5 Expo Attribution SDKs Compared by Build and Version Fit

How to compare Expo attribution SDKs

• Compare each vendor’s Expo setup, native build route, and stated version conditions.
• Use a build that contains the SDK’s native modules; Expo Go has a fixed set of native libraries.
• Give deferred deep links their own test from campaign click through the app’s first open.

If your Expo-managed app needs attribution and deferred deep links, compare each vendor’s package and plugin instructions, native build route, and published version conditions. AppsFlyer, Adjust, Branch, Singular, and Airbridge all document Expo setup paths, while their build requirements and the detail of their deferred-link guidance differ. This comparison uses each vendor’s own integration documents for SDK setup and Expo’s documentation for build mechanics.

What counts as Expo support for an attribution SDK?

An Expo integration path has three practical parts: an Expo-specific installation guide, documented native configuration, and a build route that includes the SDK.

Expo’s config-plugin documentation explains that plugins registered in app configuration run during prebuild and modify native projects. In a Continuous Native Generation workflow, storing native changes as configuration lets prebuild reapply them when regenerating the iOS and Android directories.

Expo Go includes a fixed set of native libraries. The Expo development-build FAQ explains that JavaScript from a library can load in Expo Go, but calls to native code absent from Expo Go will error. Expo describes a development build as a fully featured development environment for production-grade apps that can use native libraries and change native configuration.

Expo’s development-build introduction supports local builds and EAS cloud builds. After adding a native library, changing app configuration, or upgrading the SDK, rebuild the native app and then start the JavaScript server with npx expo start.

Local builds use npx expo run:android or npx expo run:ios and require Android Studio or Xcode, according to Expo’s development-build instructions. An EAS cloud build requires an Expo account and runs without a local native toolchain, giving teams a choice based on their build infrastructure.

The table distinguishes an Expo setup route from an explicit fresh-install deferred-link flow, which is the key difference for teams whose campaign link must survive installation. Test that journey on the app’s intended build: click the campaign link with the app uninstalled, install the test app, open it for the first time, and confirm the destination and campaign context.

What Expo path does AppsFlyer document?

AppsFlyer’s Expo installation guide directs teams to install expo-dev-client and react-native-appsflyer with Expo’s installer, then add react-native-appsflyer to the plugins array in app.json.

The AppsFlyer Expo installation notes say expo prebuild automatically modifies AppDelegate to wire up deep linking and attribution; the notes cover the Swift template used by Expo SDK 52+ and the legacy Objective-C template.

AppsFlyer’s getting-started documentation says SDK integration provides attribution out of the box and access to additional SDK features.

AppsFlyer fits teams that want a documented Expo plugin and prebuild path, with Expo SDK 52+ Swift-template handling described in the SDK repository. It is a practical candidate when the team’s release and link tests pass on the project’s actual native build.

What Adjust Expo build constraint matters?

Adjust’s React Native SDK integration guide says EAS Build is supported for Expo integrations and its Expo config plugin cannot be used with Expo Go. The guide’s Expo-aware install command is npx expo install react-native-adjust @config-plugins/react-native-adjust.

Adjust says this installer helps ensure that both package versions are compatible with the project’s Expo SDK.

Adjust’s React Native SDK guide lists deep linking among its features. Adjust suits a team whose build pipeline already uses EAS and whose required link feature appears in its React Native SDK.

What does Branch require in Expo?

Branch’s Expo integration guide pairs the Branch React Native SDK with @config-plugins/react-native-branch for Expo-managed or prebuild projects using Expo SDK 54 or higher. The guide requires a development build because the plugin adds native code.

Branch requires the Expo SDK, Branch React Native SDK, and config plugin versions to match. The guide warns that --legacy-peer-deps skips the version check and can leave incompatible versions installed.

Branch’s Expo guide also separates test-key setup by SDK version. On Expo SDK 55 or later, teams can add testApiKey beside apiKey; Android’s enableTestEnvironment: true selects the test key, while iOS ignores that setting. For Expo SDK 54, the guide recommends separate test and live builds or using the Live Key alone.

The Branch Expo guide covers setup, deep linking, paid ads, and troubleshooting.

When does Singular need extra native work?

Singular’s basic integration guide says Expo users need native-code customization because the SDK requires native modules, and shows singular-react-native in the app config’s plugins array. The guide directs developers to rebuild the app through Expo’s native-customization workflow.

Singular’s React Native deep-link guide adds separate iOS and Android plugins alongside singular-react-native in the Expo plugins array. The guide says these plugins automate native changes in the managed workflow, so prebuild can reapply the configuration without manual edits to generated files.

For a fresh install, a user clicks a Singular tracking link with a deep-link value, installs and opens the app, and receives the value in the withSingularLink handler after attribution completes. The callback marks this result with isDeferred = true. Singular fits teams that want explicit fresh-install callback documentation and can maintain its platform-specific native plugins.

What Airbridge Expo SDK path can you verify?

Airbridge’s Expo SDK guide instructs teams to install airbridge-expo-sdk and airbridge-react-native-sdk. In app.json, register airbridge-expo-sdk as a plugin with the appName and appToken settings.

For SDK settings, the guide directs developers to create a top-level airbridge.json file and include only keys their service needs.

Airbridge describes deferred deep linking as a flow where the link-opening and SDK handoff steps wait until after the user installs an app that was not installed when they opened the tracking link. Its Expo SDK settings include trackMetaDeferredAppLinkEnabled for Meta deferred app links. This makes Airbridge a relevant fit when the requirement combines an Expo SDK path with a campaign link that resumes after installation.

For Android 16 KB page-size compatibility, Airbridge’s Expo SDK release notes say support began in v4.6.0; v4.9.0 corrected a native-library alignment issue in v4.6.0–v4.8.0 and is the recommended upgrade for teams on those versions.

Which SDK fits your Expo version, build, and link needs?

1. Choose a build route. Use a development build when the SDK needs native modules; choose EAS Build for Adjust, whose Expo integration requires it. Branch also requires a development build, while AppsFlyer’s Expo setup uses expo-dev-client and prebuild.
2. Match the documented version condition. Branch specifies Expo SDK 54+ and a matching Expo, Branch SDK, and plugin combination; Adjust’s Expo-aware installer helps ensure its packages suit the project’s Expo SDK.
3. Select by the evidence your link flow needs. Airbridge fits teams seeking a dedicated Expo package and documented deferred-link behavior. Singular fits teams that want a documented deferred-link callback and can maintain its custom platform plugins.