5 Best iPhone Emulators of 2026
The tools you need to develop app for iOS and iPadOS
Updated on January 14, 2026
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iPhone emulators are programs that replicate the hardware of an iPhone so you can run iOS apps on other operating systems.
App developers often use emulators to test iPhone software on the Windows or Mac computers they use for programming.
While they can’t directly run apps from the Apple App Store, these iPhone emulators faithfully mimic the basic functionality of an iPhone.
These emulators are available for multiple platforms. Check individual software requirements to determine if a particular emulator is compatible with your device.
The Official iOS Emulator: Xcode
What We Like
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Fully integrated development environment for iOS.
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Free and supported by Apple.
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Close as you can get to testing app on iPhone.
What We Don’t Like
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Only works on Mac PCs.
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Interface doesn’t support Window tabs.
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All options come with a steep learning curve.
Xcode is the best emulator for iOS developers because Apple created it.
It emulates all Apple devices so that you can see how the layout of your app changes on various iPhone models and iPad versions with and without a Retina Display. Thus, you can ensure that your app for iOS 26 is backward compatible with iOS 18 devices.
Xcode also lets you alter the settings available on the simulated device, depending on the device and iOS version, to see how those settings affect your app. For example, you can test how your app behaves when the screen is rotated to make sure it works in both portrait and landscape modes.
To dig deeper into using Xcode to test your app, check out the Xcode Help guide from Apple.
Most User-Friendly iOS Emulator: Smartface
What We Like
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Frequently updated to keep up with operating systems.
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Reliable and easy to use.
What We Don’t Like
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Some performance loss for CPU-intensive apps.
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Requires an Apple device.
Made for developing iOS apps on PCs, Smartface facilitates seamless cross-platform programming.
You’ll need iTunes for Windows and the Smartface app for iOS. Once you have everything set up, you can connect your iOS device to your computer.
Best Web-Based iPhone Emulator: Appetize
What We Like
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No need to install any software.
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Works on all operating systems.
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Free version is suitable for app testing and validation.
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Flexible pricing options for professionals and companies.
What We Don’t Like
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Interface occasionally lags.
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Requires an internet connection.
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No built-in development environment.
Appetize is a web-based iOS simulator. To use it, you need to upload a simulator build of an app. You develop your app using a platform such as Xcode or Xamarin before you can test it with Appetize.
You must upload it as a ZIP file or TAR.GZ file containing the compressed .app bundle. After uploading your file, Appetize emails a link to you where you can run the app online. It lets you embed simulator apps into HTML code using iframes, which is useful for marketing your app or displaying demo presentations.
Appetize is compatible with many generations of iPhones, along with some iPad models. The free plan is limited to 30 minutes per month and 3-minute sessions. Several pricing options are available.
Best Makeshift iOS Emulator: Adobe AIR SDK from Harman
What We Like
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Supported by a reputable company.
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Frequently updated to reflect changes to iOS.
What We Don’t Like
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Emulation isn’t perfect.
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Limited functionality.
Technically, Adobe AIR isn’t an emulator, but the Adobe AIR runtime framework can be used to create new instances of the iOS interface on a Windows PC.
Many programmers use it to see what their apps will look like on an iOS device. It’s not always perfect, but Adobe AIR can be helpful if you don’t have an iOS device on hand.
Best iPhone Emulator for Windows: Xamarin Remoted iOS Simulator
What We Like
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Can create iOS apps on your Windows PC.
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Treats Windows stylus input like iOS device treats Apple pencil.
What We Don’t Like
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Requires Windows PC and Mac to use on Windows.
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Xamarin plugin is $99/month.
Microsoft Visual Studio is a popular software development platform for Windows and Mac that allows for the development of iOS apps using the Xamarin plug-in.
It’s powerful enough to support enterprise applications for a price, but individual users creating non-enterprise software can download free developer software. Xamarin gives you access to important iOS tools like ARKit, Core ML 2, Siri Shortcuts, and Touch ID.
While Xamarin requires a Mac to fully function, using it on a Windows device offers some benefits. For example, if you have a Windows touch-screen device, you can interact with the simulator or use shake gestures as if you were using an actual iPhone. You can pinch, swipe, take screenshots, and even use multi-finger touch gestures.
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