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Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 4 Jun 2026 CET
App Store

Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store

We at 42matters have identified the 20 most popular Developer Tools SDKs leveraged by iOS apps available on the iOS app market.

Developer Tool SDKs help developers build sophisticated mobile apps. Technology vendors and platform providers develop these SDKs — which include programming libraries, APIs, sample code, documentation, and other tools — for third-party app developers that want to build mobile apps that leverage the features and functionalities of their technologies or platforms.

This list is based on our analysis of the millions of mobile applications – and the 2,300+ SDKs they use – that constitute the vast inventory of the Apple App Store. The accompanying data provides readers with a glimpse into the rich mobile application insights generated by the 42matters technology. This data is also available via our APIs, file dumps, Explorer, and SDK Explorer.

The intended purpose of this article is to assist app builders in their search for the perfect Developer Tools SDK to leverage in their app, as well as to give SDK developers insight into their biggest competitors and potential customers. This data collected by our technology may also serve as a useful tool for folks researching the wider mobile app market.

The 20 most widely-integrated developer tools SDKs:

1st

Apple Core Foundation

Check “Apple Core Foundation” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 99.96% have integrated Apple Core Foundation. This accounts for 100.00% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.94m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.75m
Games
193.44k
Total Downloads
580.94b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
444.32b
Game Downloads
136.62b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Core Foundation.

2nd

Apple AVFoundation

Check “Apple AVFoundation” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 75.84% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 95.24% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.48m
App Store
App Share
75.84%
App Store
Apps
1.30m
Games
174.89k
Total Downloads
553.30b
App Store
Download Share
95.24%
App Store
App Downloads
418.94b
Game Downloads
134.36b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple AVFoundation.

3rd

Apple WebKit

Check “Apple WebKit” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 70.54% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 94.11% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.37m
App Store
App Share
70.54%
App Store
Apps
1.24m
Games
134.47k
Total Downloads
546.73b
App Store
Download Share
94.11%
App Store
App Downloads
415.92b
Game Downloads
130.81b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple WebKit.

4th

Google Firebase

Check “Google Firebase” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 50.21% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.47% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Firebase is Google's mobile platform SDK that helps you quickly develop high-quality apps and grow your business.

Total Apps
977.01k
App Store
App Share
50.21%
App Store
Apps
889.32k
Games
87.69k
Total Downloads
386.15b
App Store
Download Share
66.47%
App Store
App Downloads
279.49b
Game Downloads
106.66b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Google Firebase.

5th

Apple Accelerate

Check “Apple Accelerate” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 48.83% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 78.22% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
950.10k
App Store
App Share
48.83%
App Store
Apps
881.63k
Games
68.47k
Total Downloads
454.42b
App Store
Download Share
78.22%
App Store
App Downloads
338.57b
Game Downloads
115.85b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Accelerate.

6th

Firebase Installations

Check “Firebase Installations” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 41.22% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 62.34% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
802.08k
App Store
App Share
41.22%
App Store
Apps
746.27k
Games
55.80k
Total Downloads
362.17b
App Store
Download Share
62.34%
App Store
App Downloads
265.47b
Game Downloads
96.71b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Firebase Installations.

7th

Apple Core Data

Check “Apple Core Data” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 30.34% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 52.05% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
590.29k
App Store
App Share
30.34%
App Store
Apps
562.42k
Games
27.87k
Total Downloads
302.39b
App Store
Download Share
52.05%
App Store
App Downloads
259.03b
Game Downloads
43.36b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Core Data.

8th

Promises by Google

Check “Promises by Google” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 27.11% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 20.47% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
527.43k
App Store
App Share
27.11%
App Store
Apps
499.48k
Games
27.95k
Total Downloads
118.94b
App Store
Download Share
20.47%
App Store
App Downloads
82.89b
Game Downloads
36.04b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Promises by Google.

9th

Apple Metal

Check “Apple Metal” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 23.54% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 61.98% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
458.10k
App Store
App Share
23.54%
App Store
Apps
345.30k
Games
112.79k
Total Downloads
360.07b
App Store
Download Share
61.98%
App Store
App Downloads
238.11b
Game Downloads
121.97b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Metal.

10th

Apple Swift Framework

Check “Apple Swift Framework” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 21.13% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 9.93% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Apple Swift Framework is a powerful and intuitive programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS and beyond.

Total Apps
411.07k
App Store
App Share
21.13%
App Store
Apps
365.77k
Games
45.30k
Total Downloads
57.68b
App Store
Download Share
9.93%
App Store
App Downloads
33.90b
Game Downloads
23.78b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Swift Framework.

11th

Firebase Remote Config

Check “Firebase Remote Config” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 14.26% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 37.53% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
277.52k
App Store
App Share
14.26%
App Store
Apps
248.95k
Games
28.58k
Total Downloads
218.02b
App Store
Download Share
37.53%
App Store
App Downloads
164.48b
Game Downloads
53.54b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Firebase Remote Config.

12th

Firebase App Check

Check “Firebase App Check” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 12.20% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 11.90% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
237.44k
App Store
App Share
12.20%
App Store
Apps
224.09k
Games
13.35k
Total Downloads
69.15b
App Store
Download Share
11.90%
App Store
App Downloads
54.17b
Game Downloads
14.97b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Firebase App Check.

13th

Expo

Check “Expo” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 10.57% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 1.55% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
205.70k
App Store
App Share
10.57%
App Store
Apps
200.51k
Games
5.19k
Total Downloads
8.99b
App Store
Download Share
1.55%
App Store
App Downloads
8.83b
Game Downloads
159.45m

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Expo.

14th

Apple Vision

Check “Apple Vision” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 10.02% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 26.56% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
195.04k
App Store
App Share
10.02%
App Store
Apps
192.33k
Games
2.71k
Total Downloads
154.30b
App Store
Download Share
26.56%
App Store
App Downloads
153.67b
Game Downloads
634.71m

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Vision.

15th

Apple Core Bluetooth

Check “Apple Core Bluetooth” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 8.74% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 17.47% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
170.12k
App Store
App Share
8.74%
App Store
Apps
162.55k
Games
7.57k
Total Downloads
101.51b
App Store
Download Share
17.47%
App Store
App Downloads
96.85b
Game Downloads
4.65b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Core Bluetooth.

16th

react-native-device-info

Check “react-native-device-info” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 7.92% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.46% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

The react-native-device-info SDK offers device information for React Native for iOS and Android.

Total Apps
154.05k
App Store
App Share
7.92%
App Store
Apps
153.19k
Games
857
Total Downloads
20.08b
App Store
Download Share
3.46%
App Store
App Downloads
19.77b
Game Downloads
308.13m

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use react-native-device-info.

17th

Protobuf

Check “Protobuf” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 6.26% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.95% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Protocol Buffers (a.k.a., protobuf) are Google's language-neutral, platform-neutral, extensible mechanism for serializing structured data.

Total Apps
121.72k
App Store
App Share
6.26%
App Store
Apps
115.05k
Games
6.67k
Total Downloads
110.12b
App Store
Download Share
18.95%
App Store
App Downloads
102.46b
Game Downloads
7.66b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Protobuf.

19th

Apple Speech

Check “Apple Speech” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 3.32% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 11.09% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
64.67k
App Store
App Share
3.32%
App Store
Apps
64.08k
Games
597
Total Downloads
64.42b
App Store
Download Share
11.09%
App Store
App Downloads
62.45b
Game Downloads
1.97b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Speech.

20th

Apple Core ML

Check “Apple Core ML” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 2.87% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 34.67% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
55.91k
App Store
App Share
2.87%
App Store
Apps
33.00k
Games
22.91k
Total Downloads
201.41b
App Store
Download Share
34.67%
App Store
App Downloads
128.68b
Game Downloads
72.73b

Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple Core ML.

Browse iOS and Android SDKs With the SDK Explorer

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  • SDK IntelligenceSDK Intelligence

    See how many apps integrate specific SDKs, how many times these SDKs have been downloaded, developer details, similar SDKs, and more.

  • New Installations and Removals HistoryNew Installations and Removals History

    Analyze installation and removal trends for SDKs. Discover which apps have removed or integrated specific SDKs in a given timeframe.

  • Market Share per Google Play and Apple App Store CategoryMarket Share per Google Play and Apple App Store Category

    See which app categories or genres are most likely to use specific SDKs. Detect SDK market share per category.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does 42matters collect this data?'

We’ve developed a number of machine learning algorithms that scan millions of mobile and connected TV (CTV) applications on a regular basis. In addition, we collect ground truth app performance intelligence and use this data to build statistical models that estimate the performance of apps for which we do not have ground truth data.

What SDK data does 42matters collect?'

We track over 2,300 of the most popular SDKs integrated in iOS and Android apps. We collect a variety of SDK insights (title, platform, ID, category, and developer website); performance metrics (the number of apps that have installed each SDK, installation and removal trends, and app downloads); market share statistics (including market share per app category); and more!

How can I access 42matters’ SDK data?'

The most direct way is to use our SDK Explorer, which is a visual, web-based research platform that enables you to peruse all 2,300+ SDKs that we track. It’s great for market research, lead generation, competitor analysis, etc. However, more technically-inclined folks might prefer our APIs and File Dumps, which enable you to query info for specific apps or SDKs. You can also use our other research platform (the Explorer) to view integrated SDKs by app.

Can I use 42matters’ solutions to generate app publisher leads?'

Absolutely! We actually wrote about this on our blog. We focused on ad network SDKs, but the examples are applicable to most SDK types. To summarize, you can use the Explorer’s advanced filtering capabilities to home in on best-fit app publishers, leverage the SDK Explorer to see which apps use your competitors’ SDKs, and use our APIs and file dumps to build custom lead generation processes.

What data does 42matters provide on mobile apps?'

A ton! We track 17+ million apps across Google Play, the Apple App Store, Amazon Appstore, Tencent Appstore, and Huawei AppGallery. Our solutions provide access to app details (developer insights, metadata, ASO keywords, contact information, etc.); performance metrics (downloads, MAUs, ratings, reviews, top chart rankings, etc.); technical insights (integrated SDKs, permissions, required capabilities, etc.); content details (categories, genres, IAB categories, content ratings, etc.); compliance information (app-ads.txt, privacy policies, store status, etc.) and much, much more!

Can I use 42matters’ solutions to find SDKs for my app?'

Definitely. The SDK Explorer enables you to sort SDKs by category, identify similar SDKs, analyze SDK reliability, and more. In addition, you can use the Explorer to monitor your competitors, including which SDKs they add and remove, their current tech stacks, and SDK changelogs. This means you use our solutions not only to find the right SDK for a particular purpose, but also which SDKs you might need to keep up with your rivals.