Best iOS Emulators for PC (Windows & Mac)
by Jenefey Aaron Updated on 2022-12-14 / Update for iPhone Tips
If you are someone who wants to get the feel of iOS on your device, this is where the ios emulator for PC comes in. The emulators are not something new they have existed for a long time, most users actually use them for gaming but the actual purpose of the app is much bigger than that. For Windows PC, these emulators can help you run iOS apps on your PC. There are emulators that can help run iOS apps on Mac. These can be used to play games on a bigger screen. There are also several other reasons to use an emulator such as it would save you from using two different devices with different OS. Most developers like to use emulators for app testing and also because it is very cost effective. A few outstanding PC, as well as Mac compatible emulators, are mentioned below.
1. Smartface
This is one of the best emulators to use if you just want to launch iOS apps on your Windows PC. Actually, the app was designed for professional use, as the developers use it to develop new apps and test those apps to see whether they are operational or not.
Smartface is one of the best feature packed iOS emulators in the market. Although the app is a bit expensive, that is mostly because it attracts more professional users. The prices start at $99. There is also a free version available on the Internet and you can use it to test some iOS apps on your PC.
Advantages:
- User-friendly
- Good for both professional and amateur use.
Disadvantages:
- A bit pricy
- Supports only Windows
2. App.io
One of our favorite iOS emulators on the market is App.io. The app is free and it is very easy to use. The interface is so simple that it can be used by almost anyone. The App.io is available on both platforms; you can use it as iOS emulator for Mac and for Windows.
When you look at App.io you will see that the developers mainly focused on the simplicity of the emulator. The users will only have to synchronize with the APK and then they can use the emulator. And once you finish the complete setup, you can test apps, play iOS games and practically do whatever you want with the emulator.
Advantages:
- Free to use
- Can be used by everyone for testing apps as well as for playing games etc.
- Compatible with almost every browser Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla
Disadvantages:
- There are reports of slow uploading times.
3. iPadian
Another very useful iOS emulator is iPadian. If you are looking for something simple and easy to use for screen mirroring iPhone to Windows PC, then you do not have to look far, iPadian will be an excellent choice for you. iPadian is a very flexible app and that is why even the professional users are so attracted to this. The installation is easy and the interface is very simple and user-friendly, it won't cause any trouble and there are no reports of any issues as well.
Advantages:
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and even Linux
- Great user-experience
- Don't expect it to run all apps.
4. Appetize.io
Don't get a wrong idea because of the name of this app, Appetize.io is a very effective emulator to successfully launch and use iOS applications on Windows PC as well as on Mac. You can download and use the emulator for free but only for first the 100 hours. This app also lets the users develop their own cross-platform applications but you have to be connected with Cloud.
This is an excellent emulator and users have found it simple and efficient. Also after your first 100 hours are over you have to pay $0.05 for each hour you use the app.
Advantages:
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- Supports cross-platform applications.
Disadvantages:
- Not completely free
5. AIR iPhone
If you are familiar with Adobe AIR framework then you would know that this app is also very impressive. AIR iPhone app is based on the same framework as Adobe AIR and it is mainly for Windows users.
You will find the installation and use of this emulator fairly easy. You have to download and install this particular emulator along with AIR framework. Once all the installations are complete you can use AIR iPhone without any problem.
Advantages:
- Great for recreating the original iPhone user-interface
- Good user- interface experience
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows
- A bit tough to setup.
6. iPhone Simulator
Another inclusion to the iOS simulator for Windows is the iPhone Simulator. Previously there was an iPad Simulator but currently, it is not available on the market. The iPhone Simulator was mainly designed for games as it does not have any new features.
The iPhone Simulator is hassle-free and overall easy to use. It is very mainly useful for advanced to intermediate users.
Advantages:
- Very useful for advanced as well as intermediate users.
- Drag and drop applications easily
- Good graphics
- Free of cost
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows PC
7. Xamarin TestFlight
Xamarin TestFlight is an iOS emulator that lets you run iOS apps on Windows PC and also lets you airplay iPhone to Mac as well. And it runs on both really well! For the moment the app is owned by Apple, so, it is very reliable. Unfortunately, it is not a free app and the installation is also a bit complicated but the performance is great. Still, the app mainly attracts the developers who want to test cross-platform apps and various websites.
Advantages:
- Available for both Windows And Mac
- Excellent for developers and professional use.
- Apple certified
- Easy to setup and use
Disadvantages:
There are some reports on limited support.
8. Electric Mobile Studio
The next emulator in our list is a professional grade iOS emulator, Electro Mobile Studio. It has been mainly used by professional users. This app offers various options to iPhone and iPad web-development.
You have to pay $40 for the app but the trial is free, it may seem a bit expensive but it is an exceptional long-term investment. Works for Windows only.
Advantages:
- Very usable
- Good for professional use
Disadvantages:
- Very costly
9. Ripple
A lot of people prefer Ripple. It is a great iOS emulator for Windows and has some good reviews from users as well. Most emulators are only developed for intermediate use but Ripple goes beyond that and provide the users with a lot of valuable options. You can test various old and new apps through this emulator; it is also a Chrome extension.
Advantages:
- Good for amateur users, intermediate users as well as for professional users
- Chrome extension available
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows and compatible only with Google Chrome
10. iMAME
iMAME is another iOS emulator that lets the user play iOS games on Windows computer. Most people like to play the iOS exclusive games, and for them, iMAME is a viable option. Basically, it is an amazing emulator and will let you play any game you want.
Advantages:
- Supports any games from iOS 9 and iOS 10
- Good graphics
Disadvantages:
- Not the best in the industry when it comes to compatibility and overall user experience.
Conclusion
Emulators are quickly becoming a part of our daily life, mainly because the price of a new device is much greater than the price of emulators. The developers also prefer them as they need to test the apps before they launch them. So, if you are looking for the best iPhone emulator for PC, then you need to go through the above list and choose one. All of them are potent and offers great value. Choose the one that suits your requirements the best.
If you want to mirror Android to PC and improve the gaming experience with a bigger screen, we highly recommend you to go for the Tenorshare Phone Mirror program. It is a professional Android mirroring tool that can control your Android phone from PC safely and effortlessly. And it now also supports iOS screen mirroring on Windows PC!
- Play Android games on PC and Mac with keyboard mapping
- Screen Mirror Android & iOS to PC No Delay
- Directly control Android devices from PC & Mac
- Mirror up to 5 Android devices at the same time
- Transfer files between Android and PC