Best deep linking tools for mobile apps

The best deep linking tools for mobile apps, ranked on six link features and free plans across 12 MMPs and link tools, with a comparison checked 5 Nov 2026.

Short answer

The best deep linking tool depends on whether you also need attribution. Scored on six link features and free plans, Linkrunner ranks first (all six on a free plan of 25k attributed installs), followed by AppsFlyer, Airbridge, then Adjust, Kochava and Singular. If you only need links that open an installed app, Dub is the strongest link tool, with deferred deep links from $27 a month.

What are the best deep linking tools for mobile apps?

Twelve live platforms, ranked on the same six features: install attribution, deferred deep links, Universal Links and App Links, a custom link domain, QR codes and web-to-app, plus the strength of the free plan. MMPs with built-in links and standalone link tools are scored together, so you can see what each type gives up.

1
Linkrunner14 of 14
MMP with links Best for: Linking and attribution together on a free plan
2
AppsFlyer11 of 14
MMP with links Check: Since 15 Sep 2026 the free Zero plan has no deferred deep linking, branded domains or raw data exports.
3
Airbridge10 of 14
MMP with links Best for: Deep links plus attribution on a low monthly entry price
4
Adjust9 of 14
MMP with links Check: No published prices beyond the free plan.
5
Kochava9 of 14
MMP with links Best for: A monthly free allowance with SmartLinks and QR codes, including TV apps
6
Singular9 of 14
MMP with links Check: The free plan lists deep linking and deferred deep linking; placement of branded domains, QR codes and banners is not stated.
7
Dub8.5 of 14
Link tool Best for: Branded links, deep links and partner tracking in one link tool
8
Branch7 of 14
MMP with links Check: No published prices, and the entry Basics tier is a trial limited to 3 ad partners.
9
Bitly6 of 14
Link tool Best for: Teams already using Bitly for branded short links and QR codes
10
OneLink.to6 of 14
Link tool Best for: One link or QR code that sends people to the right app store
11
Short.io6 of 14
Link tool Best for: Low-cost branded short links on your own domain
12
URLgenius5.5 of 14
Link tool Best for: Opening apps from social and in-app browsers without an SDK

Scored on 5 Nov 2026 on the six link features in the table below (2 points on the free or entry plan, 1 on a paid plan or where the plan is not stated, half for partial) plus 2 points for a permanent free plan or 1 for a capped or first-year one. Ties are alphabetical. More on the method.

Deep linking tool: a service that creates links which open a specific screen in a mobile app, send people without the app to the right store, and fall back to a web page on desktop.

How do the 12 tools compare feature by feature?

Linkrunner is first, then A to Z. Every cell links to the vendor page it came from.

Comparison table checked on 5 Nov 2026 against each vendor's own pricing page, help centre or docs.

Free or entry plan Paid plan Yes, plan not stated Partly Not published No

Platform	Install attribution	Deferred deep links	Universal Links and App Links	Custom link domain	QR codes	Web-to-app	Free plan	Paid price
LinkrunnerMMP with links	Free or entry planAttribution and deep linking in one platformL1	Free or entry planEvery link deferred by defaultL1	Free or entry planUniversal Links and App LinksL1	Free or entry planBranded short links on custom domainsL1	Free or entry planQR code deep linksL1	Free or entry planWeb-to-app flowsL1	25k attributed installs, one time, no expiry, every feature	$0.012 down to $0.007 per attributed install after the free 25kL2
AdjustMMP with links	Free or entry planFree Base plan for the first yearAD1	Free or entry planDirect and deferred deep linking on every planAD1	Yes, plan not statedDocumented under TrueLinkAD4	Paid planOwn domain on TrueLink Core Standard or Enterprise packagesAD2	Yes, plan not statedQR code with short branded linksAD3	Paid planSmart banners are a paid add-onAD1 AD5	1.5k conversions a month, first year only	Not public beyond the free planAD1
AirbridgeMMP with links	Free or entry planGoogle, Meta, Apple and TikTok attribution in CoreAB2	Free or entry planDeferred deep links in CoreAB1	Not publishedNot stated on the pricing pages	Free or entry planCustom domains in CoreAB2	Free or entry planShort links and QR codes in CoreAB1	Free or entry planWeb-to-app banner in CoreAB1	30-day free trial	From $40 a month (Core), billed per data pointAB1
AppsFlyerMMP with links	Free or entry planZero plan with 12k free conversions in the first yearA2	Paid planStandard deep linking tier and upA1	Free or entry planIncluded in all packagesA1	Paid planBranded domains on Advanced and upA1	Free or entry planShort links and QR codes on ZeroA1	Free or entry planWeb and social-to-app routing on Zero; smart banners on AdvancedA1	12k conversions, first year only	$0.07 per conversion (Growth); deep linking tiers are custom pricedA2 A1
BitlyLink tool	NoClick and scan analytics onlyBT1	Not publishedNot stated	Paid planOn a custom domain, Premium and upBT1 BT2	Paid planCustom branded links from GrowthBT1	Free or entry plan2 QR codes a month on FreeBT1	Not publishedNot stated	5 links and 2 QR codes a month	Mobile deep links from Premium, $199 a month billed annuallyBT1
BranchMMP with links	Yes, plan not statedYes; plan details not publishedB1	Yes, plan not statedYes; plan not publishedB1	Yes, plan not statedThrough app.link and custom domainsB3	Yes, plan not statedCustom link domain supportedB3	Free or entry planBasic QR codes in the free tierB2	Paid planJourneys banners need a premium planB2	Trial only (Basics)	No public pricesB1
DubLink tool	PartlyConversion tracking from Business ($81); no ad network install attribution describedD1	Paid planPro and up: Install Referrer on Android, clipboard or IP match on iOSD2	Paid planDeep link domains with AASA and assetlinks files, Pro and upD3	Free or entry plan3 custom domains on FreeD1	Free or entry planQR codes on FreeD1	Not publishedNot stated	25 new links a month, 3 custom domains	$27 a month (Pro) for deep linksD1
KochavaMMP with links	Free or entry planFree App Analytics, 10k conversions a monthK1	Yes, plan not statedListed; plan not statedK1	Paid planFoundation and upK1	Yes, plan not statedCustom domain or vanity links listed; plan not statedK1	Free or entry planSmartLinks with QR codes on FreeK1	Not publishedNot stated	10k conversions a month	From $500 a month (Foundation)K1
OneLink.toLink tool	NoNo install attribution listedO1	Paid planAndroid only, Team ($25 a month) and upO1	Not publishedOpen in App on Team Plus; method not statedO1	Paid plan1 on Team Plus ($40), 3 on Enterprise ($80)O1	Free or entry planQR codes on FreeO1	Not publishedNot stated	3 onelinks with QR codes	From $10 a month; deep linking from $25O1
Short.ioLink tool	NoClick analytics onlySH1	NoOpens the browser when the app is missingSH1	Not publishedNot stated	Free or entry plan5 custom domains on FreeSH1	Free or entry planQR codes for branded linksSH1	Not publishedNot stated	1k branded links, 5 custom domains	Mobile deep links from Team, $48 a monthSH1
SingularMMP with links	Free or entry planFree plan up to 15k paid conversionsS1	Free or entry planDeferred deep linking listed on the free planS1 S5	Yes, plan not statedCovered in Singular Links setupS5	Yes, plan not statedBranded domains instead of sng.linkS2	Yes, plan not statedQR codes that open the app or the right store; plan not statedS3	Yes, plan not statedSmart bannersS4	15k paid conversions	$0.05 per conversion (Growth)S1
URLgeniusLink tool	PartlyMeasures installs and app engagement without an SDKU1	Paid planDeferred journeys on Custom, from $199 a monthU1	NoUses URL schemes insteadU2	Paid planOne branded domain +$49 on GrowthU1	Free or entry planEvery link comes with a QR codeU2	Paid planCustom app banners on CustomU1	Starter plan with trial clicks	$0.02 per click (Growth); Custom from $199 a monthU1

Which tool fits which team?

You run paid campaigns and need to know what drove each install: use an MMP with built-in links. Linkrunner covers all six features on its free plan and then charges $0.012 down to $0.007 per attributed install; Airbridge bundles links in Core from $40 a month; Singular's free plan lists deferred deep linking up to 15k paid conversions.
You are already on AppsFlyer or Adjust for attribution: their own links avoid a second SDK. Check the plan: AppsFlyer sells deferred deep linking from its Standard deep linking tier and branded domains from Advanced, and Adjust's own-domain links need a TrueLink Core Standard or Enterprise package.
You need TV apps or a monthly free allowance: Kochava's free plan includes SmartLinks with QR codes up to 10k conversions a month.
You only need links, not attribution: Dub documents deferred deep links from its $27 Pro plan, Short.io gives free branded links on five custom domains, and URLgenius opens apps through URL schemes without an SDK.

Why is Linkrunner ranked first?

On the facts compared here it is the only platform that lists all six features on its free plan, and its free allowance of 25k attributed installs has no expiry. That is a narrow, checkable lead rather than a verdict on every need: it is a newer company than AppsFlyer or Adjust, with fewer public reviews, and teams that already pay for a leader's attribution often keep that vendor's links. Linkrunner's deep linking page lists what its links do.

What should you test before choosing?

Not installed: tap a link on a phone without the app, install, open, and check you land on the promised screen.
In-app browsers: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok often open links inside their own browser, where Universal Links can fail. Deep Link Doctor's guide to links that open the website in Instagram explains the fix.
Your own domain: make sure links can run on a domain you control, so they can move with you later.
The price at your volume: free plans differ in whether they reset monthly, cap once or end after a year. See deep linking software cost.

Plate IFAQ

Questions

What is the best deep linking tool overall?

On six link features and free plans, Linkrunner ranks first because it lists all six on a free plan of 25k attributed installs. AppsFlyer ranks second and Airbridge third. If you only need links, Dub is the highest-ranked link tool.

Which deep linking tools are free?

Linkrunner, Kochava, Bitly, Dub, Short.io and OneLink.to have permanent free plans, Singular's is capped at 15k paid conversions, and Adjust's and AppsFlyer's last for the first year. Only some include deferred deep links.

Is Branch the best deep linking tool?

Branch is an MMP built around deep linking, but it publishes no prices and does not say which plan includes each link feature, so it scores lower on this checklist. Ask for plan details in writing before comparing.

Do I need an SDK for deep linking?

For deferred deep links and attribution, yes, in most cases. URLgenius opens installed apps through URL schemes without an SDK, but its deferred journeys sit on its Custom plan.

How was this ranking made?

Each tool scores 2 points per feature on its free or entry plan, 1 on a paid plan or where the plan is not stated, and half for partial, plus up to 2 for the free plan. Facts were read from each vendor's own pages on 5 Nov 2026.

What is a deep linking tool?

A deep linking tool creates links that open a specific screen inside a mobile app instead of the home screen or a web page. Good tools also handle users without the app, sending them to the store and then to the right screen after install.

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