Branch.io Alternatives for Indie Developers in 2026

Branch.io is the industry standard for mobile deep linking. It is also $299 per month minimum, requires a sales call to get started, and prices based on monthly active users. For indie developers and small teams, that is not a realistic option.

This guide covers the real alternatives available in 2026, what each one actually does, and which makes sense depending on what you are building.

Why Indie Developers Need a Branch Alternative

Branch.io was built for enterprise mobile teams with attribution budgets. Its feature set reflects that: paid ad attribution, Meta and Google campaign integration, dedicated account managers, and pricing that scales with MAU growth.

Most indie developers do not need any of that. What they need is:

Deferred deep linking so shared links still work after an App Store install. iOS Universal Links and Android App Links configured automatically. A Flutter, React Native, or other cross-platform SDK. Flat pricing that does not spike when the app grows. No sales calls or enterprise contracts.

The question is which tool covers this at a price that makes sense for a solo developer or small team.

The Alternatives

Flinku

Flinku was built specifically after Firebase Dynamic Links shut down in August 2025. It targets the same audience Branch ignores: indie developers who need production-grade deep linking without enterprise pricing.

Feature coverage is complete: deferred deep linking on all plans including free, iOS Universal Links, Android App Links, deepview pages, analytics, and SDKs for Flutter, iOS, Android, React Native, Unity, and Capacitor. All SDKs are open source.

Pricing is flat and click-based with no MAU fees. Free plan covers 300 links and 10k clicks per month. Paid plans start at $12 per month.

Unique features not found in Branch or most alternatives: password-protected links, scheduled links (activate at a specific date and time), link health monitoring, geo routing on all plans, and smart fallback chains.

Best for: Indie developers and small teams who want a complete Firebase Dynamic Links replacement at honest pricing.

ChottuLink

ChottuLink entered the market after the Firebase shutdown targeting the same gap. It offers deferred deep linking on all plans and has SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, and Unity. No Capacitor SDK.

Pricing is MAU-based: free up to 25k MAU, $19 per month up to 100k MAU, $39 per month up to 1M MAU. This model is friendlier than Branch but still means your costs grow as your app grows. A viral moment or successful launch could push you into a higher tier unexpectedly.

Best for: Developers comfortable with MAU-based pricing who do not use Capacitor.

Smler

Smler is focused on link shortening with some deep linking capabilities added on. The significant limitation is that deferred deep linking is only available on the $9.99 per month plan and above. Links also expire automatically on all plans (15 to 60 days depending on tier), which makes it unsuitable for permanent deep links in production apps.

Best for: Short-lived campaign links where link expiry is acceptable. Not suitable for production app deep linking on lower plans.

Building Your Own

Some developers build a redirect server, serve their own AASA and assetlinks.json files, and implement fingerprinting for deferred deep linking. This gives full control but requires maintaining SSL certificates, keeping association files up to date across App Store updates, building and maintaining the fingerprinting match logic, and handling analytics yourself.

The hidden cost is ongoing maintenance. Every iOS or Android update that changes Universal Link or App Link behavior requires you to investigate and fix it. For most indie developers, the time cost exceeds the money saved.

Best for: Teams with very specific requirements that no existing tool meets, or developers who enjoy the infrastructure challenge.

Feature Comparison

What Actually Matters for Indie Developers

No MAU pricing. The worst outcome when building an app is getting punished for growth. MAU-based pricing means a successful launch or a viral moment triggers an unexpected bill. Flat pricing lets you budget reliably.

Flutter and cross-platform SDK support. Most indie developers use Flutter, React Native, or similar cross-platform tools. A platform without a first-class SDK for your framework is not a real option regardless of pricing.

Deferred deep linking on the free plan. Testing deferred deep linking requires it to actually work during development. Platforms that gate this behind paid plans make it impossible to evaluate properly before committing.

Setup that does not require a sales call. If you cannot sign up and start building within 10 minutes, that is a problem. Indie developers do not have time for enterprise sales cycles.

Pricing Reality Check

At $12 per month, Flinku costs less than most developer tools. At $299 per month, Branch costs more than many indie developers make from their apps in the same period.

The question for any indie developer is not which tool has the most features. It is which tool covers your actual needs at a price that makes sense before your app generates revenue.

For most Flutter, React Native, and cross-platform developers, the answer is a flat-pricing tool with a working free tier, open source SDKs, and no MAU surprises.

Getting Started

Flinku has a free plan with no credit card required. Setup takes under 10 minutes: create a project, add your Bundle ID and Package Name, add the associated domain entitlement in Xcode or the intent filter in your AndroidManifest, and call Flinku.match() on launch.

Start for free at app.flinku.dev

Full documentation at docs.flinku.dev.