If you are reading this, I will start with the assumption that you already know what an iOS emulator is and what it does. So, I will simply escape the pain of explaining emulators’ concepts and modus operandi.
I will list the six best iOS emulators for your Windows PC. Remember that not all of them will have the same interface or features. Some will be targeted toward app developers, while others will be for general users like you and me who want to experience iOS apps on the Windows platform.
So, without wasting time, let’s explore the top iOS emulators for Windows and discuss their benefits and drawbacks! Grab a coffee if you want. Do let us know what your favorite iOS emulator is.
1. SmartFace Emulator
If you are a professional app developer for the Apple or Android ecosystem, SmartFace is an emulator you should never ignore. With some advanced features, It is often touted as one of the best emulators for developing apps with cross-platform compatibility.
Pros of SmartFace
- It allows creating as many Apple applications as you want, and that too, free of cost.
- It allows testing both iOS and Android apps.
- The interface of SmartFace is straightforward and intuitive. It is clutter-free and far more soothing than Android Studio (which is an Android emulator meant for developing Android apps only).
- It also comes with an in-browser emulator and simulator for mobile devices. This allows you to run iOS and Android apps in a browser.
- The emulator supports all versions of iOS, iPad, and iPhone.
- SmartFace also has on-device emulators, which can be separately installed on iOS or Android to test an app in development on a live device!
Cons of SmartFace
- While a free trial is available, you must purchase the premium subscription or license to continue using the emulator after the trial ends. Even worse, you cannot directly download the trial version and the SmartFace site doesn’t have a direct download link! You must first register, give your details, enter your requirements and then wait until the SmartFace guys contact you. So, unless you are a serious developer, opting for SmartFace is undoubtedly not something you should do!
- The learning curve is slightly tricky, but it is nothing that you cannot master with some practice.
- The emulator has no support for Bluetooth. This can be a hurdle for app developers.
System Requirements for SmartFace
- You will need Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 or 10.
- You will also need the Java Runtime Environment installed on your computer.
| Emulator Name | SmartFace Emulator |
| Price | A free trial is available, but you must purchase a premium emulator. Provide your details and requirements to get a quote. |
| Platforms | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 | Cloud-based. |
2. Appetize.io
It is the era of ‘online.’ Everything is going online, even the emulators. Appetize.io is one such emulator that can be used online. And guess what? The functionality pleasantly surprised me when I laid my hands on it. My first impression did immediately tell me that it was meant for developers. Here is what I found…
Pros of Appetize.io
- Its entirely online interface makes it readily available on any device. All you need is a browser and an active Internet connection.
- It allows developers to use the emulator for both iOS-based and Android-based app testing.
- It can work with just any operating system platform. So, it doesn’t matter whether you have a Windows PC, a Mac or a Linux system.
- It supports many iOS versions, from iPhone 4 to iPhone 11 and even iPads.
- You can play many iOS games on the Windows Operating system using this iOS emulator.
Cons of Appetize.io
- It is meant only for developers, and you need much experience. There is no drag-and-drop feature, and you must know how to code.
- Of course, it is useless for people who want to experience iOS apps on their Windows desktop.
- It comes with a free demo that lasts only 60 seconds. They should have provided a longer timeframe.
- The worst part is that even if you are a developer, you cannot use the emulator to develop. There is no IDE. You can use it only for testing. You need to have a simulator build ready to upload and see how it works across different devices.
- You can use it free of charge for the first 100 minutes, but you must pay $0.05 per minute after that.
System Requirements for Appetize.io
None! It is an online emulator. You need to have a computer that can run the latest web browser. You also need an active internet connection. If you have these two, you can happily use the emulator.
| Emulator Name | Appetize.io |
| Price | First 100 minutes are free and then $0.05 per minute. |
| Platforms | Web-based and, hence, works on any OS platform. |
3. TestFlight
Are you a nerd? If you answer no, skip this section and read about the next one. I am saying this because TestFlight is now officially owned by Apple and is a beta testing service provided by Apple to iOS app developers. It is meant for beta testing Xamarin iOS apps.
Interestingly, Apple never developed TestFlight. Although it initially supported the Android Operating System, the company discontinued support for Android app development once Apple acquired It.
Pros of TestFlight
- Because TestFlight is Apple’s official emulator, you can be very sure of the fact that the applications that you develop and test using TestFlight will be one hundred percent compatible with iOS devices.
- It ensures that your final product passes App Store reviews and adheres to all topple guidelines.
- Once you finish beta-testing your application, uploading the app for review takes a single click.
- TestFlight is a real iOS app. This means that you can install it on your iPhone or iPad.
- It is free to use.
Cons of TestFlight
- It is meant only for developers. Regular users who want to play iOS games or experience iOS apps on their Windows PCs will never find this emulator useful.
- Devemulator is only for developers who wantr to develop and test iOS 8 or above apps. It will not help those who want to target lower versions of iOS.
- Developers must use a separate emulator to test their apps for lower versions of iOS.
- Developers must have Apple developer credentials to access the iTunes Connect Portal, an essential requirement for using this emulator.
- It does not allow the development of Android apps.
System Requirements for TestFlight
There are no system requirements. TestFlight is an online service, and no installation is required. You can use it if you have a computer with an active Internet connection.
| Emulator Name | TestFlight |
| Price | Free. |
| Platforms | It is web-based, and hence, it is independent of the OS platform you are using. |
4. Remoted iOS Simulator
Like all three options above, the Remoted iOS Simulator is also not for the average Joe. Use it only and only if you are an app developer and, on top of that, you have both a Windows PC and a Mac computer or a laptop. If you don’t have both, it will not work.
Why so? The Remoted iOS Simulator establishes a remote connection from Windows 11 PC to your Mac computer over SSH. On top of that, it works with Visual Studio, which means that you need to have Visual Studio installed on both your Windows PC and your Mac system.
Pros of Remoted iOS Simulator
- It is not limited to iOS app developers only. You can also use it to create apps for Android.
- It works with Visual Studio, which is easily available.
- It allows choosing from Visual Studio 17 or Visual Studio 19.
- Visual Studio can be installed on a physical computer or even a virtual system.
Cons of Remoted iOS Simulator
- You need to have excellent knowledge of the Visual Studio development environment and know how to code. There is no drag-and-drop option available.
- It requires both a Windows PC and a Mac computer, which may not be an option for everyone.
- The learning curve is very steep.
- You need to remotely connect your Windows PC with your Mac to have this working.
System Requirements for Remoted iOS Simulator
Okay, be clear! It essentially means system requirements for Visual Studio. The system requirements are mentioned below:
For Windows PC:
- OS – Windows 7 minimum (Windows 10 preferred).
- Xamarin.iOS – iOS 10 SKD installed on your Mac and Visual Studio 17 (or Visual Studio 19).
- Xamarin.Android (Android 6.0 / API level 23).
- Xamarin.Forms
- Xamarin.Mac (macOS Mojave (10.14) SDK).
For Mac Computer:
- OS – macOS Mojave (10.14).
- Xamarin.iOS – iOS 12 SDK.
- Xamarin.Android (Android 6.0 / API level 23).
- Xamarin.Forms
- Xamarin.Mac (macOS Mojave (10.14) SDK).
| Emulator Name | Remoted iOS Simulator |
| Price | Free |
| Platforms | Windows 7, and 10 | You will also need a Mac computer. |
5. Electric Mobile Studio
All right! I must agree that I have provided a list of iOS emulators for Windows that are specifically targeted towards developers. I am sorry, but I will do it again. It will be the last one. I promise!
I did not like Electric Mobile Studio because it is based on old technology. Like the Remoted iOS Simulator, Electric Mobile Studio is also based on Visual Studio. The big difference is that it works with older versions of Visual Studio, 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Does that mean that I did not use Electric Mobile Studio at all? Not really! This particular emulator has some surprising features that simplify web-based iOS app development.
Pros of Electric Mobile Studio
- This might not be a big deal for many,, but you cans emulator for 7 days withosevent paying a dime. That’s long enough for evaluation to evaluate its usefulness.
- It has a clean and uncluttered interface.
- You can turn on or off many features with a single click of your mouse.
- The emulator has support for many iOS versions.
- It comes with graphics acceleration to help you render 2D and 3D with ease.
- The premium version is quite affordable.
Cons of Electric Mobile Studio
- This emulator is not for those who want to play iOS games or simply use iOS apps on their Windows PC. It is for developers.
- If you aare a developer, you will be restricted to developing responsive web pages and web-based apps. You are out of luck if you want to develop dedicated apps that can be downloaded from the App Store. Look for something else.
- It is based on old Visual Studio versions.
- It will not allow you to develop for the Android ecosystem.
System Requirements for Electric Mobile Studio
- OS – You will need Windows XP or any other version up to Windows 10.
- Other requirements – Your system must have .Net Framework 4 installed.
- CPU—Any dual-core processor but a more powerful processor, such as an Intel Core i5, is preferred.
- RAM – 2GB will do, but keep 4 GB.
| Emulator Name | Electric Mobile Studio |
| Price | Free trial | Premium version costs $39.99 |
| Platforms | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
6. iPadian
What can I say about iPadian?Let’s put it this way: I Am torn between a love-hate drama. Honestly, I liked it and I didn’t like it at the same time. The reason is simple. iPadian is not an emulator. It is a simulator. Difference?
An emulator will usually reproduce the actions and features of a system on your computer. A simulator, on the other hand, will not create any local version of a system on your computer but will only imitate the look and feel and the system’s basic features on your computer.
What does that mean? Read on to find out!
Pros of iPadian
- It is designed for average Joes and not for nerdy developers.
- It simulates iOS on Windows.
- It comes with a pre-designed and pre-packaged set of apps that you can use. These include various social media apps, music, video, and photo apps, email clients, and more.
- It has an immaculate and simple interface: no clutter or complicated stuff. Just install and use!
- There are 300 apps to work with.
- The interface is slightly customizable.
- It allows you to get access to some exclusive iPad games.
- It has offline access. You can use it even when there is no Internet connection available.
Cons of iPadian
- It is not free, and there is no free trial. That’s a bummer! You need to spend $25 to get this.
- You cannot access any app from the App Store. You are restricted to only those apps that come pre-packaged!
- It is minimal and extremely crippled in functionality!
- It can be run only in full-screen mode, which means you can not multitask on your Windows PC or laptop.
- The performance is prolonged.
- Most of the apps won’t even work.
System Requirements for iPadian
- OS – To run the latest version, you will need Windows 10.
- Nothing else is mentioned, but you should try using a processor with at least two cores.
- As far as RAM is concerned, mensureyou are using at least 4 GB.
- You will need Adobe Air installed on your computer.
| Emulator Name | iPadian |
| Price | Premium only and costs $25 |
| Platforms | Windows 10 only |
Wrapping Up
I am sorry if you were expecting tons of iOS emulators to play iOS games or use iOS apps on your Windows PC and if I have hurt your expectations. Unfortunately, Mac or iOS (in short, the Apple ecosystem) is not as versatile as the Windows ecosystem regarding third-party app availability. Most of the available emulators are for developers.
Of course, I can provide a few more names, but most do not have an official website from which you can download them. They are available on various third-party sites like Software Informer, Softonic, etc. The worst part is that most emulators are no longer officially available, and there is no active development either.
For instance, you may encounter names like iMame, AIR iPhone, MobiOne Studio, etc. As I said, these have been discontinued. If you want to try them, you can download them from third-third-parties but do so at your own risk.
To truly enjoy iOS games and apps, you need a device that runs iOS. That is the only way out!