Best Linux Emulator Apps & Games

249+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
19 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

UTM SE is the household name in linux emulator, but it's far from the only option. We track 249+ alternatives and competitors on iOS โ€” many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Linux Emulator Apps & Games (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1UTM SE: Retro PC emulatorUTM SE: Retro PC emulatorFree3.9โ˜… (454)NoYesSep 2026
2iSH ShelliSH ShellFree4.7โ˜… (1.2K)NoNoSep 2026
3UTM Remote Virtual MachinesUTM Remote Virtual MachinesFree3.6โ˜… (48)NoNoAug 2026
4TermiuxTermiuxFree4.3โ˜… (56)NoYesSep 2026
5Learn Linux Step by StepLearn Linux Step by StepFree5.0โ˜… (5)NoNoAug 2026
6SSH AppSSH AppFree4.0โ˜… (3)NoNoSep 2026
7PocketDOS: Retro PC EmulatorPocketDOS: Retro PC EmulatorFreeโ€”NoNoAug 2026
8a-Shella-ShellFree4.6โ˜… (547)NoNoSep 2026

Top Picks for Linux Emulator

UTM SE: Retro PC emulator#1

UTM SE: Retro PC emulator by Turing Software, LLC

Run classic software and games
3.9๐Ÿ˜(454 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

  • ๐Ÿš€ Great app that can run Windows and macOS
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Useful for nostalgic reasons
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Can run Linux VMs

Room to Improve

  • ๐Ÿ› Slow performance, especially on older devices
  • ๐Ÿ› Crashes and freezes
  • ๐Ÿ› Display and boot issues
  • ๐Ÿ› Incompatible with some ISOs and VMs
iSH Shell#2

iSH Shell by Theodore Dubois

Linux in your pocket
4.7๐Ÿ˜Š(1.2K ratings)
Free
#17in 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

  • ๐Ÿš€ Excellent Linux environment
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Great for SSH and network utilities
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Allows running Linux apps on iOS
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Secure and sandboxed
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Customizable and flexible

Room to Improve

  • ๐Ÿ› Crashes and freezes
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery intensive
  • โš ๏ธ Limited functionality compared to full Linux
  • โš ๏ธ Outdated packages and dependencies

More Linux Emulator apps to explore

FAQ about Linux Emulator

What are the best linux emulator apps & games for iPhone?
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator tops our linux emulator apps & games ranking as of September 2026, with a 3.9-star average from 454 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes โ€” 19 of the top linux emulator apps & games we rank are free to download, including UTM SE: Retro PC emulator and iSH Shell.
UTM SE: Retro PC emulator has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 249+ linux emulator apps & games on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
This emulator allows you to run classic software and old-school games on your device. It supports both graphical (VGA) and text-based (terminal) operating systems, providing a versatile retro computing experience.
The emulator supports emulation of several key processor architectures, including x86, ARM, PPC, and RISC-V. This broad compatibility ensures you can run a wide range of classic systems.