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Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 11 Oct 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
2.13m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.92m
Games
210.72k
Total Downloads
609.83b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
467.70b
Game Downloads
142.12b

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, 75.12% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 94.55% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.60m
App Store
App Share
75.12%
App Store
Apps
1.41m
Games
186.68k
Total Downloads
576.63b
App Store
Download Share
94.55%
App Store
App Downloads
437.86b
Game Downloads
138.77b

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, 70.28% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 93.61% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.50m
App Store
App Share
70.28%
App Store
Apps
1.35m
Games
147.94k
Total Downloads
570.85b
App Store
Download Share
93.61%
App Store
App Downloads
435.45b
Game Downloads
135.40b

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, 49.13% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 77.15% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.05m
App Store
App Share
49.13%
App Store
Apps
973.26k
Games
73.65k
Total Downloads
470.51b
App Store
Download Share
77.15%
App Store
App Downloads
350.04b
Game Downloads
120.47b

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, 48.33% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.40% 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
1.03m
App Store
App Share
48.33%
App Store
Apps
938.45k
Games
91.41k
Total Downloads
404.92b
App Store
Download Share
66.40%
App Store
App Downloads
294.47b
Game Downloads
110.45b

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, 40.31% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 62.78% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
858.90k
App Store
App Share
40.31%
App Store
Apps
799.68k
Games
59.22k
Total Downloads
382.84b
App Store
Download Share
62.78%
App Store
App Downloads
282.33b
Game Downloads
100.51b

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, 28.58% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 51.60% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
608.97k
App Store
App Share
28.58%
App Store
Apps
581.05k
Games
27.92k
Total Downloads
314.66b
App Store
Download Share
51.60%
App Store
App Downloads
269.87b
Game Downloads
44.79b

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, 25.21% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 18.66% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
537.18k
App Store
App Share
25.21%
App Store
Apps
509.18k
Games
28.00k
Total Downloads
113.79b
App Store
Download Share
18.66%
App Store
App Downloads
81.54b
Game Downloads
32.25b

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, 22.88% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 61.02% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
487.50k
App Store
App Share
22.88%
App Store
Apps
371.77k
Games
115.73k
Total Downloads
372.14b
App Store
Download Share
61.02%
App Store
App Downloads
248.45b
Game Downloads
123.68b

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, 17.22% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 7.07% 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
366.85k
App Store
App Share
17.22%
App Store
Apps
325.64k
Games
41.22k
Total Downloads
43.11b
App Store
Download Share
7.07%
App Store
App Downloads
24.69b
Game Downloads
18.42b

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, 14.23% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 38.16% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
303.26k
App Store
App Share
14.23%
App Store
Apps
272.07k
Games
31.19k
Total Downloads
232.70b
App Store
Download Share
38.16%
App Store
App Downloads
175.70b
Game Downloads
57.00b

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, 13.26% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 1.99% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
282.60k
App Store
App Share
13.26%
App Store
Apps
273.63k
Games
8.96k
Total Downloads
12.16b
App Store
Download Share
1.99%
App Store
App Downloads
11.86b
Game Downloads
296.30m

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

13th

Firebase App Check

Check “Firebase App Check” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 12.40% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.27% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
264.18k
App Store
App Share
12.40%
App Store
Apps
248.31k
Games
15.88k
Total Downloads
74.80b
App Store
Download Share
12.27%
App Store
App Downloads
58.01b
Game Downloads
16.78b

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

14th

Apple Vision

Check “Apple Vision” SDK Insights

Among all apps utilizing developer tools SDKs, 11.57% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 27.99% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
246.64k
App Store
App Share
11.57%
App Store
Apps
242.97k
Games
3.67k
Total Downloads
170.67b
App Store
Download Share
27.99%
App Store
App Downloads
169.26b
Game Downloads
1.42b

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, 8.19% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 18.09% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
174.60k
App Store
App Share
8.19%
App Store
Apps
167.28k
Games
7.32k
Total Downloads
110.32b
App Store
Download Share
18.09%
App Store
App Downloads
104.72b
Game Downloads
5.59b

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, 7.62% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.56% 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
162.31k
App Store
App Share
7.62%
App Store
Apps
161.34k
Games
971
Total Downloads
21.69b
App Store
Download Share
3.56%
App Store
App Downloads
21.33b
Game Downloads
357.10m

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, 5.27% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.11% 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
112.39k
App Store
App Share
5.27%
App Store
Apps
106.05k
Games
6.35k
Total Downloads
110.45b
App Store
Download Share
18.11%
App Store
App Downloads
103.82b
Game Downloads
6.64b

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, 3.49% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 12.12% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
74.45k
App Store
App Share
3.49%
App Store
Apps
73.71k
Games
741
Total Downloads
73.88b
App Store
Download Share
12.12%
App Store
App Downloads
70.94b
Game Downloads
2.94b

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, 2.91% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 34.53% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
62.10k
App Store
App Share
2.91%
App Store
Apps
37.16k
Games
24.94k
Total Downloads
210.57b
App Store
Download Share
34.53%
App Store
App Downloads
133.21b
Game Downloads
77.36b

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.