▸Example Google Analytics for Firebase call (the "before")
import com.google.firebase.analytics.ktx.analytics
import com.google.firebase.ktx.Firebase
// GA4 event with user_id and freeform parameters:
Firebase.analytics.logEvent("level_up") {
param("level", 7L)
param("character", "Aragorn")
param("user_id", userId)
}
App-binary size affects download conversion (especially on lower-end devices and cellular networks) and storage pressure for users with full phones. Heavy analytics SDKs (Firebase Analytics, AppsFlyer, Branch) routinely add several MB to the binary; Respectlytics's per-platform SDK is under 100 KB.
☑Remove Google Analytics for Firebase cleanly
-
1
Remove the Firebase Analytics dependency from your build (CocoaPods / SPM / Gradle / npm / pub)
-
2
Remove the GA4 property's data stream linkage from your Firebase console — the data stops flowing as soon as the SDK is removed, but the property remains until manually deleted
-
3
Replace
Analytics.logEventcall sites withRespectlytics.track("event_name") -
4
Re-audit your
Info.plistandAndroidManifest.xmlfor IDFA / AD_ID surfaces that GA for Firebase contributed -
5
Confirm
play-services-ads-identifieris no longer in the Android runtime classpath
⇋Google Analytics for Firebase vs Respectlytics — smaller app binary
| Google Analytics for Firebase | Respectlytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical contribution to IPA size | — see tool note above | < 100 KB |
| Typical contribution to APK / AAB size | — see tool note above | < 100 KB |
| Transitive dependencies | — see tool note above | None (zero third-party) |
❓Frequently asked questions
How much do these SDKs typically add to my binary?
Varies by SDK. Rough order of magnitude on Android (release AAB): Firebase Analytics ~3-4 MB (with transitive Google Play Services), AppsFlyer ~1-2 MB, Branch ~1.5 MB, Mixpanel ~1 MB. Our [SDK Bundle-Size Comparator](/tools/sdk-bundle-size-comparator/) has up-to-date numbers per SDK.
Does binary size actually affect downloads?
Yes — particularly past Apple's 200 MB cellular-download cap and on lower-end Android devices with limited storage. Google's Play Console has internal metrics showing measurable install-rate differences when AAB size crosses common thresholds (50 MB, 100 MB).
How does the size reduction work in practice?
Removing a single ~3 MB SDK from your release build shrinks the binary by roughly that amount. Multiplied by user installs, the cellular-data savings compound. iOS App Thinning handles per-device variants; Android AAB delivers size-optimised installs by ABI / density / language.
Does the smaller SDK come at a feature cost?
Respectlytics intentionally doesn't bundle features it considers separate concerns: no ads, no attribution, no in-app messaging, no A/B testing, no crash reporting. Each of those is a dedicated tool's job. The smaller surface is the deliberate design — you add only what you actually use.