42matters is now part of the Similarweb family. Learn more here
Explorer
No access
Do you want access?Talk to Sales
Platform
Category
Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 20 Apr 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
1.88m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.69m
Games
188.93k
Total Downloads
549.64b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
414.73b
Game Downloads
134.91b

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, 75.93% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 95.03% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.43m
App Store
App Share
75.93%
App Store
Apps
1.26m
Games
171.05k
Total Downloads
522.32b
App Store
Download Share
95.03%
App Store
App Downloads
389.86b
Game Downloads
132.46b

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, 70.61% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 93.83% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.33m
App Store
App Share
70.61%
App Store
Apps
1.20m
Games
130.24k
Total Downloads
515.72b
App Store
Download Share
93.83%
App Store
App Downloads
386.71b
Game Downloads
129.01b

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, 50.71% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 65.72% 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
954.52k
App Store
App Share
50.71%
App Store
Apps
868.21k
Games
86.31k
Total Downloads
361.23b
App Store
Download Share
65.72%
App Store
App Downloads
255.74b
Game Downloads
105.49b

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, 48.60% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 76.37% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
914.92k
App Store
App Share
48.60%
App Store
Apps
848.45k
Games
66.47k
Total Downloads
419.76b
App Store
Download Share
76.37%
App Store
App Downloads
305.54b
Game Downloads
114.22b

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, 41.48% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 62.14% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
780.92k
App Store
App Share
41.48%
App Store
Apps
726.10k
Games
54.82k
Total Downloads
341.59b
App Store
Download Share
62.14%
App Store
App Downloads
245.03b
Game Downloads
96.56b

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, 30.84% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 51.74% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
580.63k
App Store
App Share
30.84%
App Store
Apps
552.94k
Games
27.69k
Total Downloads
284.39b
App Store
Download Share
51.74%
App Store
App Downloads
241.56b
Game Downloads
42.83b

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, 27.49% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 21.84% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
517.58k
App Store
App Share
27.49%
App Store
Apps
489.94k
Games
27.63k
Total Downloads
120.05b
App Store
Download Share
21.84%
App Store
App Downloads
83.92b
Game Downloads
36.13b

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, 23.63% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 60.84% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
444.92k
App Store
App Share
23.63%
App Store
Apps
334.01k
Games
110.91k
Total Downloads
334.43b
App Store
Download Share
60.84%
App Store
App Downloads
214.31b
Game Downloads
120.12b

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, 22.37% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 11.16% 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
421.02k
App Store
App Share
22.37%
App Store
Apps
374.99k
Games
46.03k
Total Downloads
61.37b
App Store
Download Share
11.16%
App Store
App Downloads
37.08b
Game Downloads
24.29b

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, 14.28% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 38.90% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
268.88k
App Store
App Share
14.28%
App Store
Apps
241.05k
Games
27.82k
Total Downloads
213.80b
App Store
Download Share
38.90%
App Store
App Downloads
160.53b
Game Downloads
53.27b

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, 12.08% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.17% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
227.32k
App Store
App Share
12.08%
App Store
Apps
214.73k
Games
12.59k
Total Downloads
66.88b
App Store
Download Share
12.17%
App Store
App Downloads
52.25b
Game Downloads
14.63b

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, 9.65% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 1.58% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
181.57k
App Store
App Share
9.65%
App Store
Apps
177.44k
Games
4.13k
Total Downloads
8.66b
App Store
Download Share
1.58%
App Store
App Downloads
8.48b
Game Downloads
182.07m

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, 9.23% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 25.27% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
173.72k
App Store
App Share
9.23%
App Store
Apps
171.55k
Games
2.17k
Total Downloads
138.88b
App Store
Download Share
25.27%
App Store
App Downloads
138.22b
Game Downloads
654.52m

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, 8.93% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 16.51% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
168.08k
App Store
App Share
8.93%
App Store
Apps
160.43k
Games
7.65k
Total Downloads
90.76b
App Store
Download Share
16.51%
App Store
App Downloads
86.20b
Game Downloads
4.56b

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, 7.94% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.58% 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
149.54k
App Store
App Share
7.94%
App Store
Apps
148.73k
Games
809
Total Downloads
19.68b
App Store
Download Share
3.58%
App Store
App Downloads
19.37b
Game Downloads
311.23m

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, 6.54% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 16.96% 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
123.15k
App Store
App Share
6.54%
App Store
Apps
116.44k
Games
6.71k
Total Downloads
93.23b
App Store
Download Share
16.96%
App Store
App Downloads
85.13b
Game Downloads
8.10b

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, 3.29% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 10.76% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
61.90k
App Store
App Share
3.29%
App Store
Apps
61.35k
Games
548
Total Downloads
59.16b
App Store
Download Share
10.76%
App Store
App Downloads
57.34b
Game Downloads
1.82b

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, 2.85% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 32.68% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
53.59k
App Store
App Share
2.85%
App Store
Apps
31.55k
Games
22.04k
Total Downloads
179.61b
App Store
Download Share
32.68%
App Store
App Downloads
109.00b
Game Downloads
70.61b

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

Browse iOS and Android SDKs With the SDK Explorer

Browse background top image

  • 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.

Browse background bottom imageBrowse right section image
Schedule a demo

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.