Branch vs Codelloy: Deep Linking Head-to-Head

Branch vs Codelloy is a comparison of two deep linking platforms built for different jobs. Branch is a mobile measurement and attribution suite that also deep links; Codelloy is a link platform that deep links without an app SDK. This head-to-head covers pricing, deep links, QR codes and analytics, and says where each one is the better pick.

Branch facts were checked against branch.io/pricing and the Branch Help Center on September 19, 2026.

At a glance

Deep linking

Both platforms send a tap on a link into your app. Branch's developer guide starts by adding the Branch SDKs to your app, and it supports deferred deep linking: a user without your app is taken to the relevant content right after the first install.

With Codelloy there is no SDK to add. You register your apps once, then give each link a deep-link URL per platform, a custom URL scheme your app registers. Without the app, the link falls back to your App Store or Play Store listing, or to a web page you choose. Deferred deep linking is on our roadmap but not yet available. This request is the product-link example from our Deep Linking Guide:

curl -X POST https://api.codelloy.com/link/external/v1/shortenedUrl/save \
  -H "X-API-KEY: your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://example.com/product/123",
    "shortCode": "product123",
    "shortLinkName": "Spring sale — product 123",
    "deepLinks": [
      {
        "mobileAppId": "abc123def456",
        "deeplinkUrl": "myapp://product/123",
        "fallbackUrl": "https://example.com/product/123",
        "linkBehaviour": "app",
        "fallbackEnabled": true
      },
      {
        "mobileAppId": "789xyz456ghi",
        "deeplinkUrl": "myapp://product/123",
        "fallbackUrl": "https://example.com/product/123",
        "linkBehaviour": "app",
        "fallbackEnabled": true
      }
    ]
  }'

QR codes

Branch's QR code guide lets you customise colours and a centre logo, add analytics tags, and notes that QR codes require a premium plan. Its QR Code API creates custom codes programmatically.

In Codelloy's QR editor you set the background, dot and corner colours and upload a centre image. Every QR code points at its short link, so you can change the destination after printing, and scans are counted separately from clicks. Codelloy has no QR code API.

Analytics

Branch lists multi-touch and cross-platform attribution on its pricing page. Codelloy does not do install attribution: it reports link analytics, meaning clicks, QR scans, referrers, geography and devices for every link. If you need to tie installs to campaigns, Branch is the tool built for it.

Pricing

Branch publishes no prices. Codelloy lists every self-serve plan:

Codelloy's Free plan creates 20 smart links a month with 5,000 clicks; Pro and Business scale to 10,000 and 100,000 links a month, with deep linking included on every plan.

Which should you choose?

Choose Branch if you need install attribution, deferred deep linking (not yet available in Codelloy), or QR codes created through an API.

Choose Codelloy if you want published prices and a free plan, deep links without adding an SDK, and QR codes with scan analytics on every plan.

For migration steps and a full feature matrix, see our Branch.io alternative page. To see how Codelloy compares with other tools, read our roundup of the best link shorteners.

Try Codelloy free and compare it with your Branch setup.