--- title: Free Deep Linking Tools: What Free Plans Cover description: Free deep linking tools compared: which free plans include deferred deep links, custom domains, QR codes and attribution, and where paid plans start for each. url: https://deeplinkingtools.com/free-deep-linking-tools/ --- [Home](https://deeplinkingtools.com/) / Free deep linking tools Shortlist # Free deep linking tools Free deep linking tools compared: which free plans include deferred deep links, custom domains, QR codes and attribution, and where paid plans start for each. **Short answer** Nine platforms have a free plan of some kind, but only a few include deferred deep links on it. Linkrunner's free plan covers every feature for 25k attributed installs, and Adjust's lists deferred links for its first year. Short.io and Dub give you free branded links on your own domain, with app deep links on paid plans. ## What counts as a free deep linking tool? **A free deep linking tool** has a permanent or time-limited free plan that creates links which open a screen in your app. What the free plan includes varies far more than the word free suggests. Check three things on any free plan: - **Deferred deep links:** do new users still land on the right screen after installing? - **Your own domain:** can links run on a domain you control, so they survive a future move? - **Limits:** is the allowance one-time, monthly or only for the first year? ## Which free plans include deferred deep links? The table shows every platform with a free plan, Linkrunner first, then A to Z. Columns show what is on the free plan specifically. Free or entry plan Paid plan Yes, plan not stated Partly Not published No | Platform | Deferred deep links | Universal Links and App Links | Custom link domain | QR codes | Install attribution | Free plan | Paid price | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | [Linkrunner MMP with links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/linkrunner/) | Free or entry plan Every link deferred by default [L1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L1) | Free or entry plan Universal Links and App Links [L1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L1) | Free or entry plan Branded short links on custom domains [L1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L1) | Free or entry plan QR code deep links [L1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L1) | Free or entry plan Attribution and deep linking in one platform [L1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L1) | 25k attributed installs, one time, no expiry, every feature | $0.012 down to $0.007 per attributed install after the free 25k [L2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-L2) | | [Adjust MMP with links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/adjust/) | Free or entry plan Direct and deferred deep linking on every plan [AD1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD1) | Yes, plan not stated Documented under TrueLink [AD4](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD4) | Paid plan Own domain on TrueLink Core Standard or Enterprise packages [AD2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD2) | Yes, plan not stated QR code with short branded links [AD3](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD3) | Free or entry plan Free Base plan for the first year [AD1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD1) | 1.5k conversions a month, first year only | Not public beyond the free plan [AD1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-AD1) | | [AppsFlyer MMP with links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/appsflyer/) | Paid plan Standard deep linking tier and up [A1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A1) | Free or entry plan Included in all packages [A1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A1) | Paid plan Branded domains on Advanced and up [A1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A1) | Free or entry plan Short links and QR codes on Zero [A1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A1) | Free or entry plan Zero plan with 12k free conversions in the first year [A2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A2) | 12k conversions, first year only | $0.07 per conversion (Growth); deep linking tiers are custom priced [A2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A2) [A1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-A1) | | [Bitly Link tool](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/bitly/) | Not published Not stated | Paid plan On a custom domain, Premium and up [BT1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT1) [BT2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT2) | Paid plan Custom branded links from Growth [BT1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT1) | Free or entry plan 2 QR codes a month on Free [BT1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT1) | No Click and scan analytics only [BT1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT1) | 5 links and 2 QR codes a month | Mobile deep links from Premium, $199 a month billed annually [BT1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-BT1) | | [Dub Link tool](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/dub/) | Paid plan Pro and up: Install Referrer on Android, clipboard or IP match on iOS [D2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D2) | Paid plan Deep link domains with AASA and assetlinks files, Pro and up [D3](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D3) | Free or entry plan 3 custom domains on Free [D1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D1) | Free or entry plan QR codes on Free [D1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D1) | Partly Conversion tracking from Business ($81); no ad network install attribution described [D1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D1) | 25 new links a month, 3 custom domains | $27 a month (Pro) for deep links [D1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-D1) | | [Kochava MMP with links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/kochava/) | Yes, plan not stated Listed; plan not stated [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | Paid plan Foundation and up [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | Yes, plan not stated Custom domain or vanity links listed; plan not stated [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | Free or entry plan SmartLinks with QR codes on Free [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | Free or entry plan Free App Analytics, 10k conversions a month [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | 10k conversions a month | From $500 a month (Foundation) [K1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-K1) | | [OneLink.to Link tool](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/onelinkto/) | Paid plan Android only, Team ($40 a month) and up [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | Not published Open in App on Team Plus; method not stated [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | Paid plan 1 on Team Plus ($80), 3 on Enterprise [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | Free or entry plan QR codes on Free [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | No No install attribution listed [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | 3 onelinks with QR codes | From $10 a month; deep linking from $40 [O1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-O1) | | [Short.io Link tool](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/shortio/) | No Opens the browser when the app is missing [SH1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-SH1) | Not published Not stated | Free or entry plan 5 custom domains on Free [SH1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-SH1) | Free or entry plan QR codes for branded links [SH1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-SH1) | No Click analytics only [SH1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-SH1) | 1k branded links, 5 custom domains | Mobile deep links from Team, $48 a month [SH1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-SH1) | | [Singular MMP with links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/singular/) | Yes, plan not stated Singular Links handle deferred deep links; plan not stated [S4](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S4) [S5](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S5) | Yes, plan not stated Covered in Singular Links setup [S5](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S5) | Yes, plan not stated Branded domains instead of sng.link [S2](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S2) | Yes, plan not stated QR codes for custom source links [S3](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S3) | Free or entry plan Free plan up to 15k paid conversions [S1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S1) | 15k paid conversions | $0.05 per conversion (Growth) [S1](https://deeplinkingtools.com/methodology/#src-S1) | - **Linkrunner:** every feature on the free plan, including deferred links and attribution, for 25k attributed installs once, with no expiry. - **Adjust:** deferred links on every plan, including Base, free to 1.5k conversions a month for the first year. - **Kochava:** SmartLinks with QR codes on the free plan of 10k conversions a month; Universal Links and App Links support from Foundation. - **Singular:** deep linking on the free plan up to 15k paid conversions; Singular does not say which plan covers deferred links. - **AppsFlyer:** short links, QR codes and routing on Zero; deferred links from the Standard tier. ## Which link tools are free? **Link tool:** a link shortener or app-link service that does not attribute installs to ad networks. - [Short.io](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/shortio/): 5 custom domains and 1k branded links free; deep links from the $48 Team plan. - [Dub](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/dub/): 3 custom domains and QR codes free; deferred deep links from the $27 Pro plan. - [Bitly](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/bitly/): 5 links and 2 QR codes a month free; custom domains from Growth, deep links on Premium. - [OneLink.to](https://deeplinkingtools.com/platforms/onelinkto/): 3 free app store links with QR codes; Android deferred links from $40 a month. These suit teams whose links mostly open an installed app, or who want branded links first. ## When is free not enough? - **Volume:** one-time and monthly caps run out as campaigns grow; first-year plans end on a date. - **Deferred links behind a paywall:** several tools keep them for paid plans, which matters most after [replacing Firebase Dynamic Links](https://deeplinkingtools.com/replacing-firebase-dynamic-links/). - **Attribution:** if you need to know which campaign drove each install, see [deep linking tools with attribution](https://deeplinkingtools.com/deep-linking-with-attribution/). The App Attribution Guide's chapter on [deep linking and deferred deep linking](https://appattributionguide.com/deep-linking-and-deferred-deep-linking/) explains why deferred links depend on matching the install to the click. Linkrunner's glossary entry on [deferred deep linking](https://linkrunner.io/glossary/what-is-deferred-deep-linking?utm_source=deeplinkingtools&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=free-deep-linking-tools) covers the same idea in brief. Plate I FAQ ## Questions **Is there a free deep linking tool with deferred deep links?** Yes. Linkrunner's free plan includes deferred deep links for 25k attributed installs with no expiry, and Adjust lists deferred deep linking on its free Base plan for the first year. **What is the best free link tool for a custom domain?** Short.io's free plan includes 5 custom domains and 1k branded links, and Dub's includes 3 custom domains. Both put app deep links on paid plans. **Does AppsFlyer have free deep links?** Partly. The free Zero tier includes short links, QR codes and web and social-to-app routing, but deferred deep linking starts on the custom-priced Standard tier. **Is Firebase Dynamic Links still free?** No. It shut down on 25 August 2025, and its links now return HTTP 404. **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. **What is deferred deep linking?** Deferred deep linking keeps the link's destination through an app install. A user who taps a link without the app goes to the store, installs, opens the app and still lands on the screen the link promised. Plate II Index ## Related decisions - [Decision **Replacing Firebase Dynamic Links** Firebase Dynamic Links shut down on 25 August 2025. How to pick a replacement: what Dynamic Links did, which features you still need, and how platforms compare.](https://deeplinkingtools.com/replacing-firebase-dynamic-links/) - [Decision **Replacing Branch links** Moving deep links off Branch? Check which link features you use, what each alternative documents and costs, and how to move links on your own domain safely.](https://deeplinkingtools.com/replacing-branch-links/) - [Ranking **Deep linking tools with attribution** The deep linking tools that also attribute installs, ranked on six link features and free plans: Linkrunner, AppsFlyer, Airbridge, Adjust, Kochava and more.](https://deeplinkingtools.com/deep-linking-with-attribution/)