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Mobile Development · head to head

AppsFlyer vs Expo

AppsFlyer logo

AppsFlyer

Mobile Development

Mobile attribution and marketing analytics measuring which campaigns produced which installs

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Expo logo

Expo

Mobile Development

React Native framework and cloud platform for building and shipping apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Expo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AppsFlyer pricing is per attributed conversion on an annual commitment, so a successful quarter raises the measurement bill in step with media spend and overage rates above the commitment are usually punitive.; Expo free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
  • They diverge on capability: AppsFlyer covers Multi touch install attribution, Expo covers Expo SDK.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AppsFlyer and Expo actually diverge.

Attributes where AppsFlyer and Expo differ
AttributeAppsFlyerExpo
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer attributed conversionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, Webweb, ios, android, api

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mobile Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AppsFlyer

  • Multi touch install attribution
  • SKAdNetwork and iOS aggregation
  • Deep linking
  • Fraud protection
  • Raw data export
  • Incrementality testing

Only in Expo

  • Expo SDK
  • EAS Build
  • EAS Submit
  • EAS Update
  • Expo Router
  • EAS Hosting
  • EAS Insights

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AppsFlyer

  • An app spending meaningfully on paid acquisition across several networks that need reconciling against one source of truthnot Expo
  • Publishers who suspect they are paying for fraudulent installs and want them rejected before billingnot Expo
  • Teams that must move event level marketing data into a warehouse for their own modellingnot Expo
  • Apps running deferred deep links from web, email and social into specific in app contentnot Expo

Expo

  • Building cross-platform apps with React Native without native toolingnot AppsFlyer
  • Running cloud builds and store submissions via EASnot AppsFlyer
  • Shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store reviewnot AppsFlyer
  • Adding file-based navigation with Expo Routernot AppsFlyer
  • Hosting companion web apps and APIsnot AppsFlyer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AppsFlyer

  • Pricing is per attributed conversion on an annual commitment, so a successful quarter raises the measurement bill in step with media spend and overage rates above the commitment are usually punitive.
  • iOS attribution lost genuine capability when App Tracking Transparency arrived, and a good deal of what the interface now shows is modelled rather than observed, which the reports do not always make obvious.
  • The headline price covers attribution only; deep linking, fraud protection, audiences and raw data export are separate modules, so the quoted figure and the invoice differ substantially.
  • Self attributing networks such as Meta and Google report their own numbers, and reconciling those against AppsFlyer is ongoing work that no vendor eliminates.
  • Historic attribution data does not transfer between measurement partners, so switching vendors resets year on year comparisons and effectively locks in the incumbent after a couple of years.

Expo

  • Free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
  • Usage-based overage charges for builds, CI/CD minutes, and MAUs can make costs less predictable.
  • Concurrent build limits on lower tiers slow down teams with frequent releases.
  • Some native functionality still requires ejecting to bare workflow or writing custom native modules.

Pricing, plan by plan

AppsFlyer

On request
  • AppsFlyer$undefined/year
    • Annual commitment purchasing a volume of attributed conversions, with overage charged above it
    • Deep linking, fraud protection, audiences and raw data export are priced as separate modules

Expo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 15 Android and 15 iOS builds
    • Low-priority build queue
    • 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows
  • Starter$19/month
    • $45 build credit included
    • High-priority queue and large workers
    • 3,000 MAUs for updates
  • Production$199/month
    • $225 build credit included
    • 2 concurrent builds
    • 50,000 MAU support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • $1,000 build credit included
    • 5 concurrent builds
    • 1M+ MAU support

Which should you pick?

Choose AppsFlyer if

  • You need multi touch install attribution.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want skadnetwork and ios aggregation.
AppsFlyer review

Choose Expo if

  • You need expo sdk.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android, api.
  • You also want eas build.
Expo review

Questions people ask

Is AppsFlyer or Expo better?
Neither clearly leads. AppsFlyer starts at On request and Expo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AppsFlyer or Expo?
Expo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for AppsFlyer and Free for Expo.
Does AppsFlyer or Expo run on more platforms?
AppsFlyer runs on iOS, Android, Web. Expo runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use Expo for free?
Yes. Expo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. AppsFlyer starts at On request.
What is AppsFlyer best used for?
AppsFlyer is most often used for an app spending meaningfully on paid acquisition across several networks that need reconciling against one source of truth, publishers who suspect they are paying for fraudulent installs and want them rejected before billing, teams that must move event level marketing data into a warehouse for their own modelling, apps running deferred deep links from web, email and social into specific in app content. Of those, an app spending meaningfully on paid acquisition across several networks that need reconciling against one source of truth and publishers who suspect they are paying for fraudulent installs and want them rejected before billing are not what Expo is typically brought in for.
What can AppsFlyer do that Expo cannot?
AppsFlyer covers Multi touch install attribution, SKAdNetwork and iOS aggregation, Deep linking, Fraud protection. Expo covers Expo SDK, EAS Build, EAS Submit, EAS Update.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AppsFlyer: How is it priced?

Per attributed conversion against an annual commitment, plus separate fees for the additional modules. Negotiate the commitment carefully.

Expo: What does Expo cost?

Expo offers a free plan, a Starter plan at $19/month with $45 build credit, a Production plan at $199/month with $225 build credit, and custom Enterprise pricing.

Source
AppsFlyer: Did App Tracking Transparency break attribution?

It removed deterministic device level attribution for users who decline tracking. What remains on iOS is aggregated and delayed, and vendors fill the gap with modelling.

Expo: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The Free plan includes 15 Android and 15 iOS builds, low-priority build queue access, 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows, and support for 1,000 monthly active users on updates.

Source
AppsFlyer: Can we take our data if we leave?

You can export raw data while under contract. Attribution history itself does not migrate to another vendor.

Expo: How is usage metered on paid plans?

Beyond included build credit, Expo charges per build by platform and worker size, per CI/CD workflow minute, per million Observe events, and graduated per-MAU overage rates for updates.

Source
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