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Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 13 Nov 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
2.22m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
2.00m
Games
222.22k
Total Downloads
615.28b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
473.17b
Game Downloads
142.11b

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, 75.03% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 94.87% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.66m
App Store
App Share
75.03%
App Store
Apps
1.47m
Games
194.49k
Total Downloads
583.73b
App Store
Download Share
94.87%
App Store
App Downloads
444.99b
Game Downloads
138.74b

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, 70.98% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 93.96% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.57m
App Store
App Share
70.98%
App Store
Apps
1.42m
Games
157.53k
Total Downloads
578.14b
App Store
Download Share
93.96%
App Store
App Downloads
442.78b
Game Downloads
135.36b

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

4th

Apple Accelerate

Check “Apple Accelerate” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 49.04% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 78.06% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.09m
App Store
App Share
49.04%
App Store
Apps
1.01m
Games
76.22k
Total Downloads
480.30b
App Store
Download Share
78.06%
App Store
App Downloads
359.10b
Game Downloads
121.20b

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

5th

Google Firebase

Check “Google Firebase” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 47.45% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.66% 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
1.05m
App Store
App Share
47.45%
App Store
Apps
958.30k
Games
94.20k
Total Downloads
410.13b
App Store
Download Share
66.66%
App Store
App Downloads
299.27b
Game Downloads
110.86b

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

6th

Firebase Installations

Check “Firebase Installations” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 40.25% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 63.52% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
892.78k
App Store
App Share
40.25%
App Store
Apps
829.14k
Games
63.64k
Total Downloads
390.82b
App Store
Download Share
63.52%
App Store
App Downloads
288.12b
Game Downloads
102.70b

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, 28.00% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 53.40% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
621.17k
App Store
App Share
28.00%
App Store
Apps
592.74k
Games
28.43k
Total Downloads
328.55b
App Store
Download Share
53.40%
App Store
App Downloads
279.28b
Game Downloads
49.27b

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, 24.16% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 18.30% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
536.06k
App Store
App Share
24.16%
App Store
Apps
508.00k
Games
28.07k
Total Downloads
112.63b
App Store
Download Share
18.30%
App Store
App Downloads
81.11b
Game Downloads
31.51b

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, 24.00% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 62.86% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
532.46k
App Store
App Share
24.00%
App Store
Apps
411.91k
Games
120.55k
Total Downloads
386.80b
App Store
Download Share
62.86%
App Store
App Downloads
261.21b
Game Downloads
125.59b

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, 17.55% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 16.60% 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
389.26k
App Store
App Share
17.55%
App Store
Apps
344.69k
Games
44.57k
Total Downloads
102.11b
App Store
Download Share
16.60%
App Store
App Downloads
55.43b
Game Downloads
46.69b

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, 14.47% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 40.21% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
321.05k
App Store
App Share
14.47%
App Store
Apps
286.98k
Games
34.07k
Total Downloads
247.42b
App Store
Download Share
40.21%
App Store
App Downloads
180.87b
Game Downloads
66.55b

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

12th

Expo

Check “Expo” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 13.85% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 2.12% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
307.21k
App Store
App Share
13.85%
App Store
Apps
296.65k
Games
10.56k
Total Downloads
13.03b
App Store
Download Share
2.12%
App Store
App Downloads
12.73b
Game Downloads
303.50m

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

13th

Apple Vision

Check “Apple Vision” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 12.66% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 30.45% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
280.76k
App Store
App Share
12.66%
App Store
Apps
276.19k
Games
4.57k
Total Downloads
187.36b
App Store
Download Share
30.45%
App Store
App Downloads
182.24b
Game Downloads
5.13b

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

14th

Firebase App Check

Check “Firebase App Check” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 12.35% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.43% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
273.86k
App Store
App Share
12.35%
App Store
Apps
256.74k
Games
17.12k
Total Downloads
76.45b
App Store
Download Share
12.43%
App Store
App Downloads
59.29b
Game Downloads
17.16b

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

15th

Apple Core Bluetooth

Check “Apple Core Bluetooth” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 8.03% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 18.34% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
178.06k
App Store
App Share
8.03%
App Store
Apps
170.68k
Games
7.38k
Total Downloads
112.86b
App Store
Download Share
18.34%
App Store
App Downloads
107.47b
Game Downloads
5.39b

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, 7.40% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.76% 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
164.18k
App Store
App Share
7.40%
App Store
Apps
163.19k
Games
998
Total Downloads
23.15b
App Store
Download Share
3.76%
App Store
App Downloads
22.78b
Game Downloads
371.48m

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, 4.98% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.67% 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
110.41k
App Store
App Share
4.98%
App Store
Apps
104.09k
Games
6.31k
Total Downloads
114.86b
App Store
Download Share
18.67%
App Store
App Downloads
107.59b
Game Downloads
7.27b

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

18th

Apple Speech

Check “Apple Speech” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 3.72% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 12.52% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
82.53k
App Store
App Share
3.72%
App Store
Apps
81.68k
Games
855
Total Downloads
77.05b
App Store
Download Share
12.52%
App Store
App Downloads
74.20b
Game Downloads
2.86b

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

19th

Apple Core ML

Check “Apple Core ML” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 3.08% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 36.38% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
68.41k
App Store
App Share
3.08%
App Store
Apps
42.76k
Games
25.65k
Total Downloads
223.83b
App Store
Download Share
36.38%
App Store
App Downloads
143.41b
Game Downloads
80.41b

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.