Key takeaways
- Firebase Dynamic Links shut down on August 25, 2025, so Firebase no longer offers a deep linking product to compare against AppsFlyer.
- If you are searching "AppsFlyer vs Firebase" for deep linking today, the real decision is which replacement to adopt, not which of the two to keep.
- AppsFlyer is a full measurement platform, which is more than many former Firebase Dynamic Links users need, so a lighter successor is often the better first move.
First, the change that reframes this comparison
Firebase Dynamic Links is gone. Google <a href="https://firebase.google.com/support/dynamic-links-faq">shut the service down on August 25, 2025</a>, after announcing deprecation in 2023 and turning the console read-only in May 2024. Existing links, on both custom domains and page.link subdomains, now return 404 errors, and no new links can be created.
That single fact reframes the "AppsFlyer vs Firebase" question. Firebase Analytics still exists for product and event analytics, but Firebase no longer provides deep linking or deferred deep linking. So the comparison is not really AppsFlyer against a live Firebase product. It is AppsFlyer against the gap that Firebase Dynamic Links left behind.
What each option actually offers now
AppsFlyer is a full mobile measurement platform. It provides deep linking through OneLink — which AppsFlyer sells both standalone and inside the platform — plus cross-channel attribution, fraud tooling, and analytics in one SDK, with attribution priced on conversions. Firebase, post-shutdown, offers analytics but not a deep linking service, so it cannot fill the routing job on its own anymore.
| Capability | AppsFlyer | Firebase (post-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Deep linking | OneLink (Universal Links, App Links) | Discontinued with Dynamic Links |
| Deferred deep linking | Yes, via OneLink | No longer offered |
| Attribution | Full cross-channel attribution | Campaign analytics via Firebase, not link attribution |
| Pricing model | Attribution on conversions; deep linking sold separately | Firebase Analytics free tier for analytics |
| Fit for FDL migration | Full MMP, or standalone Deep Linking Suite | Not a deep linking replacement |
Why AppsFlyer is often more than FDL users need
Most teams that relied on Firebase Dynamic Links used it for one thing: routing users into the right in-app screen, including new users who install first. Firebase Dynamic Links was free and lightweight. AppsFlyer solves the routing, and it offers OneLink as a standalone Deep Linking Suite with a free tier, but its center of gravity is the full attribution platform, with a conversion-based bill and premium add-ons.
For a team that just wants a like-for-like deep linking replacement, the full MMP is a large step up in cost and integration surface, and even AppsFlyer's standalone Deep Linking Suite still ties you to the AppsFlyer SDK and dashboard. That does not make AppsFlyer wrong, it makes it a fit for teams that also want enterprise attribution. Teams that only lost their deep links usually want a closer match to what Firebase Dynamic Links was.
Ulinkly as an FDL successor
Ulinkly is built as a direct Firebase Dynamic Links alternative and successor. It offers native SDKs for iOS, Android, Flutter, and React Native, branded domains, and deferred deep linking, plus a step-by-step migration guide for teams moving off Firebase Dynamic Links.
Ulinkly is free for up to 10,000 monthly active users per project with unlimited link creation; branded domains and deferred deep linking with attribution are on paid plans, from 9 dollars per month. It also ships a native MCP server, so an AI coding agent like Claude Code or Cursor can create a project, set iOS and Android identifiers, add and verify a domain, and create links end to end. If your team also needs enterprise attribution and fraud tooling, AppsFlyer is a reasonable destination, but for restoring what Firebase Dynamic Links did, a focused deep linking platform is the closer match.
Frequently asked questions
Is Firebase Dynamic Links still available in 2026?
No. Firebase Dynamic Links shut down on August 25, 2025. Existing links return 404 errors and new links cannot be created. Firebase Analytics still exists for event and product analytics, but Firebase no longer offers a deep linking or deferred deep linking product.
Can I use AppsFlyer to replace Firebase Dynamic Links?
Yes, AppsFlyer's OneLink can replace the routing that Firebase Dynamic Links provided, and AppsFlyer offers it as a standalone Deep Linking Suite with a free tier. The trade-off is that OneLink still lives in the AppsFlyer SDK and dashboard, and its natural home is the full attribution platform priced on conversions, which is more than a like-for-like deep linking replacement.
What is the closest replacement for Firebase Dynamic Links?
The closest match is a dedicated deep linking platform that offers a drop-in SDK, branded domains, and deferred deep linking without a full MMP contract. Ulinkly is built as a direct Firebase Dynamic Links successor with native SDKs and a migration path.
Does Firebase still do deep linking through another product?
No. After the Dynamic Links shutdown, Google recommends third-party deep linking providers. Firebase Analytics can measure events and campaigns, but it does not route users into specific in-app screens or handle deferred deep linking.
Migrating off Firebase Dynamic Links?
Ulinkly is built as the Firebase Dynamic Links successor, with a step-by-step migration guide. Start free for up to 10,000 monthly active users; branded domains and deferred deep linking with attribution are on paid plans from 9 dollars per month, at ulink.ly/pricing.
Sources
- Firebase Dynamic Links deprecation FAQ: https://firebase.google.com/support/dynamic-links-faq
- AppsFlyer OneLink deferred deep linking: https://www.appsflyer.com/glossary/deferred-deep-linking/
- AppsFlyer pricing overview: https://www.appsflyer.com/pricing/