Can I mix brands of chain and missing link
Shimano recommends their 9 &amp;10 speed chains be reconnected utilizing the specific speed link pin, which is inserted with a chain tool.  In my experience, there has not been any issue, including noise, using KMC's &quot;Missing Link&quot; or SRAM's &quot;Power Link&quot; to join a Shimano chain.  Note that SRAM's 10 speed link is termed &quot;Power Lock&quot; and is suggested for use &quot;one time only&quot; because of the tighter tolerances present in ten speed systems.  In practice, these can be used multiple times, no problem, but I base this on reading others' assessments not my own experience. Shimano's 11 &amp; 12 speed systems use a connecting link, the &quot;QuickLink.&quot;
Typically bike shops I frequent have KMC, SRAM, and Wipperman (whose product is called &quot;Connex&quot;) connecting links to choose from.  Prices are similar between brands within same speed categories.  Connex are a bit more money it appears to me.  At any rate, based on the selection, why not stay within same brand for chain and connecting link?  Regarding Shimano, I use the replacement link pin but again, no problems have been noted by myself or others when a Shimano chain is joined with a connecting link from SRAM or KMC.
Wipperman's design is shaped differently which may limit it to their brand of chains only.  I neither have experience with nor seen anecdotal evidence to say whether a Connex link will work with other brands of chain.