AppsFlyer OneLink – Unified Deep Linking & Attribution

Overview

AppsFlyer OneLink is a core component of the AppsFlyer mobile measurement and attribution platform, designed to simplify the creation and management of deep links for mobile applications. It enables developers and marketers to generate a single URL that intelligently routes users to the correct in-app content, regardless of their operating system (iOS or Android), whether the app is already installed, or if specific content needs to be displayed after a new installation.

The system supports both direct deep linking, where a user with the app installed is taken directly to specified content, and deferred deep linking. Deferred deep linking is particularly relevant for new users: if the app is not installed, the user is first directed to the appropriate app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), and upon installation and first launch, they are then directed to the intended in-app content. This functionality is critical for optimizing user acquisition campaigns, as it provides a personalized onboarding experience that can improve conversion rates and user retention.

OneLink is integrated into the main AppsFlyer SDK, which is available for various development frameworks including native iOS and Android, Unity, React Native, and Flutter. This broad SDK support allows developers to incorporate deep linking capabilities across diverse mobile projects. Implementation involves configuring Universal Links for iOS and App Links for Android, and then defining deep link templates within the AppsFlyer dashboard. These templates specify the logic for how links behave, including fallback URLs for desktop users or when an app is not found.

OneLink is primarily used by mobile app developers and marketing teams focused on user acquisition, re-engagement campaigns, and overall user journey optimization. It shines in scenarios where precise user routing is necessary, such as driving traffic to specific product pages, promoting in-app events, or delivering personalized content based on the source of the click. For instance, a remarketing campaign might use OneLink to direct existing users who clicked an ad directly to a discounted item within the app. The platform also provides debugging tools to test deep link functionality, helping developers ensure correct routing and user experience.

The ability to unify deep linking across platforms simplifies campaign management and analytics. Instead of creating separate links for iOS and Android, a single OneLink URL can be used across all marketing channels. This also contributes to more accurate attribution, as AppsFlyer can track the entire user journey from click to in-app conversion, providing insights into campaign performance and return on ad spend.

Key features

• Unified Deep Linking: Creates a single link that intelligently routes users to the correct app store or specific in-app content across iOS and Android devices, streamlining campaign management.
• Deferred Deep Linking: Guides new users to the app store, then directs them to specific in-app content immediately after installation and first launch, enhancing onboarding experiences.
• Contextual Deep Linking: Allows for personalized user experiences by passing custom parameters through the deep link, enabling dynamic content delivery based on the link's context (e.g., promotional offers, specific product pages).
• Remarketing and Re-engagement: Facilitates campaigns designed to re-engage existing users by directing them to relevant content within the app, such as abandoned carts or personalized recommendations.
• Cross-Platform Support: Offers SDKs for various platforms including iOS, Android, Unity, React Native, Flutter, and more, ensuring broad compatibility for mobile app development frameworks.
• Customizable Templates: Provides tools within the AppsFlyer dashboard to define and manage deep link templates, including fallback behavior for desktop users or when the app is not installed.
• Debugging Tools: Includes features to test deep link functionality, verify correct routing, and diagnose issues during implementation.
• Attribution Integration: Seamlessly integrates with AppsFlyer's mobile attribution platform to provide comprehensive analytics on user acquisition and in-app engagement originating from deep links, allowing for campaign optimization.

Pricing

AppsFlyer offers a tiered pricing model that includes a free tier for smaller-scale usage and custom enterprise pricing for larger organizations.

For specific pricing information, organizations are encouraged to contact AppsFlyer directly via their pricing page to receive a tailored quote.

Common integrations

AppsFlyer OneLink is integrated as part of the broader AppsFlyer SDK, which is designed to work with a range of mobile development platforms and backend services. The primary integrations are at the application layer.

• iOS Applications: Integrated via the AppsFlyer iOS SDK, requiring configuration of Universal Links.
• Android Applications: Integrated via the AppsFlyer Android SDK, requiring configuration of App Links.
• React Native: Developers integrate OneLink through the AppsFlyer React Native SDK, which wraps the native iOS and Android SDKs.
• Flutter: The AppsFlyer Flutter plugin provides access to OneLink functionality within Flutter applications.
• Unity: The AppsFlyer Unity plugin allows game developers to implement deep linking for their Unity-based mobile games.
• Cordova: Deep linking capabilities are available via the AppsFlyer Cordova plugin.
• Firebase: AppsFlyer can integrate with Firebase for event forwarding and audience segmentation, complementing Firebase's own analytics and messaging capabilities. Information on this is available via the Firebase documentation.
• Stripe: For apps that process payments, AppsFlyer can track user journeys leading to Stripe transactions, helping attribute revenue to specific marketing campaigns. For details, refer to Stripe's developer documentation.

Alternatives

• Branch Metrics: A mobile linking platform offering deep linking, attribution, and analytics with a focus on comprehensive measurement.
• Adjust: A mobile marketing analytics platform providing attribution, measurement, and fraud prevention, including deep linking solutions.
• Kochava: Offers mobile attribution, analytics, and deep linking solutions for measuring and optimizing app marketing campaigns.

Getting started

Integrating AppsFlyer OneLink typically involves adding the AppsFlyer SDK to your mobile application and then configuring Universal Links (iOS) or App Links (Android) on your domain, followed by setting up OneLink templates in the AppsFlyer dashboard. The following example demonstrates basic AppsFlyer SDK initialization for a React Native application, which is a prerequisite for OneLink functionality. This setup assumes you have already created an AppsFlyer account and obtained your Dev Key and App ID.

import appsFlyer from 'react-native-appsflyer';

const AF_DEV_KEY = 'YOUR_APPSFLYER_DEV_KEY';
const AF_APP_ID = 'YOUR_IOS_APP_ID'; // For iOS only

// Initialize AppsFlyer SDK
appsFlyer.initSdk(
  {
    devKey: AF_DEV_KEY,
    appId: AF_APP_ID, // Required for iOS
    isDebug: true, // Set to false for production
    onInstallConversionDataListener: true, // Listen for conversion data
    onDeepLinkListener: true, // Listen for deep links
  },
  (result) => {
    console.log('AppsFlyer initialization success:', result);
  },
  (error) => {
    console.error('AppsFlyer initialization error:', error);
  }
);

// Example of handling deep link data (within your app's main component or a dedicated handler)
appsFlyer.onDeepLink((res) => {
  if (res.deepLinkStatus === 'FOUND') {
    const deepLinkValue = res.deepLinkValue;
    const campaign = res.campaign;
    console.log('Deep link received:', deepLinkValue);
    console.log('Campaign:', campaign);
    // Implement navigation logic based on deepLinkValue
  } else if (res.deepLinkStatus === 'NOT_FOUND') {
    console.log('Deep link not found or resolved.');
  }
});

// Subsequent steps: 
// 1. Configure Universal Links (iOS) or App Links (Android) on your domain.
//    Refer to developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/universal_links/ and developer.android.com/training/app-links/
// 2. Create OneLink templates in your AppsFlyer dashboard (AppsFlyer documentation).
//    This involves defining the deep link path and fallback behaviors.
// 3. Test your OneLink URLs using AppsFlyer's deep link validation tools.

This code snippet initializes the AppsFlyer SDK and sets up listeners for both install conversion data and deep links. The onDeepLink listener is crucial for handling incoming OneLink URLs and extracting the parameters needed to navigate the user to the correct in-app content. After SDK integration, the next critical steps involve server-side and dashboard configurations to fully enable OneLink functionality, as detailed in the AppsFlyer deep linking documentation.