Developers

Firebase Dynamic Links alternatives in 2026: the best replacements

Firebase Dynamic Links shut down in August 2025. Here are the best replacements in 2026 — and how to pick the right one for what you actually used FDL for.

Google permanently shut down Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL) on August 25, 2025, and every existing FDL URL now fails to route. If you're searching for an alternative in 2026, the first thing to know is that "FDL" meant two very different things to different teams: most used it simply to send users to the right app store, while some relied on its deferred deep linking to drop new users onto a specific in-app screen after install. The best replacement depends entirely on which of those you need — picking a heavy attribution SDK when you only needed store routing is the most common (and most expensive) mistake. This guide ranks the real alternatives by use case so you can choose in minutes.

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The problem

Firebase Dynamic Links was shut down on August 25, 2025 — all FDL URLs now 404 instead of routing.
Most "FDL alternatives" lists conflate simple store routing with full deep-linking/attribution, so teams over-buy.
Re-integrating a heavy SDK to replace links that only sent users to the right store is wasted effort.
Shared links, ads, QR codes, and emails built on FDL are broken until you swap in a replacement.

With onestore.link

If you used FDL just to route to the right store (most teams): onestore.link is a drop-in, no-SDK replacement — create a link with your store URLs and swap it in.
If you need deferred deep linking + marketing attribution: Branch, AppsFlyer OneLink, Adjust, or Kochava cover post-install screen routing and campaign analytics (each requires an SDK).
If you mainly want branded short links / link management: Dub or Rebrandly — but confirm they do device-based store routing for your case.
Rule of thumb: pick the lightest tool that covers what you actually used FDL for. Store routing rarely needs an SDK.

How to do it

No SDK, no rebuild. Just a URL.

1
Identify what you used FDL for
Be honest about the real use: pure store routing (send iOS to the App Store, Android to Google Play), deferred deep linking (route to a specific screen after install), or campaign attribution. Most FDL usage was just the first.
2
Shortlist the matching tool
Store routing only → onestore.link (no SDK, free to start). Deep linking + attribution → Branch / AppsFlyer OneLink / Adjust / Kochava. Branded short links → Dub / Rebrandly. Don't pay for attribution you won't use.
3
Migrate your URLs
Recreate each FDL link with the same store URLs, then replace the old FDL URLs everywhere they appear. For the store-routing case there's no app update — it's a pure URL swap. See the dedicated migration guide for the full checklist.

Frequently asked questions

What replaced Firebase Dynamic Links?

There's no single official successor — Google recommended third-party tools. For store routing, smart-link tools like onestore.link replace FDL with no SDK; for deferred deep linking and attribution, Branch, AppsFlyer OneLink, Adjust, and Kochava are the common replacements.

What's the best free Firebase Dynamic Links alternative?

For the store-routing use case that covered most FDL usage, onestore.link is the best free option: you create a universal link that sends each visitor to the correct store, with no SDK and no account needed to start. Heavier attribution SDKs are generally paid above a free tier.

Do I need an SDK to replace Firebase Dynamic Links?

Only if you used FDL for deferred deep linking (routing to an in-app screen after install). If you used it to send users to the right app store — what most teams did — a smart link replaces it as a pure URL redirect, with no SDK and no app update.

Branch vs onestore.link — which should I pick?

Branch is a full deep-linking and attribution platform with an SDK; choose it if you need post-install screen routing and campaign analytics. onestore.link is purpose-built for device-based store routing with no SDK; choose it if FDL was just sending users to the correct store.