11 iOS Emulators: Run Games & Apps on Mac and Windows

Discover the best iOS emulators for reliving games or testing apps on Mac and Windows devices.

847 4 minutes read

Emulators have long been a favorite among Android and Windows users for testing software or reliving retro games.

With Apple’s recent embrace of game emulators on iOS, the App Store is now filled with options that allow millions to revisit their childhood memories. If you’re looking to run Microsoft apps on your Mac, don’t miss our list of Windows emulators for Mac, featuring reliable applications like Parallels and VirtualBox.

Whether you’re interested in playing your favorite iOS games or testing your iOS apps, we’ve compiled a list of eleven emulators worth considering.

Best iOS Game Emulators

With a wide variety of game emulators available for iOS, we’ve narrowed it down to the best options:

Delta Emulator

As the first emulator to debut on iOS, the Delta Emulator is the simplest and most user-friendly option. It boasts the most comprehensive collection of Nintendo consoles, making it a go-to for both millennials and Gen-Z users looking to relive classic games. The emulator supports consoles such as:

Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo 64
Game Boy (Color)
Game Boy Advance
Nintendo DS

To set it up, users can convert physical game cartridges into ROMs using specific tools or download ROMs from websites like emulatorgames.net. Once obtained, these ROMs can be imported into the Delta Emulator. For more details, check out our guide on importing games to the Delta Emulator.

PPSSPP Emulator

For those who grew up with the PSP, the PPSSPP Emulator is a must-have. It brings back the joy of playing classic PSP games, offering an interface similar to its Android counterpart. Game ROMs can be easily found online and imported into the emulator.

However, note that PSP ROMs often come in compressed files, which need to be extracted before use. For more information, see our guide on the PPSSPP Emulator.

RetroArch Emulator

At first glance, RetroArch might seem like another run-of-the-mill emulator, but it’s much more. This software serves as a front-end for over 66 emulators, enabling users from various regions to relive their childhoods on different consoles.

While RetroArch offers a lot, its user interface can be complex and intimidating for new users. Additionally, it requires a separate folder for game ROMs as it cannot access files directly from iCloud storage. Learn how to get started with RetroArch in our comprehensive guide.

iOS Emulators for App Testing in 2024

Developers looking to test iOS applications don’t need to invest in an iPhone. Instead, they can use these emulators:

Appetize.io

Platform: Web (Browser-based)
Pricing: Free, Premium

Appetize.io stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. As one of the few browser-based iOS emulators, it allows you to upload your app directly to the website and start testing. This makes it ideal for embedding apps in websites, testing, and other development phases.

The free trial offers 100 minutes of streaming, with premium options available. You can monitor your usage and set alerts through the dashboard.

Corellium

Platform: Web (Browser-based)
Pricing: $99/month for a 2-core CPU plan, $295/month for a 6-core CPU plan

Corellium is a browser-based iOS emulator primarily used by security researchers. Initially available only to enterprises, it’s now accessible to individual users. However, gaining access can be challenging as the company is selective about its customers.

iOS Simulator in Xcode

Platform: Mac
Pricing: Free

Xcode, Apple’s development environment for Mac, includes its app simulator for iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and iMessage. This built-in tool allows developers to emulate various user interactions like taps, device rotation, and scrolling. Mac users can launch apps directly from their Xcode project, making it a seamless experience.

TestFlight

Platform: Mac
Pricing: Free

Owned by Apple, TestFlight is widely used by developers to beta test iOS apps. It supports iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and iMessage apps, and allows external beta testing before final review. However, it does require a more technical setup, including the creation of an App Store distribution profile.

iPhone 11 on QEMU

Platform: Mac
Pricing: Open Source, Free

QEMU is an open-source emulator that now supports iOS emulation. Although it’s still in development, its open-source nature makes it a cost-free option. Features include S8000 secure ROM emulation, USB, SPRR, and GFX emulation.

Electric Mobile Studio

Platform: Windows
Pricing: Trial, Paid

Electric Mobile Studio offers a paid option for testing and running iOS apps on Windows, with a full product trial available for 7 days. It includes features like full-fledged emulation of iPhones, iPads, and responsive apps. Developers can also use Chrome and WebKit debugging tools for easier testing.

Remoted iOS Simulator for Windows

Platform: Windows
Pricing: Free, Paid

A popular choice for Windows users, the Remoted iOS Simulator is developer-focused and comes pre-loaded with Xamarin in Visual Studio. While it requires a Mac to run, it streams the iOS simulator to a Windows PC, providing a seamless testing environment.

Read Also: Top 9 Multiplayer Games for PC & Mac in 2024

iPadian

Platform: Windows, Mac
Pricing: Paid

iPadian offers a simple way to emulate the iPad or iPhone experience on Windows or Mac. While it doesn’t allow you to upload your apps for testing, it provides an iOS-like interface and access to a range of apps from its store.

How to Test iOS Apps on Windows

Testing iOS apps on Windows can be challenging, as macOS is required for native emulation. However, browser-based emulators and simulators like the ones listed above provide viable alternatives. Stay tuned to our upcoming guides for more on this topic, including retro game emulators.

FAQs on iOS Emulators

Can I run iOS apps on my PC?
Yes, we are using the iOS emulators listed above.
Can BlueStacks emulate iOS?
No, BlueStacks is an Android emulator.
Can I run an iOS emulator on Windows?
Yes, several browser-based iOS emulators are available for Windows.
Why aren’t there more iOS emulators?
iOS is a closed-source operating system, making third-party emulation difficult. We rely on the emulators listed here until Apple releases an official iOS emulator for Windows.

We hope this list of PC iOS emulators is as helpful as our Android emulator recommendations. Keep an eye out for more guides on retro game emulators like RetroArch and PCSX2, coming soon.