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Arm Virtual Hardware review

Freemium#11 of 16 in IoT Development Tools

Run and test firmware on virtual Arm targets, locally or in cloud workflows.

8.1/10Editor score
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Arm Virtual Hardware8.1 Visit Arm

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Arm Virtual Hardware (AVH) provides virtual targets for running and testing software for Arm-based processors, so teams can work on firmware without physical hardware. It is aimed at developers who need to simulate Cortex-M processors or Corstone reference platforms, as well as teams connecting simulation to cloud development workflows. Arm also describes virtual models of development kits, including Raspberry Pi 4 and the STM32U5 IoT Discovery Kit, through a partner service.

AVH’s simulation facilities extend beyond processor execution. Virtual interfaces can model LEDs and switches, stream data through up to eight Virtual Streaming Interface channels, and connect simulated applications to host BSD sockets. Python scripts can interact with those interfaces for test automation. The supported target list spans Cortex-M and Corstone platforms, Raspberry Pi 4, NXP i.MX 93 and i.MX 8M, and the STM32U5 IoT Discovery Kit. This makes AVH relevant when teams need virtual hardware behavior in firmware tests, but it is not positioned as a complete development workflow.

The free access described by Arm covers evaluation, open-source projects and non-commercial FVP use. The cloud virtual-device subscription is usage-priced after a 30-day trial; the published plan describes charges by virtual-device CPU core time. AVH supports desktop and cloud use, with integrations including GitHub Actions and Keil MDK, and support through email, documentation and community. Teams focused on Arm firmware simulation and CI/CD testing should consider it; those looking for a broader development environment should compare tools that cover more of that workflow.

Arm Virtual Hardware pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Runs firmware on virtual Cortex-M and Corstone targets.
    • Models virtual I/O, streaming channels and host BSD socket connections.
    • Supports Python test automation and cloud CI/CD integration.
  • Where it doesn't
    • Focused on simulation rather than the full development workflow.
    • The cloud virtual-device subscription is usage-priced after a 30-day trial.
    • Some cloud development-kit models are offered through a partner service.

Arm Virtual Hardware fact sheet, pricing and score →

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