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: 27 Aug 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
2.04m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.83m
Games
201.66k
Total Downloads
599.50b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
459.51b
Game Downloads
139.98b

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, 75.59% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 94.80% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.54m
App Store
App Share
75.59%
App Store
Apps
1.36m
Games
181.19k
Total Downloads
568.34b
App Store
Download Share
94.80%
App Store
App Downloads
430.56b
Game Downloads
137.79b

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, 70.44% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 93.75% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.44m
App Store
App Share
70.44%
App Store
Apps
1.29m
Games
141.50k
Total Downloads
562.04b
App Store
Download Share
93.75%
App Store
App Downloads
427.82b
Game Downloads
134.22b

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, 49.39% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.28% 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
1.01m
App Store
App Share
49.39%
App Store
Apps
916.17k
Games
90.12k
Total Downloads
397.37b
App Store
Download Share
66.28%
App Store
App Downloads
288.15b
Game Downloads
109.22b

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, 48.99% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 77.21% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
998.18k
App Store
App Share
48.99%
App Store
Apps
926.88k
Games
71.30k
Total Downloads
462.86b
App Store
Download Share
77.21%
App Store
App Downloads
343.67b
Game Downloads
119.19b

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, 40.91% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 62.52% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
833.59k
App Store
App Share
40.91%
App Store
Apps
775.83k
Games
57.76k
Total Downloads
374.80b
App Store
Download Share
62.52%
App Store
App Downloads
276.07b
Game Downloads
98.74b

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, 29.47% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 51.98% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
600.47k
App Store
App Share
29.47%
App Store
Apps
572.58k
Games
27.89k
Total Downloads
311.62b
App Store
Download Share
51.98%
App Store
App Downloads
267.12b
Game Downloads
44.50b

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, 26.26% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 19.76% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
534.99k
App Store
App Share
26.26%
App Store
Apps
506.60k
Games
28.39k
Total Downloads
118.44b
App Store
Download Share
19.76%
App Store
App Downloads
83.25b
Game Downloads
35.18b

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, 23.34% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 61.64% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
475.44k
App Store
App Share
23.34%
App Store
Apps
360.50k
Games
114.94k
Total Downloads
369.54b
App Store
Download Share
61.64%
App Store
App Downloads
244.22b
Game Downloads
125.32b

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, 18.95% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 8.99% 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
386.09k
App Store
App Share
18.95%
App Store
Apps
342.57k
Games
43.52k
Total Downloads
53.88b
App Store
Download Share
8.99%
App Store
App Downloads
31.52b
Game Downloads
22.36b

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, 14.40% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 37.98% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
293.40k
App Store
App Share
14.40%
App Store
Apps
263.37k
Games
30.03k
Total Downloads
227.70b
App Store
Download Share
37.98%
App Store
App Downloads
171.61b
Game Downloads
56.09b

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, 12.42% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.09% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
253.08k
App Store
App Share
12.42%
App Store
Apps
238.38k
Games
14.70k
Total Downloads
72.48b
App Store
Download Share
12.09%
App Store
App Downloads
56.39b
Game Downloads
16.09b

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, 11.85% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 1.73% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
241.40k
App Store
App Share
11.85%
App Store
Apps
234.46k
Games
6.94k
Total Downloads
10.36b
App Store
Download Share
1.73%
App Store
App Downloads
10.15b
Game Downloads
203.98m

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, 10.91% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 27.24% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
222.35k
App Store
App Share
10.91%
App Store
Apps
219.14k
Games
3.21k
Total Downloads
163.29b
App Store
Download Share
27.24%
App Store
App Downloads
162.31b
Game Downloads
983.52m

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, 8.50% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 17.90% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
173.12k
App Store
App Share
8.50%
App Store
Apps
165.63k
Games
7.49k
Total Downloads
107.29b
App Store
Download Share
17.90%
App Store
App Downloads
102.52b
Game Downloads
4.77b

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, 7.81% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.55% 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
159.21k
App Store
App Share
7.81%
App Store
Apps
158.29k
Games
924
Total Downloads
21.30b
App Store
Download Share
3.55%
App Store
App Downloads
20.98b
Game Downloads
320.58m

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, 5.68% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.43% 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
115.66k
App Store
App Share
5.68%
App Store
Apps
109.10k
Games
6.56k
Total Downloads
110.50b
App Store
Download Share
18.43%
App Store
App Downloads
103.28b
Game Downloads
7.22b

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, 3.39% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 11.72% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
68.98k
App Store
App Share
3.39%
App Store
Apps
68.33k
Games
652
Total Downloads
70.28b
App Store
Download Share
11.72%
App Store
App Downloads
68.25b
Game Downloads
2.04b

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, 2.94% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 34.34% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
59.84k
App Store
App Share
2.94%
App Store
Apps
35.48k
Games
24.36k
Total Downloads
205.85b
App Store
Download Share
34.34%
App Store
App Downloads
129.35b
Game Downloads
76.50b

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.