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Top 20 Developer Tools SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
Last update: 1 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
2.18m
App Store
App Share
99.96%
App Store
Apps
1.96m
Games
216.67k
Total Downloads
609.93b
App Store
Download Share
100.00%
App Store
App Downloads
467.77b
Game Downloads
142.15b

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, 74.91% have integrated Apple AVFoundation. This accounts for 94.63% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.63m
App Store
App Share
74.91%
App Store
Apps
1.44m
Games
190.50k
Total Downloads
577.16b
App Store
Download Share
94.63%
App Store
App Downloads
438.60b
Game Downloads
138.56b

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, 70.27% have integrated Apple WebKit. This accounts for 93.74% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.53m
App Store
App Share
70.27%
App Store
Apps
1.38m
Games
152.16k
Total Downloads
571.72b
App Store
Download Share
93.74%
App Store
App Downloads
436.58b
Game Downloads
135.15b

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, 48.87% have integrated Apple Accelerate. This accounts for 77.54% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
1.06m
App Store
App Share
48.87%
App Store
Apps
989.82k
Games
74.72k
Total Downloads
472.97b
App Store
Download Share
77.54%
App Store
App Downloads
352.34b
Game Downloads
120.63b

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, 47.85% have integrated Google Firebase. This accounts for 66.49% 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
1.04m
App Store
App Share
47.85%
App Store
Apps
949.70k
Games
92.76k
Total Downloads
405.54b
App Store
Download Share
66.49%
App Store
App Downloads
294.97b
Game Downloads
110.56b

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, 40.45% have integrated Firebase Installations. This accounts for 63.20% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
881.15k
App Store
App Share
40.45%
App Store
Apps
819.32k
Games
61.83k
Total Downloads
385.49b
App Store
Download Share
63.20%
App Store
App Downloads
283.78b
Game Downloads
101.71b

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, 28.27% have integrated Apple Core Data. This accounts for 52.55% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
615.91k
App Store
App Share
28.27%
App Store
Apps
587.69k
Games
28.21k
Total Downloads
320.52b
App Store
Download Share
52.55%
App Store
App Downloads
272.37b
Game Downloads
48.15b

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, 24.58% have integrated Promises by Google. This accounts for 18.35% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
535.57k
App Store
App Share
24.58%
App Store
Apps
507.62k
Games
27.94k
Total Downloads
111.93b
App Store
Download Share
18.35%
App Store
App Downloads
80.71b
Game Downloads
31.22b

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, 23.20% have integrated Apple Metal. This accounts for 61.82% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
505.44k
App Store
App Share
23.20%
App Store
Apps
388.03k
Games
117.42k
Total Downloads
377.07b
App Store
Download Share
61.82%
App Store
App Downloads
253.10b
Game Downloads
123.97b

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, 17.19% have integrated Apple Swift Framework. This accounts for 11.57% 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
374.48k
App Store
App Share
17.19%
App Store
Apps
331.97k
Games
42.51k
Total Downloads
70.56b
App Store
Download Share
11.57%
App Store
App Downloads
38.97b
Game Downloads
31.59b

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, 14.39% have integrated Firebase Remote Config. This accounts for 39.28% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
313.42k
App Store
App Share
14.39%
App Store
Apps
280.84k
Games
32.58k
Total Downloads
239.61b
App Store
Download Share
39.28%
App Store
App Downloads
177.84b
Game Downloads
61.77b

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, 13.36% have integrated Expo. This accounts for 2.06% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
291.08k
App Store
App Share
13.36%
App Store
Apps
281.57k
Games
9.51k
Total Downloads
12.59b
App Store
Download Share
2.06%
App Store
App Downloads
12.30b
Game Downloads
293.68m

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, 12.38% have integrated Firebase App Check. This accounts for 12.33% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
269.68k
App Store
App Share
12.38%
App Store
Apps
253.16k
Games
16.52k
Total Downloads
75.22b
App Store
Download Share
12.33%
App Store
App Downloads
58.34b
Game Downloads
16.88b

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, 12.01% have integrated Apple Vision. This accounts for 29.17% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
261.69k
App Store
App Share
12.01%
App Store
Apps
257.69k
Games
4.00k
Total Downloads
177.94b
App Store
Download Share
29.17%
App Store
App Downloads
173.69b
Game Downloads
4.25b

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, 8.11% have integrated Apple Core Bluetooth. This accounts for 18.22% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
176.61k
App Store
App Share
8.11%
App Store
Apps
169.25k
Games
7.35k
Total Downloads
111.12b
App Store
Download Share
18.22%
App Store
App Downloads
105.55b
Game Downloads
5.57b

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, 7.50% have integrated react-native-device-info. This accounts for 3.66% 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
163.31k
App Store
App Share
7.50%
App Store
Apps
162.33k
Games
981
Total Downloads
22.30b
App Store
Download Share
3.66%
App Store
App Downloads
21.94b
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, 5.11% have integrated Protobuf. This accounts for 18.27% 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
111.37k
App Store
App Share
5.11%
App Store
Apps
105.02k
Games
6.35k
Total Downloads
111.46b
App Store
Download Share
18.27%
App Store
App Downloads
105.07b
Game Downloads
6.39b

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, 3.63% have integrated Apple Speech. This accounts for 12.30% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
79.11k
App Store
App Share
3.63%
App Store
Apps
78.31k
Games
802
Total Downloads
75.04b
App Store
Download Share
12.30%
App Store
App Downloads
72.12b
Game Downloads
2.92b

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, 3.02% have integrated Apple Core ML. This accounts for 35.66% of app downloads within the developer tools SDK category.

Total Apps
65.72k
App Store
App Share
3.02%
App Store
Apps
40.40k
Games
25.32k
Total Downloads
217.50b
App Store
Download Share
35.66%
App Store
App Downloads
138.44b
Game Downloads
79.06b

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.