42matters.com

In One Sentence

42matters.com is a U.S.-based mobile app and connected TV (CTV) app data analytics platform that provides in-depth app store data insights for market researchers, developers, and businesses. Through its API and data export features, it helps users track key metrics such as app rankings, downloads, user reviews, and SDK usage, supporting competitive analysis and market strategy development. For teams that need to collect app data in bulk and monitor industry trends, 42matters is a professional, relatively low-profile tool, especially known for its coverage of CTV app data.

Business Overview

Founded in 2014, 42matters focuses on data mining and analytics for mobile and CTV apps. Its core business is collecting app metadata from Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and multiple CTV platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV, then providing structured ways to access that data. Its main products include the App Market Data API, App Discovery tools, SDK detection tools, and App ranking trackers. In terms of market position, it belongs to the second tier of the App Intelligence space. Compared with giants such as App Annie, now data.ai, and Sensor Tower, it is less well known, but it stands out for API flexibility and CTV data coverage. Its customers are mainly small and mid-sized development teams, market research firms, ad tech companies, and game publishers that typically need custom queries and bulk data exports.

Who It’s For

42matters is best suited for developers or data analysts who need deep, automated access to app data. Individual developers who only want to occasionally check the rankings of a few competitors may find it too specialized. But if your business involves monitoring a large number of apps, such as managing a portfolio of hundreds of apps, or if you need to integrate app data into your own dashboard, its API can be highly valuable. Small teams and enterprise users are its main target audience, especially teams working on ASO, ad campaign monitoring, or market intelligence. CTV app developers and OTT content providers may also find it uniquely useful, as there are not many tools on the market focused on CTV app data. Less suitable use cases include ordinary users who only need a free and simple way to view rankings, or trading-style scenarios that require extremely real-time data.

Key Features and Highlights

• API Data Access: Provides RESTful APIs that support queries by app ID, keyword, category, and other criteria for app metadata, ratings, download estimates, and SDK information, making it easy to integrate into internal systems.
• CTV App Coverage: Covers app data from smart TV platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV, which is one of its key differentiators.
• SDK Detection: Identifies which third-party SDKs are integrated into an app, such as advertising, analytics, and payment SDKs, helping with competitor tech-stack analysis or compliance reviews.
• Bulk Data Export: Supports bulk exports in CSV or JSON format, suitable for users who are less comfortable with programming and prefer offline analysis.
• App Discovery and Filtering: Offers app search and filtering across multiple dimensions, including category, country, rating, and update time, making it easier to discover emerging apps.
• Historical Data Lookup: Provides access to historical app rankings and rating changes for trend analysis and long-term monitoring.

Pricing Analysis

42matters does not have transparent pricing. Its website does not publicly list specific monthly or annual fees, and users need to contact sales for a quote. Based on industry norms and comparable products, such as App Annie API services often starting from several hundred to several thousand dollars per month, 42matters is likely positioned in the mid-to-high range and may charge based on API call volume, data volume, or feature modules. For individual users, there may be no free tier or only a very limited free allowance. For enterprise users, it offers flexible custom plans, but the risk of hidden costs lies in the fact that exceeding API quotas or requiring advanced data, such as more accurate download estimates, could significantly increase the price. Overall value for money depends on the scale of your data needs. If you only need a small number of queries, tools with a free tier may be a better choice; if you need bulk and frequent API calls, its API flexibility may be more cost-effective than larger providers.

How Chinese Users Can Use It

42matters is generally usable from mainland China. Its website and API can be accessed domestically, but some data sources, such as real-time Google Play rankings, may be affected by network fluctuations and may occasionally require a VPN or similar network access method for stable retrieval. In terms of payment, the website does not clearly list supported payment channels, but given its U.S. company background, it most likely supports credit cards such as Visa/Mastercard and PayPal. There is currently no public evidence that it supports mainstream Chinese payment methods such as Alipay or WeChat Pay, so users may need to contact sales to negotiate payment options. For invoicing, as a U.S. company, it may only provide an English invoice or pro forma invoice and cannot issue Chinese VAT invoices. Domestic alternatives include Qimai.cn and App Growing, which offer stronger coverage of Chinese app data and more convenient payment options, but lack sufficient CTV data coverage. Chinese users are advised to first request a trial or contact sales to confirm network stability and payment feasibility before committing to a paid plan.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ✅ Broad CTV app data coverage, making it one of the few tools in the industry focused on this area
• ✅ Highly flexible API with support for custom queries and bulk exports
• ✅ Practical SDK detection for competitor technology analysis
• ✅ Historical data access, suitable for long-term trend research

Cons:

• ❌ Pricing is not transparent; quotes require contacting sales, increasing decision-making friction
• ❌ No clear refund policy, so users may be unable to get a refund if dissatisfied after a trial
• ❌ Access stability from mainland China is average, and some data sources may require VPN access
• ❌ Payment options are not friendly for Chinese users, with no Alipay/WeChat support
• ❌ Lower brand recognition than App Annie and Sensor Tower, with limited community support

Comparison With Similar Products

• Sensor Tower: An industry leader with broader data coverage and some features available in the free version, but API pricing is higher and it pays less attention to CTV data. 42matters has an edge in CTV coverage and API flexibility.
• App Annie (data.ai): Offers more comprehensive market analysis reports and visualization dashboards, making it suitable for non-technical users, but its API has a higher usage barrier and pricing is also relatively high. 42matters is better suited for technical teams.
• Appfigures: Focuses on app rankings and revenue estimates, with relatively transparent pricing and a free plan. However, its data depth and CTV coverage are weaker than 42matters. If budget is limited, Appfigures is a lighter-weight option.

Recommendation

42matters is best suited for scenarios where you need to monitor app performance across CTV platforms in bulk, or where your team has the technical capability to integrate its API into an internal data analytics system. If you mainly care about standard iOS/Android app data and have a limited budget, it is worth trying the free versions of Sensor Tower or Appfigures first. For Chinese users, unless your business must cover overseas CTV markets, domestic tools such as Qimai.cn may be easier to work with. It is recommended to contact sales through the official website to request trial access or a quote, and to verify API response speed and data quality before paying. Buying a long-term plan directly carries some risk, as there is no guaranteed refund policy.