The FDL Exit Plan: A Practical Guide to Replacing Firebase Dynamic Links Without SDKs

Introduction: Google Is Shutting Down Firebase Dynamic Links. Now What?

OnFirebase Dynamic Links Migration Guide -  Your Roadmap to Success without SDKs. August 2025, Google will officially deprecate Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL), leaving thousands of apps and marketers scrambling to find a replacement for app linking. If you're one of the 81% of teams who depend on Firebase for mobile linking, you're likely asking:

This guide is your roadmap to making that transition.

Our recent survey shows that 66% of teams have not selected a replacement. Yet concern is high (7.5 out of 10), and for good reason. For many mobile-first companies, deep links are mission-critical for installs, re-engagement, and conversion tracking. The good news? SDK-free alternatives exist, and they might even work better for your team.

Chapter 1: What Firebase Dynamic Links Did Well

FDL was popular because it helped teams:

These features made it useful across marketing, growth, product, and engineering teams.

But FDL had tradeoffs:

Teachable Moment: Control Your URLs Firebase links all lived at their page.link domain. That means every deep link—and every QR code pointing to it—was dependent on Google maintaining that service. Now that it’s being deprecated, millions of links are going dark.

The lesson: Use a platform that lets you host deep links on your own domain. URLgenius does this—others don’t. If your vendor ever sunsets a service, having your own domain mapped via CNAME and SSL means you can reroute traffic without touching the links themselves. This protects brand equity, enables flexibility, and prevents disruption. Don’t let a free tool become an expensive mistake.

Chapter 2: Requirements for an FDL Replacement

Before jumping to a new vendor, it’s important to define what your team needs.

Here are the must-haves:

1. Deferred Deep Linking
Carry context across app install and open.

2. Smart Routing Across Devices and Platforms
iOS, Android, Desktop, and browser-aware fallback logic.

3. Compatibility with Social Apps and Paid Media
Should work inside embedded browsers like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook.

4. Link Branding and Domain Control
Use your own domain. Avoid generic shorteners.

5. Privacy-Friendly, SDK-Free Options
Avoid SDK overhead, app bloat, and user tracking risks.

6. QR and Email Compatibility
Must work well in omnichannel campaigns.

7. Performance Analytics
Insights on what opens, when, and where.

8. Brandable App Install Banners
Drive iOS and Android installs directly from your mobile website.

Chapter 3: The Case for Going SDK-Free

Why consider a no-SDK option?

SDK-free solutions like URLgenius allow non-technical teams to create advanced links for installs, re-engagement, QR, and paid campaigns without code. Importantly, they are built around native URL schemes, which are critical for opening apps from embedded browsers in social media environments—a key requirement for influencer and social commerce strategies.

Chapter 4: Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Firebase Dynamic Links Migration Kit


Chapter 5: Your Migration Checklist

Audit Current Firebase Use Cases

Identify Hidden Risks

Replace QR Codes with Branded Links

Test Alternatives Early

Evaluate Cost and Pricing Models

Define KPIs for Success

Chapter 6: Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid

Chapter 7: What Comes Next?

Whether you're deep in vendor review or just learning about the deprecation, this is your moment to rethink how mobile app linking works across your tech stack.
Next steps:

Accelerate Your Firebase Dynamic Links Migration

As the August 25 deadline looms, organizations need fast, privacy-first alternatives that minimize technical risk. URLgenius provides a no-SDK, enterprise-ready solution aligned with modern privacy expectations and campaign performance goals. To help accelerate a risk-free transition, URLgenius is offering the first month free for organizations that sign up by the migration deadline with a 13-month agreement or longer.

Contact us to learn more about how our privacy-first solution can support your app linking strategy and share this link with your team to get started urlgeni.us/fdl-exit.


Appendix

FDL Exit Plan is a publication by URLgenius, the SDK-free deep linking platform trusted by 30,000+ marketers globally.

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