Deep linking is a technique that involves using a specific URL that directly links to a particular page within a website or mobile application instead of the homepage. It helps the user bypass the homepage and route directly to the intended page.
Deep linking creates a seamless experience by instantly taking users to the most relevant content. The benefits are enormous—it saves a lot of time for the business and the user. With deep linking generators offering advanced features like personalized linking and analytics, it has become easier to get an overview of how your links perform.
If you are a marketing manager, affiliate marketer, developer, or creator who wants to optimize user journeys, deep linking can easily do the job. This guide will take you through the basics, the best deep link generators, and how to choose the right one for your use cases.
- URL Genius – Best for Creators, Sellers, and Apps
- Branch – Best for Mobile Deep Linking Platform
- JotURL – Best to Boost Your Mobile Conversions
- Kochava – Advanced Deep Link Generator
- AppsFlyer – Offer Enterprise-Grade Deep Linking Engine
- Geniuslink – Best for Affiliate Marketers
- ThirstyAffiliates – Popular WordPress Cloaking Plugin
- Lasso – Best for Bloggers
- Rebrandly – Best for Branded Short Links
- Delivr – Best for QR Code Deep Linking
- Linkly – Best for Links Tracking
- Dub.co – Open-source Link Management Platform
- AppURL – Free Smart URL Shortener
- Bitly – Popular URL Shortener
- Show less
URL Genius
Best for Creators, Sellers, and Apps
URL Genius is a cloud-based app deep linking solution that enables users to connect with their audience by generating links that open specific app screens directly. It supports a wide variety of apps, including e-commerce and social media platforms, making it a versatile option.
URL Genius allows for smooth link management across multiple marketing channels without technical resources. This makes it a powerful tool for creators, sellers, and app developers to drive conversions and user engagement.
URL Genius Features
- Instant deployment: Quickly create and deploy deep links across all your marketing channels.
- Fallback control: Set fallback options to direct the users to the app store or a website if the app is not installed.
- No SDK needed: Create deep links hassle-free without requiring an SDK.
- Analyze and learn: Get insights from user interactions with your links to optimize marketing efforts.
URL Genius Pros
500 free clicks to test the platform before committing.
Advanced console capabilities within the dashboard.
Analytics work equally well in the free trial.
URL Genius Cons
No option to save analytics reports in PDF format.
Lack of extensive features for URL branding.
No in-built chat support.
URL Genius Pricing
The free trial offers the first 500 clicks free, and the pro plan starts at $0.01 per click.
Branch
Best for Mobile Deep Linking Platform
Branch offers NativeLink, a deep linking solution that supports both direct and deferred deep linking. This means it can route users to specific in-app content whether they have the app installed or not.
It comes with in-built analytical abilities that provide deep insights to help you optimize your campaigns effectively. Overall, it provides a comprehensive solution for cross-platform deep linking and attribution tracking, making it one of the best tools for mobile deep linking.
Branch Features
- HTML/CSS editor: Customize the appearance of your deep links with an integrated HTML/CSS editor for branding purposes.
- Native language detection: Automatically detect and direct users to content in their preferred language to give a personalized experience.
- Attribution: Track and measure the performance of your deep links to enhance user engagement and campaign effectiveness.
- Customization: Tailor the appearance and behavior of deep links to better fit your app’s needs and improve user interactions.
Branch Pros
Doesn’t need an IP address to work.
Extensive customization options using HTML/CSS editor to create a branded experience.
Supports both direct and deferred deep linking.
Branch Cons
Exhaustive sign-up process.
Finding links in the tagging feature is quite difficult.
Too many functions can be overwhelming to navigate.
Branch Pricing
Contact sales for pricing.
JotURL
Best to Boost Your Mobile Conversions
Known for enabling up to a 65% conversion rate, JotURL lets you create custom links for mobile deep linking that lead directly to specific content in over 50 popular apps. This capability simplifies the linking process while ensuring that users are taken directly to relevant content without unnecessary navigation.
It enables app opening attribution, which makes it easy to connect marketing efforts directly to app installs and user interactions. This makes it an ideal choice for boosting mobile conversions.
JotURL Features
- Enterprise-grade API: Easily connect the platform’s tools with your apps and systems to manage your links effectively.
- Analytics integrations: Consistently track how your links are performing with detailed data to improve marketing strategies.
- Deferred deep linking: Directly send users to specific content inside your app even if they install the app after clicking the link.
- App opening attributions: See which links cause users to install your app and engage with it.
JotURL Pros
Option to import links in CSV format.
Highly responsive chat support.
Extensive media library.
JotURL Cons
You need to sign up for the trial to explore the dashboard.
Free trial doesn’t allow the creation of tracking links.
Interface can be made more user-friendly.
JotURL Pricing
Starts at €55 per month.
Kochava
Advanced Deep Link Generator
Kochava offers SmartLinks, an Omnichannel deep linking solution that routes users based on their platform device and operating system. Its dynamic deep linking allows extensive customization of user journeys to help you set specific conversion goals depending on different user actions.
The platform combines traditional digital marketing channels with physical mediums such as QR codes to provide deep insights to optimize future marketing efforts. This makes it an ideal option for advanced deep linking, as it simplifies campaign management across multiple channels.
Kochava Features
- Custom landing pages: Create customized landing pages to enhance user experience and brand identity.
- Contextual deep linking filters: Use various filters to direct users based on their device location and other criteria.
- Vanity links: Boost brand recognition with custom domains that make links memorable and trustworthy.
- Web-to-app journeys: Facilitate smooth transitions from web content to app experience for improved user retention.
Kochava Pros
Highly responsive chat support.
Good range of advanced functionalities such as dynamic deep linking, SmartLinks, etc.
App analytics are included in the free version.
Kochava Cons
Requires too many details for account creation.
Highly expensive compared to other options.
Complex pricing models.
Kochava Pricing
The foundation plan starts at $500 per month. It offers a free trial as well.
AppsFlyer
Offer Enterprise-Grade Deep Linking Engine
AppsFlyer offers OneLink, a deep linking technology that lets you create a single link that works across all platforms. It easily integrates analytical capabilities, ideal for large-scale businesses to get deeper insights into user behavior while fine-tuning campaigns with data-driven decisions. This lets you easily handle complex user journeys and deliver a more personalized experience, making it ideal for enterprise-grade deep linking.
AppsFlyer Features
- Smart banners: Automatically direct users from websites to apps to boost engagement.
- Smart scripts: Eliminate the need for manual setup by auto-generating deep linking code.
- Engagement suite: Use various tools to re-engage users across multiple channels, such as email, SMS, and social media.
- ESP integrations: Seamlessly integrate with email service providers to run smooth, personalized marketing campaigns.
AppsFlyer Pros
Generous starting plan.
Free version allows referrals and user invites.
High accuracy in identifying highly performing elements for your campaign.
AppsFlyer Cons
Overwhelming sign-up process.
Occasional glitches.
Chat support isn’t always responsive.
AppsFlyer Pricing
Starts at $0.07 per conversion.
Geniuslink
Best for Affiliate Marketers
Geniuslink offers powerful optimization features tailored for affiliate marketers. Its geotargeting and device recognition capabilities ensure that users land directly where they need to be for a seamless user experience.
This functionality is particularly useful for promoting global products on Amazon, where different regions have different storefronts. Plus, it closely integrates with Amazon’s affiliate program, making it an excellent option for affiliate marketers.
Geniuslink Features
- Automatic Amazon localization: Automatically redirect users to their local Amazon storefront to provide optimal user experience and earnings.
- Choice pages: Allow users to compare products and choose from different sellers for improved conversions.
- Auto localization: Adjust links automatically based on user location for relevant product access.
- Seller networks: Connect with various seller networks to earn commissions from multiple platforms beyond Amazon.
Geniuslink Pros
Caters to specific requirements of a diverse audience (affiliates, creators, authors, YouTubers, etc).
High-level customization such as vanity URLs, branded domains, etc.
Excellent chat support.
Geniuslink Cons
Links stay disabled if card details are not entered for trial.
Custom installations are slightly tricky to handle.
Interface could be made a bit more clean.
Geniuslink Pricing
Starts at $6 per month. After 2000 clicks, it’s $2.50 per 1000 clicks.
ThirstyAffiliates
Popular WordPress Cloaking Plugin
ThirstyAffiliates is a handy WordPress tool designed to simplify affiliate link management, especially for content creators and bloggers. It can transform long URLs into short and branded ones, helping your links look more professional while hiding the affiliate ID to keep your commissions safe from potential hijacking. This way, you can easily manage your affiliate links in one place without manually updating every link across your site if any changes occur.
ThirstyAffiliates Features
- Autolink keywords: Automatically link specified keywords to your affiliate URLs across your site.
- Geolocation links: Redirect users to location-specific affiliate links based on their country.
- Automatic 404 checkers: Scan your site for broken affiliate links and get alerts when a link is down.
- Proactive link fixer: Automatically repair affiliate links to ensure they stay functional.
ThirstyAffiliates Pros
14-day refund guarantee.
Protection for commission against theft.
Statistics reports offer advanced insights.
ThirstyAffiliates Cons
No free trial is available.
Doesn’t work with non-WordPress sites.
ThirstyAffiliates Pricing
Starts at $99.60 per year.
Lasso
Best for Bloggers
Lasso is a leading deep link generator that enables effective link management for WordPress users by combining smart automation and robust features to maximize revenue. It can A/B test every element of product displays across billions of page views to ensure optimal conversion rates. Due to this capability, it becomes an excellent option for bloggers to manage multiple affiliate programs on their blogs.
Lasso Features
- Revenue snapshots: Track affiliate earnings with detailed reports in your inbox.
- One-click importing: Quickly migrate affiliate links from legacy tools.
- Custom permalinks: Create clean, branded URLs for all your affiliate links.
- Link cloaking: Make affiliate URLs shorter and more user-friendly for easy access.
Lasso Pros
You get unlimited links.
Gutenberg support is included.
Regular plug-in updates.
Lasso Cons
Chat support is slow.
Steep learning curve.
Interface needs to be decluttered for easy navigation.
Lasso Pricing
Starts at $8 per month. It offers a free plan for influencers and bloggers.
Rebrandly
Best for Branded Short Links
Rebrandly offers a suite of link management tools, including a deep linking generator that lets you manage multiple custom domains. With the ability to control the appearance and behavior of every link, it can boost click-through rates by keeping your audience engaged.
Rebrandly works well as a WordPress cloaking plugin, simplifying the process of shortening and branding links. Plus, direct integration with WordPress creates an incredibly user-friendly experience, making it an ideal choice for branded short links.
Rebrandly Features
- API integration: Integrate Rebrandly’s link management into your existing systems to automate link creation.
- In-depth click data: Get detailed analytics on each link to optimize your links and improve performance.
- Single sign-on (SSO): Use secure, centralized login for easier access and management across teams.
- Branded domain assets: Manage multiple custom domains to strengthen your brand identity with each link.
Rebrandly Pros
Cheaper option than most of the competitors.
AI-powered functionalities within the dashboard to ease workflow.
Option to suggest a feature.
Rebrandly Cons
Lack of human chat support.
Limited options to access full account reports.
Rebrandly Pricing
Starts at $13 per month.
Delivr
Best for QR Code Deep Linking
Delivr is a complete link management solution that also offers a dynamic QR code to allow users to access specific content within the app. It supports multiple platforms irrespective of whether you are directing the user to an app, website, or a specific page.
The users will be taken exactly where they need to go without any confusion. As this comes with link editing functionality, Delivr becomes an ideal solution for QR code deep linking.
Delivr Features
- Workspaces: Organize teams and projects under different workspaces for easier management.
- Campaigns: Set up and track multiple marketing campaigns involving QR codes.
- Summary reports: Get a quick overview of your QR code performance, including scan data.
- Tags: Categorize and organize QR codes by applying tags to easily track and analyze data.
Delivr Pros
Unlimited static QR codes with the free plan.
Tracking and location analytics can be accessed with the free plan.
Impressive customization range, such as QR codes.
Delivr Cons
Complex user interface.
Workspace feature is only available with the VIP subscription.
Delivr Pricing
Starts at $25 per month. It offers a free plan to explore its functionalities.
Linkly
Best for Links Tracking
Linkly is a versatile link management tool that lets you create custom deep links to remove extra navigation steps for the user. It even provides detailed analytics to count clicks and break down those by device location and other factors to give clear insights into how your audience interacts with your content.
Due to these capabilities, it is a good choice for link tracking. To get started, create an account and go to the dashboard. Paste your link in the space provided alongside “Destination,” and then click on the “Save link” option at the top-right side of the dashboard.
Once your request is processed, you can access your unique link.
Additionally, you can also experiment with some alternative URLs, as shown below:
Linkly Features
- Custom domains and vanity URLs: Use your own domain name for links to make them look more professional.
- UTM tags: Track where your links are coming from UTM tags.
- Link rotators: Switch between multiple URLs to understand which one performs better.
- ISP lookup and robot vs. Human disambiguation: Automatically check if a real person or robot is providing you with accurate data.
Linkly Pros
Integrates well with Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4.
Free version offers an impressive range of features.
Includes Google Sheets integration for easy data export.
Linkly Cons
Limited options for demographic customization.
Analytics lack the required depth for certain parameters.
Lack of resources for reference.
Linkly Pricing
Starts at $19 per month for up to 5000 clicks.
Dub.co
Open-source Link Management Platform
Dub.co is a leading open-source link management platform that simplifies creating, sharing, and tracking short links. It is specifically designed to give the user control over links, use branded short links, and get detailed tracking insights into how they perform.
Since it is an open-source platform, you can scale it as needed for greater flexibility and control over data. This makes it an ideal option for open-source link management.
Dub.co Features
- Advanced analytics: Get in-depth insights on clicks, including device type, refer data, and geolocation.
- Branded links: Create custom short links using your own domain to improve brand recognition.
- Personalization: Customize your short link for better management.
- Collaboration: Access real-time collaboration tools and work with teams to manage and optimize campaigns together.
Dub.co Pros
Offers AI-powered functionalities within the dashboard.
High-level customization for detailed insights.
Shows event streams in real-time.
Dub.co Cons
Support time can be improved.
Offers limited filters.
Occasional bugs.
Dub.co Pricing
Starts at $19 per month. It offers a free forever plan as well.
AppURL
Free Smart URL Shortener
AppURL is a smart link shortener and deep link generator that lets you create a dynamic single URL for your users. It offers intelligent redirects and deep linking capabilities you can use to ease user journeys and make them more seamless.
To get started, enter your URL in the provided space and fill in the captcha. Then, click on “Save and Create” to proceed.
You will now be able to access your unique URL, along with the QR code to use in the app.
AppURL Features
- Link preview: Customize how your link appears on social media.
- Analytics: Access integration with Google Analytics to get detailed insights into how your links are performing.
- Text messaging: Share links through SMS to enable easy access for users on mobile devices.
- Bulk links shortening: Shorten multiple links in bulk to build connections faster.
AppURL Pros
Extremely easy to use.
Completely free tool.
No complex learning curve.
AppURL Cons
Need to fill in the captcha every time, which can feel repetitive.
Preview feature doesn’t always work due to frequent bugs.
AppURL Pricing
Free to use.
Bitly
Popular URL Shortener
Bitly, a popular URL shortener offers deep linking functionality along with branded links. It allows you to create custom brand-specific URLs with real-time analytics to track performance and measure effectiveness.
These analytics also help you gather demographic insights with device data and multiple locations. The platform is extremely easy to use and versatile in functionality, making it one of the most popular URL shorteners.
Bitly Features
- Link in bio: Create and add a single link leading to multiple destinations. This is ideal for social media profiles to showcase the intended content.
- Branded links: Create custom URLs that feature your brand’s name to increase trust and recognition.
- Mobile links: Direct your users to specific in-app content depending on whether the app is installed or not.
- UTM campaigns: Add and track UTM parameters to get better visibility into the performance of different marketing campaigns.
Bitly Pros
API documentation is available.
Zero learning curve.
Highly interactive interface.
Bitly Cons
Reporting is not included in the starting plan.
No chat support option in the dashboard.
Bitly Pricing
The core plan starts at $8 per month. It also offers a free plan.
How to Choose the Right Deep Link Generator?
Choosing the right deep link generator for app marketing or any other use case can be daunting if you’re uncertain about how to decide. Here are a few factors to consider before choosing a deep link generator for your business.
Platform Compatibility
You need a tool that ensures the deep links work smoothly whether the user is using iOS, Android, or any desktop browser. If a deep link works on Android but breaks on iOS, it can frustrate the user and lower your conversion rates.
A good deep link generator can handle all these differences, ensuring your users reach the right place no matter their device. It should support different app stores and handle fallback options like sending users to the correct App Store if they don’t have the app installed.
Features
Dynamic linking allows you to create personalized context-aware links that adapt to user preferences or marketing campaigns. These links can direct users to specific content within the app, making them especially useful for personalizing promotions or re-engagement strategies.
Deferred deep linking, on the other hand, goes a step further by offering seamless onboarding for new users. Even if the app isn’t installed, deferred links ensure that users are redirected to the exact content they were interested in once the app is downloaded.
QR code is an equally important feature that integrates well with deep links, especially in offline-to-online campaigns. By embedding deep links into QR codes, users can effortlessly access specific content, which is a great tool for e-commerce retail and educational institutions.
Ease of Use and Implementation
When the interface is clear and easy to navigate, users can quickly generate links, customize them, and track their performance without needing extra help or spending hours figuring out how things work. This ease saves time and ensures that everyone on the team can manage deep links effectively, keeping everything running smoothly.
Easy navigation is just as important because it allows the deep links generator to work well with other tools you’re already using. If the integration process is smooth, you can set everything up without major technical difficulties. This reduces downtime and makes it easier to get your deep-linking campaigns up and running quickly.
Pricing and Stability
Many tools offer tiered pricing plans, ranging from basic to advanced, depending on the number of links you need to create required features and additional services. You should choose a tool that offers plans according to your current budget, but it’s equally necessary to consider how your business might grow over time.
If your app gains more users or your marketing campaigns expand, you will want a plan that can scale up without drastically increasing involved costs. Scalability matters here because as your business grows, you will need to handle more links, integrate new features, or access more in-depth data.
Some platforms charge more for higher traffic or extra features like advanced analytics or QR code customization. So, make sure the tool you choose offers flexible plans that let you scale without breaking your budget as your needs evolve.
Specific Use Cases
While choosing a deep link generator, it can be helpful to match the tool’s features with your specific goals. For example, if your main goal is app installations, focus on platforms that work well in deferred deep linking. This feature will ensure that users who click on a link are directed to the app store to download and then redirected to the specific content within the app.
However, if your focus is on user onboarding, go for a tool that offers dynamic linking. This will let you personalize the onboarding experience by sending new users to custom pages or content that perfectly matches their preferences.
Similarly, for app purchases, you will want a deep link generator that integrates well with your e-commerce setup and accurately tracks user behavior. All in all, figure out which specific use cases you need a deep link generator for and then consider the best options to make the right decision.
Why do Deep Links Matter for Conversions?
Deep links improve the user experience by removing unnecessary friction in the customer journey. When someone clicks on a link, whether from an ad, an email, or a social media post, they are taken directly to a specific page within the app. It can be a product page or a promotional offer.
This direct path removes extra steps that could otherwise lead the user to lose interest, increasing the chances that they will complete a purchase or sign up. However, when a user who doesn’t have the app installed clicks on a link, a deferred deep link sends them first to the app store to download the app.
After users download the app, they are automatically redirected to the content they originally wanted to access. This works as a game changer for onboarding because it keeps the user engaged and prevents them from restarting their journey, leading to higher possibilities of completing the desired action.
Deep linking also provides rich data for campaign optimization. You can track how users interact with your app, pinpoint which deep links perform the best, and identify your users might drop off. This level of insight helps you precisely adjust to marketing strategies to ensure your future campaigns are more targeted and effective.
Final Words
Deep linking generators can help you achieve your marketing goals faster and more effectively. By eliminating the hassle of finding the right web page for the user, the experience becomes better, and navigation becomes easy. This offers a great opportunity to dwell on this convenience and streamline user experience to strengthen your conversion optimization.