Questions, answered straight.

AppRoute is a smart short-link platform for mobile teams. You create one short URL (for example getapproute.com/your-app) and we route each visitor to the right destination — Google Play on Android, the App Store on iOS, and a web fallback everywhere else. Every link includes a matching QR code and per-click analytics.

Indie developers, growth teams, agencies, and creators who promote mobile apps across paid ads, organic social, email, QR posters, and bio links. If you have ever pasted separate iOS and Android URLs in the same campaign, AppRoute replaces that with one link.

No. Routing happens on the server at the edge when someone opens your short link or scans the QR code. You only paste destination URLs in the dashboard — Play Store, App Store, and a web fallback. No client-side JavaScript and no mobile SDK required for basic smart routing.

Sign up free, open the dashboard, and choose Create link. Add your Android, iOS, and fallback URLs, pick a slug, and publish. Share the short URL or download the QR PNG from the link detail page. Use Test routing in the dashboard to preview Android, iOS, and desktop outcomes before you go live.

Yes. The Free plan is free forever for personal projects and early launches — no credit card to start. Upgrade when you need higher click volume, longer retention, team seats, or Pro features like password gates and exports.

When someone opens your link, our edge handler reads the User-Agent and Client Hints (when the browser sends them) to classify OS and device type. We pick a destination in milliseconds — typically under 50ms globally — and respond with an HTTP redirect. No redirect chains and no landing-page hop unless you choose a web fallback.

Yes. That is the core use case. Set android_url, ios_url, and fallback_url on each link. Android devices go to Play, iPhones and iPads go to the App Store (or your configured iOS URL), and desktop or unknown devices go to fallback — often a marketing site, TestFlight page, or universal landing page.

Yes. Beyond the default three URLs, you can add targeting rules that match country, OS, and device type (mobile, tablet, desktop). Rules are priority-ordered: the first match wins, then we fall back to the standard Android / iOS / fallback URLs. Useful for regional store listings or compliance.

They follow your fallback_url — usually a website, waitlist, or desktop app download page. If fallback is empty and no rule matches, we still resolve safely using the same validation rules as every other destination (only http:// and https:// URLs are allowed).

No — and that is intentional. We capture utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content, and utm_term on each click for your AppRoute analytics, but we do not append them to the outbound redirect. Many app-store URLs break or strip query strings. Tag links in the dashboard or embed UTMs in the destination URL yourself if a partner requires it.

Yes. Any safe http:// or https:// destination is allowed — SaaS signup pages, Notion docs, Calendly, or a competitor web app. We block dangerous schemes (javascript:, data:, file:, etc.). Smart routing is optimized for mobile install campaigns but not limited to stores.

Yes on paid plans. Password-protected links show a gate until the visitor enters the correct password (rate-limited per IP). You can also set an expiry datetime or a maximum click count — once reached, the link shows an inactive page instead of redirecting. Free links support pause/delete but not gates or caps.

AppRoute is routing-first, not a link-in-bio grid. You typically put one smart AppRoute URL in your Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube bio — followers land in the right store automatically. You are not building a multi-button profile page; you are replacing three platform-specific URLs with one that branches server-side.

Yes. When you create a link, we generate a branded QR code that encodes the same short URL. Download it as PNG from the dashboard or via the QR API route. The code always points at your AppRoute slug so routing and analytics stay consistent.

Yes. A scan is just another click on the short URL. The same OS detection, targeting rules, password gate, and analytics apply. Optional per-link QR tracking lets you tag scans with default UTMs in analytics when enabled.

Pro and Team plans include custom QR colors and SVG/PDF export. Every plan includes our default branded mark. Customize eye shape, dot pattern, and embedded logo from the link detail page so codes stay on-brand on posters and packaging.

Timestamp, link ID, detected OS and device type, browser family, country (from edge geo headers when available), referrer domain, full UTM tuple when present, redirect type (Android / iOS / fallback / rule), and bot or preview flags. Dashboard charts break down devices, countries, referrers, and campaigns.

No. IPs are hashed with a server-side salt before storage. We use the hash for rate limiting on password gates and abuse protection, not for selling or ad retargeting. Our own marketing site does not load third-party ad trackers.

We detect crawlers (Slack, iMessage, Facebook, X, and similar) and tag them as bot or preview in analytics — we do not block them, because blocking breaks unfurls. For links with custom Open Graph title, description, and image, preview crawlers receive a small HTML page with your metadata instead of being redirected to the store.

Pro and Team plans include CSV export from the dashboard. Exports respect your plan retention window (30 days on Free, one year on Pro, unlimited on Team). API and warehouse sync options are documented for Team customers on the API page.

Yes. Set optional og_title, og_description, and og_image_url per link. Chat apps fetch your AppRoute URL, see your OG tags, and render your card — while real users still get the fast redirect to the right store.

Free — 25 active links, 10,000 clicks/month, 30-day analytics retention. Pro ($19/mo) — unlimited links, 250,000 clicks/month, 1-year retention, password-protected links, click caps, custom domains, and CSV export. Team ($49/mo) — unlimited clicks, forever retention, 5 seats, roles, shared library, and API write access. Yearly billing saves 20% on paid plans.

Yes. Change plans from the dashboard when billing is enabled on your account. Paid plans renew each billing cycle; cancel anytime and access continues until the end of the current period. We do not pro-rate partial months — email billing@getapproute.com if something went wrong with a charge.

Yes. Pay annually on Pro or Team and save 20% versus twelve monthly payments. The pricing page toggle shows both monthly and yearly equivalents.

Paid subscriptions are processed by Stripe. We accept major credit and debit cards; invoicing and wire transfer are available on Enterprise deals. The Free plan never requires a card.

Pro and Team plans include a custom short domain (for example links.yourbrand.com). Point a CNAME at AppRoute and complete DNS verification — step-by-step guides live in Docs under Getting started. Your slug paths stay the same; only the host changes.

AppRoute uses passwordless magic links. Enter your email on the sign-in page, click the link we send, and you are in — no password to remember. Team invites use the same flow; each seat is tied to your workspace links and analytics.

Yes on the Team plan — five seats included, with roles and per-link permissions. Everyone shares the link library and analytics; edits are audited in the dashboard. Free and Pro are single-seat by default.

Yes. Pro includes read access to links and analytics; Team adds write access (create and update links programmatically). Authentication uses API keys documented on the API & SDKs page. Webhooks and official mobile SDKs are rolling out alongside the public v1 API.

Server-side smart routing to store and web URLs is available today. Native deferred deep linking (open the installed app with context) and Universal Links / App Links setup guides are in Docs — those flows pair AppRoute short URLs with your mobile app configuration.

Email support@getapproute.com — median first reply is about two hours on business days. Browse this FAQ, the Guides hub, or the Support page for routing recipes and billing topics. Status updates live at /status.

Yes. Partners earn 25% recurring commission for 12 months on Pro and Team referrals, with a 90-day attribution window. See the Affiliates page for commission tables, partner kit details, and how to apply.