Why Migrate from Firebase?
Firebase Dynamic Links served the industry well, but Google has deprecated the service. Teams need to migrate before the shutdown deadline, and many are using this as an opportunity to upgrade their deep linking infrastructure.
What you'll learn
- Firebase Dynamic Links deprecation timeline
- Key differences between Firebase and Ulinkly
- Benefits of migrating to Ulinkly
The shutdown
Google deprecated Firebase Dynamic Links in August 2023 and shut down the service in August 2025:
- August 2023 — Deprecation announced
- August 2024 — No new projects could enable Dynamic Links
- August 2025 — Service fully discontinued
Firebase Dynamic Links no longer works. Any remaining Firebase links in emails, ads, or printed materials are now broken. If you haven't migrated yet, act quickly to restore functionality.
Why Google deprecated Dynamic Links
Firebase Dynamic Links was a free service with limited development investment. Google cited:
- Lack of feature parity with dedicated link management platforms
- Low usage relative to maintenance cost
- Focus shifting to other Firebase services
This left many teams scrambling for alternatives.
What Ulinkly offers
Ulinkly is built specifically as a Firebase Dynamic Links replacement, with everything FDL had plus more:
All FDL features, preserved
| Firebase Feature | Ulinkly Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Deep linking | ✓ Native support |
| Deferred deep links | ✓ Enhanced attribution |
| Platform detection | ✓ Automatic routing |
| Custom domains | ✓ Full DNS control |
| Analytics | ✓ More detailed |
| Link creation API | ✓ REST + SDKs |
Plus improvements
Better analytics Firebase offered basic click counts. Ulinkly provides detailed attribution: campaigns, sources, devices, and installation tracking for deferred deep links.
Custom domains supported Firebase charged extra for custom domains. Ulinkly supports custom branded domains with limits based on your plan.
Modern SDK Built for current iOS/Android versions with Swift/Kotlin-first APIs and cross-platform support.
Active development Ulinkly is actively maintained with regular updates, unlike FDL's minimal maintenance mode.
Migration isn't just about avoiding the shutdown — it's an opportunity to upgrade to a more capable deep linking platform with better features and support.
What stays the same
To minimize migration effort, Ulinkly maintains compatibility where possible:
- Same link structure patterns
- Similar SDK initialization
- Familiar parameter names
- Compatible deep link handling
What improves
Dashboard experience
Ulinkly's dashboard is purpose-built for link management, not a sub-feature of a larger platform.
Support and documentation
Dedicated support team focused on deep linking, not a vast product portfolio.
Pricing transparency
Clear pricing based on usage, not hidden in a larger Firebase bill.
No vendor lock-in
Ulinkly is focused solely on deep linking, so you're not tied to a specific cloud provider.
Migration complexity
For most teams, migration involves:
- SDK swap — Replace Firebase SDK with Ulinkly SDK (~1-2 hours)
- Domain setup — Configure your domain with Ulinkly (~30 minutes)
- Link migration — Import or recreate your links (varies)
- Testing — Verify links work correctly (~2-4 hours)
The hardest part of migration is often finding all the places Firebase links are used: marketing emails, ad platforms, QR codes, printed materials. Start inventorying early.
Quick recap
- Firebase Dynamic Links shut down in August 2025
- Ulinkly provides all FDL features plus improvements
- Migration complexity is manageable for most teams
- If you haven't migrated, act now to restore broken links