Best Linux Emulator Apps & Games

250+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.3 avg rating
16 free apps & games
Updated November 2026

iSH Shell is the household name in linux emulator, but it's far from the only option. We track 250+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Linux Emulator Apps & Games (November 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1iSH ShelliSH ShellFree4.7★ (1.3K)NoNoNov 2026
2UTM SE: Retro PC emulatorUTM SE: Retro PC emulatorFree3.8★ (565)NoYesNov 2026
3TermiuxTermiuxFree4.5★ (12)NoYesNov 2026
4Learn Linux Step by StepLearn Linux Step by StepFree5.0★ (6)NoNoNov 2026
5UTM Remote Virtual MachinesUTM Remote Virtual MachinesFree3.7★ (52)NoNoOct 2026
6PocketDOS: Retro PC EmulatorPocketDOS: Retro PC EmulatorFree3.3★ (3)NoNoOct 2026
7Mu - Multi System EmulatorMu - Multi System Emulator$5.99—NoNoJun 2026
8POK Emulator: Retro Delta SkinPOK Emulator: Retro Delta SkinFree3.0★ (2)NoYesOct 2026

Top Picks for Linux Emulator

iSH Shell#1

iSH Shell by Theodore Dubois

Linux in your pocket
4.7😊(1.3K ratings)
Free
#21in Developer Tools
iSH Shell screenshot 1

Experience a Linux-like command-line environment directly on your iOS device. This application allows you to perform common Linux operations such as editing, moving, and manipulating files using familiar commands.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent Linux environment
  • 👍 Great for SSH and network utilities
  • 💡 Allows running Linux apps on iOS
  • 🔒 Secure and sandboxed
  • 👍 Customizable and flexible

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 Battery intensive
  • ⚠️ Limited functionality compared to full Linux
  • ⚠️ Outdated packages and dependencies
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator#2

UTM SE: Retro PC emulator by Turing Software, LLC

Run classic software and games
Strong Contender
🎬 Entertainment
3.8😐(565 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 1
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 2
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 3
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 4
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 5
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator screenshot 6

Experience classic computing by running old-school games and software. This emulator supports various display modes and processor architectures, allowing you to run pre-built systems or configure your own.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great app that can run Windows and macOS
  • 👍 Useful for nostalgic reasons
  • 👍 Can run Linux VMs

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Slow performance, especially on older devices
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Display and boot issues
  • 🐛 Incompatible with some ISOs and VMs
Termiux#3

Termiux by TERMUX LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Linux Emulator & SSH, SFTP
Worth Considering
🛠️ Developer Tools
4.5(12 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#42in Developer Tools
Termiux screenshot 1
Termiux screenshot 2
Termiux screenshot 3
Termiux screenshot 4
Termiux screenshot 5
Termiux screenshot 6

This app provides a full Linux terminal emulator on iOS, allowing native command-line operations without remote connections. It features a virtual keyboard, AI command generation, and customizable themes for system administration practice, script development, and more.

More Linux Emulator apps to explore

FAQ about Linux Emulator

What are the best linux emulator apps & games for iPhone?
iSH Shell tops our linux emulator apps & games ranking as of November 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 1.3K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 16 of the top linux emulator apps & games we rank are free to download, including iSH Shell and UTM SE: Retro PC emulator.
iSH Shell has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of November 2026.
We track 250+ linux emulator apps & games on the iOS App Store as of November 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.