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Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 9 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
2.00m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.80m
Games
197.45k
Total Downloads
593.65b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
455.03b
Game Downloads
138.62b

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, 75.64% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 94.88% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.51m
App Store
App Share
75.64%
App Store
Apps
1.34m
Games
177.80k
Total Downloads
563.24b
App Store
Download Share
94.88%
App Store
App Downloads
426.81b
Game Downloads
136.43b

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 93.74% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.41m
App Store
App Share
70.44%
App Store
Apps
1.27m
Games
138.45k
Total Downloads
556.49b
App Store
Download Share
93.74%
App Store
App Downloads
423.63b
Game Downloads
132.87b

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, 49.58% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.15% 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
991.79k
App Store
App Share
49.58%
App Store
Apps
902.94k
Games
88.85k
Total Downloads
392.70b
App Store
Download Share
66.15%
App Store
App Downloads
284.69b
Game Downloads
108.01b

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, 48.90% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 77.17% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
978.21k
App Store
App Share
48.90%
App Store
Apps
908.38k
Games
69.83k
Total Downloads
458.11b
App Store
Download Share
77.17%
App Store
App Downloads
340.26b
Game Downloads
117.85b

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, 41.01% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 62.42% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
820.29k
App Store
App Share
41.01%
App Store
Apps
763.46k
Games
56.82k
Total Downloads
370.60b
App Store
Download Share
62.42%
App Store
App Downloads
273.00b
Game Downloads
97.59b

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, 29.67% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 52.05% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
593.42k
App Store
App Share
29.67%
App Store
Apps
565.80k
Games
27.62k
Total Downloads
308.99b
App Store
Download Share
52.05%
App Store
App Downloads
265.04b
Game Downloads
43.95b

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, 26.43% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 20.02% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
528.65k
App Store
App Share
26.43%
App Store
Apps
500.63k
Games
28.02k
Total Downloads
118.85b
App Store
Download Share
20.02%
App Store
App Downloads
83.40b
Game Downloads
35.45b

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, 23.39% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 61.63% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
467.79k
App Store
App Share
23.39%
App Store
Apps
354.52k
Games
113.27k
Total Downloads
365.86b
App Store
Download Share
61.63%
App Store
App Downloads
241.86b
Game Downloads
124.00b

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, 19.31% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 9.21% 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
386.25k
App Store
App Share
19.31%
App Store
Apps
342.84k
Games
43.41k
Total Downloads
54.69b
App Store
Download Share
9.21%
App Store
App Downloads
32.14b
Game Downloads
22.55b

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, 14.42% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 37.80% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
288.50k
App Store
App Share
14.42%
App Store
Apps
259.07k
Games
29.43k
Total Downloads
224.41b
App Store
Download Share
37.80%
App Store
App Downloads
169.82b
Game Downloads
54.59b

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, 12.40% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.02% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
247.95k
App Store
App Share
12.40%
App Store
Apps
233.67k
Games
14.28k
Total Downloads
71.39b
App Store
Download Share
12.02%
App Store
App Downloads
55.58b
Game Downloads
15.80b

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, 11.52% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 1.68% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
230.52k
App Store
App Share
11.52%
App Store
Apps
224.13k
Games
6.38k
Total Downloads
10.00b
App Store
Download Share
1.68%
App Store
App Downloads
9.82b
Game Downloads
183.24m

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, 10.77% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 26.90% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
215.44k
App Store
App Share
10.77%
App Store
Apps
212.38k
Games
3.06k
Total Downloads
159.71b
App Store
Download Share
26.90%
App Store
App Downloads
158.91b
Game Downloads
801.56m

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, 8.57% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 17.71% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
171.40k
App Store
App Share
8.57%
App Store
Apps
163.95k
Games
7.45k
Total Downloads
105.12b
App Store
Download Share
17.71%
App Store
App Downloads
100.37b
Game Downloads
4.75b

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, 7.85% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.49% 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
156.95k
App Store
App Share
7.85%
App Store
Apps
156.05k
Games
894
Total Downloads
20.74b
App Store
Download Share
3.49%
App Store
App Downloads
20.41b
Game Downloads
323.78m

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, 5.77% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.40% 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
115.49k
App Store
App Share
5.77%
App Store
Apps
108.98k
Games
6.51k
Total Downloads
109.21b
App Store
Download Share
18.40%
App Store
App Downloads
101.96b
Game Downloads
7.25b

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, 3.38% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 11.56% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
67.56k
App Store
App Share
3.38%
App Store
Apps
66.93k
Games
629
Total Downloads
68.65b
App Store
Download Share
11.56%
App Store
App Downloads
66.66b
Game Downloads
1.99b

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, 2.93% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 34.85% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
58.66k
App Store
App Share
2.93%
App Store
Apps
34.78k
Games
23.88k
Total Downloads
206.90b
App Store
Download Share
34.85%
App Store
App Downloads
131.58b
Game Downloads
75.32b

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.