Expo Simulators compared with local simulators, physical devices, and device clouds

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Compare Expo Simulators with a local Android Emulator or iOS Simulator, a physical device, and a device cloud to select the right device for a task.

Expo Simulators runs a stock Android Emulator or iOS Simulator on Expo infrastructure. It does the same work as a local simulator, but on a remote machine that you, an agent, or another person can reach. It does not replace a physical device. Use Expo Simulators when your computer or sandbox cannot run the device, or when an agent needs a device. You can also use it to share a live device.

Comparison

Feature	Expo Simulators	Local simulator or emulator	Physical device	Device cloud
Where it runs	Expo infrastructure	Your computer	In your hand	The provider's infrastructure
Needs a Mac for iOS	No	Yes	Depends on how you build	Depends on the provider
Works from Linux or a sandbox	Yes	Android only	Not applicable	Depends on the provider
Browser preview	Yes	No	No	Depends on the provider
Shareable with a link	Yes, private or public	No	No	Depends on the provider
Agent control	agent-device, Argent, or Appium	agent-device, Argent, or Appium	agent-device, Argent, or Appium, with platform-specific setup	Depends on the provider
Fast Refresh with Metro	Yes, through a public tunnel	Yes	Yes	Depends on the provider
Physical hardware	No	No	Yes	Depends on the provider
Cost	Expo Services usage	Your computer's resources	The device	The provider's pricing

Android sessions also include a browser preview that streams the emulator. Select Open preview on the session page on expo.dev to open it in a new tab.

When to use each device

Task	Recommended device
Daily development on a Mac	Local iOS Simulator
iOS development on Linux or Windows	Expo Simulators
A cloud or background coding agent verifies a change	Expo Simulators
Share a live build with a reviewer	Expo Simulators browser preview
Test the camera, sensors, push notifications, or performance on real hardware	Physical device
Test on many real device models	A device cloud

What a simulator cannot test

A simulator or an emulator is not a physical phone. Hardware features, such as the camera and sensors, and real device performance are different. Test these on a physical device before you release your app. agent-device supports physical devices and device clouds, with platform-specific setup. See agent-device and Expo.

Common questions

Is Expo Simulators slower than a local simulator?

Yes, startup takes longer. A session can wait in a queue before a remote machine starts the device. On iOS, a snapshot of the accessibility tree can take tens of seconds. After the session is ready, controller commands go over the network.

Does Expo Simulators support physical devices?

No. Expo Simulators runs only simulators and emulators.