebase.google.com Dynamic Links deprecation notice.