Best iOS emulators
21 best iOS emulators to run iOS applications on your computer (Windows and Mac)
This topic is to ensure that the best iO emulators or iPhone emulators discuss their features. If you fall among the people who are impressed with the iPhone X,
Content:
- Reasons why you should use the iOS emulator
- IOS emulators allow you to run iOS applications on a PC
- It’s cost-effective
- You can use it casually
- The best iOS emulators for Windows
- MobiOne Studios
- Smartface
- App.io
- iPadian
- Appetize.io
- AIR iPhone
- iPhone Simulator
- Xamarin TestFlight
- Electric mobile studio
- Ripple
- iMAME
- Remote iOS simulator
- The best iOS emulators for Mac
- App.io
- Appetize.io
- Xamarin TestFlight
- Conclusion
This topic ensures that the best iOS emulators or iPhone simulators are in detail with their prominent features.
If you are impressed with the iPhone X, but you are still hard-pressed between choosing iOS for your current OS, don’t worry. I can tell you that you are not alone because many people are in a routine—especially the people who have never had the opportunity to use an iOS device.
The good thing is that you can somewhat experience how iOS works with an emulator. The wonderful world of software has many iOS emulators that you can use to share what iOS is like, to see if the person who wants to switch to iOS is comfortable enough for the iOS environment. At the time of writing, emulators are widely available for Windows. Some of them are available for both Mac and Internet use.
There used to be several iOS simulators for Android, but they don’t work anymore. In addition to the above, I will mention all the working iOS emulators, along with the download links. This ensures that the reader is not left in a mess when the emulators do not work at all.
Reasons why you should use the iOS emulator
There is no doubt that emulators have been around for quite some time. Many people tend to associate emulators with a way of playing games that are not supported. The actual use case is broader than just playing.
Many developers use emulators to test specific features in different ecosystems. Because the emulator is an almost perfect replica of that ecosystem, it allows you to decide if an application or website is stable enough for the ecosystem.
There are countless reasons why you should use an iOS simulator or an emulator for this. For starters, you need to have a particular device that runs that operating system.
Below are a few reasons why you should use an iOS emulator.
IOS emulators allow you to run iOS applications on a PC
The number one reason to use an emulator is to eliminate the need for a separate device to test your applications or websites. You can easily mimic iOS and load the app to see if it works or not.
The same procedure applies to application testing. Emulation can potentially save you a ton of time, and you can even solve problems on the go. If you find any bugs during testing, you can iron them out before you run the final release.
Many developers use emulators on real devices because it is also cost-effective.
It’s cost-effective
The good thing is that with an emulator, you really don’t have to worry about existing costs. In most cases, you only need to buy the emulator once. Then it’s good to go. It’s definitely better than buying a device and checking to see if they can run older or newer versions of the OS.
Such a thing does not happen in emulators because they satisfy almost all versions of the OS. Ultimately, save the costs you would spend on a new device.
You can use it casually.
It certainly sounds silly, but there are times when you want to play a game that is exclusive to iOS only. In such cases, instead of buying an iOS device, imitation is cheaper. You will have the same experience, not to mention, emulators like iMAME will also give you unique benefits for the game.
Anyone willing to play iOS games on a PC without buying a new iOS device can benefit significantly from these emulators.
The best iOS emulators for Windows
There’s no need to buy a brand new iOS device just to be able to test it out, and if the official Apple showroom is nowhere near where you live, the emulator is your best friend. This particular section will meet the needs of all Windows users who want to try iOS.
MobiOne Studios
No Longer Available
, the first iOS emulator on the list is MobiOne Studios. Before we get started, I need to add a disclaimer that the developer stopped the emulator, but it still works after the download.
This emulator will allow users to test various iOS applications or games on their computers with great ease. Also, the emulator is not resource-hungry at all, which gives you the ability to run it on just about any device without hardware limitations.
The emulator is also perfect for developers who want to develop more platform applications for smartphones, and last. Still, MobiOne Studios can even enable status notifications that replicate full iOS notifications.
END OF LIFE NOTICE: Development of MobiOne discontinued February 1, 2015. MobiOne sales and download services have been discontinued. Existing installations of MobiOne Studio desktop tools such as the visual design and code generation tools will continue to operate; however, all cloud-based features will no longer function and you will not be able to build an app from your project or publish your project as a webapp. An archive of the MobiOne forum is available.
Smartface
The next best emulator to run iOS apps on your computer is Smartface; it is geared more towards professional users. Developers use this emulator to develop iOS apps and properly test apps to see if they are operational or not.
The Smartface mainly serves professional users, and that’s why this emulator starts at around $99, but there is a free version available to test it. It works best when you need to test cross-platform applications.
It is also good to know that Smartface is probably the most popular iPhone emulator available for use.
App.io
App.io is one of the favorites of iPhone emulators available for Windows PC’s. The emulator is also free. In addition, the emulator is simple, easy to use. It doesn’t require a lot of hassle in setting up and, therefore, can be set up by almost anyone.
It’s one of those iPhone emulators that focuses on simplicity; users just need to sync an app package or apk with this emulator, and they will do it. Once the emulator is fully installed, you can use it as you wish.
Whether you want to try more platform apps or just play some exclusive iOS games, it gives you everything.
iPadian
Definitely an unusual name for an iPad emulator, but if you are looking for something that is easy to use. The iPadian has been the emulator of choice for many professionals and hobbyists.
The reason for this is quite simple to understand, and it works regardless of the user’s advanced knowledge. It is flexible and offers an easy installation and use situation. You really don’t need to get into too much technical stuff.
UI is also another vital part, and it is self-evident, understandable, and works without any lag.
Appetize.io
I’ll be honest here, at first, I had the impression that it wasn’t software to run iOS apps, but for something food-related. The naming scheme is why I was confused. Luckily, the confusion disappeared soon after I downloaded and installed it.
Appetize.io is a unique download of iOS emulators for running iOS applications on a PC; it also allows users to develop multiple platform applications on the cloud through the emulator. Installing and using the emulator is free for the first 100 hours.
You will then be charged a user fee of $ 0.05 per hour. This is not that bad for a fee at all for an emulator that makes things easier for many people.
AIR iPhone
If you’re familiar with the Adobe AIR framework, then you need to know that it’s impressive, to say the least. It’s good to see multiple programs based on the same framework preparing rounds for some time. The AIR iPhone is an emulator based on the same frame in which we loved each other.
Installing and using this emulator is hassle-free. Download the emulator and install, along with the AIR frame, and you are doing well. When you’re done, you can continue without using the AIR iPhone and without any problems.
iPhone Simulator
Another excellent emulator on the list is the iPhone Simulator. I remember using the iPad Simulator in the past, but it has been removed. The iPhone Simulator is used primarily for gaming due to the lack of advanced features, but the good thing is, it’s not entirely wrong, for starters.
You can download iPhone with great ease and play all the games you want on it. Support is great if you encounter any problems. Given that the purpose of this simulator is to focus more on the game side of it, the graphics are exceptional.
iPhone Simulator is easy to use and seems to be very suitable for advanced and or new users.
Xamarin TestFlight
The next iOS emulator running iPhone apps on PC comes in as Xamarin TestFlight, the first official Apple emulator designed to test apps developed for iOS. However, there are limitations to using Xamarine. To begin with, the emulator will only run apps that were created to run on iOS 8.0 or later.
Compared to some other options available in the market, the Xamarin TestFlight is a bit complicated to run correctly. It is made suitable for professional use than for conventional use but works well in both cases. If you can overcome the learning curve, test flight seems like a great iPhone simulator.
Electric mobile studio
Next up is Electric Mobile Studio, a professional-grade mobile iOS emulator used by professionals. It offers a lot of features that satisfy both the iPhone well as iPad web development.
A free trial period is available, but the full version is available for the on-site website for $ 40. While it could be expensive for many people, it is undoubtedly a good investment if you are looking for a complete alternative that will work anyway.
Simply put, if you are a professional programmer looking for something more than an emulator, Electric Mobile Studio is a superb option that you should consider.
Ripple
Ripple is one of my favorite emulators available for iOS. Most of the emulators I try or review usually focus on intermediate use. It means that there is not much substance in them.
However, some exceptions go well above and provide the best imitation experience. One such example is Ripple, a great emulator used to test old and newly developed applications and older applications.
The best thing about Ripple is that Chrome is an extension, so you don’t have to go through a complicated setup process to set it up and run it. The software is still in beta, and some bugs will be there, but in most cases, it works great.
iMAME
iMAME is less of an emulator for testing iOS and more focused on enabling iOS games to be played on a computer. I’ve seen many people want to play exclusive iOS games on their computers, and iMAME is the perfect option.
The good thing is, the software is low in resources and will not encounter hiccups or other similar problems. Still, at the same time, the fact that it’s more focused on gamers shows that it will do more in specific features than in the overall iOS experience.
Still, iMAME is a pretty fantastic emulator for iOS that will run all the games you want to play.
Remote iOS simulator
If you are familiar with Xamarin and its incredible commitment to the simulator market, you would be glad to know about the remote iOS Simulator they have developed. The good news is that you won’t have a problem with this emulator when testing iOS apps on your computer. Whether you’re a developer or want to see if Apple is an ecosystem, this emulator does the job without any problems.
As a developer and programmer, one of the best things about this emulator is that I can quickly fix the program with Windows Visual Studio Enterprise, making this emulator my favorite. Another thing that we should mention is that the emulator makes the whole experience so much easier, and you don’t need to worry about anything. The software is straightforward to use.
The best iOS emulators for Mac
If you are a Mac/iOS user and still want to test your apps to be sure they work the way they should, then the iOS emulator for Mac is what you need.
Fortunately, some iOS emulators for Mac are available for download, but they are not in abundance, so you have several choices. But since they were developed for the Mac, keeping in mind the Mac ecosystem, you can expect many progressive elements.
App.io
App.io brings a comeback, but this time it comes back as an iOS emulator for Mac, not Windows. It is available on both platforms. Both versions work fine. Of course, you may feel at home with the Mac version because there is a close connection between all operating systems under Apple.
The emulator is designed with great jobs and works in the same way, ensuring you the best possible experience without significant flaws. Just know it’s not free, but there’s a 7-day trial for all those skeptical people.
Appetize.io
The second return name in the Mac section is Appetize.io, and I’ve seen many people compare it to App.io for all the right reasons. Both emulators share similarities, turning them into competitions.
Windows version and Mac version are made with great features and to make the experience simplified and as smooth as possible. The testing phase went smoothly, even though it focused on developers.
Starting this program is a bit slow, as it takes time to load all the assets, but once this is done, the whole process becomes smooth and simplified.
Xamarin TestFlight
The latest emulator for the Mac is Xamarin TestFlight, an emulator now owned by Apple. So obviously, I should have tried this. It’s not free, and the setup is a bit complicated, but the good thing is it works excellent.
It’s generally focused on developers and people who want to test their websites or cross-platform apps in the iOS ecosystem, but I assure you it will work without any problems.
Conclusion
Android or iOS emulators are an essential part of both ecosystems. Mainly because the developer prefers to test their applications before sending them to publication properly, it is necessary to remember that owning an iOS device is much more expensive than using an emulator.
Besides, most emulators even allow you to test applications on multiple platforms to see if they work or not. Compared to Android emulators, iOS emulators are not as plentiful, but they are still available.
The list includes almost every good iOS emulator that is available for download. Initially, I wanted to add iPhone simulators with Android, but they are no longer supported.
