Goodbye CocoaPods: It’s Time to Migrate to Swift Package Manager

After more than a decade as the standard tool for dependency management in iOS, CocoaPods has entered maintenance mode and, by 2026, its specification repository will be read-only. This means that it will no longer receive new features or bug fixes from the community, except for critical security updates and Xcode compatibility patches.

However, beyond its discontinuation, recent security vulnerabilities have exposed millions of iOS and macOS applications to supply chain attacks, posing a critical risk to software integrity. Given this scenario, the only logical direction for developers and companies is to migrate to a more modern and secure solution: Swift Package Manager (SPM).

🚨 Problems with CocoaPods Today

Despite its legacy, CocoaPods has proven to be a tool that complicates rather than facilitates modern iOS projects. Some of its main issues include:

• Maintenance mode and progressive abandonment: CocoaPods will stop accepting new pod versions in 2026, meaning existing libraries will become outdated.
• Unacceptable security risks: Recent reports have revealed vulnerabilities allowing attackers to claim unprotected packages and inject malicious code.
• Ruby dependency and compatibility issues: CocoaPods relies on Ruby, often causing installation problems in modern macOS environments.
• Complex configuration and dependency management: Developers frequently face conflicts in the Podfile, workspace issues, and build failures.

✅ Swift Package Manager: The Natural and Secure Alternative

The good news is that Apple offers an official, modern, and native alternative: Swift Package Manager (SPM). Its main advantages include:

• Enhanced security: SPM integrates natively with Xcode and uses Git repositories as its dependency source, reducing the risk of supply chain attacks.
• Better performance: As a native tool, SPM is optimized for Apple's ecosystem, resulting in faster build times and smoother integration.
• Simplified dependency management: No more Podfiles or complex configurations. SPM offers a cleaner and more efficient approach.
• Guaranteed Xcode compatibility: SPM is Apple’s official package manager, ensuring long-term support and stability.
• Easier CI/CD integration: SPM works seamlessly with automation pipelines and collaborative development environments.

🔄 How We Can Help You Migrate from CocoaPods to SPM

If your company still relies on CocoaPods, now is the time to migrate to SPM. At AtalayaSoft, we have extensive experience cleaning up projects, removing CocoaPods dependencies, and re-implementing them in Swift Package Manager and native Apple libraries.

💡 Do you have a project that needs migration? We can help you make the transition efficiently and without disruptions to your development workflow.

📩 Contact us here for more information.