We talk enough about emulating computer experiences on our mobiles. So let’s look at the best Android Emulators!
There are multiple legitimate reasons for someone to run Android Emulators on their PC. Developers may be attempting to test their program before distributing it. Gamers may like to play their games with a mouse and keyboard. Perhaps you want it there to have it. In any event, emulating Android on a PC is possible and much easier than it used to be. Some old favorites have either been removed from the space or have become unusable (Andy, AmiduOS, and Leapdroid), but everything else should operate fine for most folks. The best Android Emulators for PC & Mac are listed here.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Windows 11 supports native Android apps. You can also use the Play Store if you’re willing to make an effort. Google has also introduced a beta version of Google Play Games for Windows 11. When ultimately launched, native support will be an excellent alternative for gamers. The ability to run programs and games natively on Windows 11 may eventually supplant the need for emulators in many use cases, rendering this list outdated.
15 Top Android Emulators for PC and Mac of 2022
Here are the top-rated and the best Emulators for Android you should try.
[lwptoc]
The three main uses for Android Emulators
Emulators have three primary apps. The first is the most frequently used, and it is used for gaming. Gamers can use emulators to make certain games easier to play on their computers. They are not reliant on their devices’ battery life, and the existence of macros and other tactics aids in the process. In most circumstances, these small tactics are not unlawful (at least in most games); thus, nobody has an issue. BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MeMu, KoPlayer, and Nox, are some of the top Android Emulators for gaming.
The second most prevalent app is developed. Android app and game developers prefer to test their products on as many devices as possible before release. Fortunately, Android Studio includes the “Android Virtual Device” (AVD), a high-performance and feature-rich emulator that blows all other emulators out of the water. The sole disadvantage for non-developers is that it includes a space-hogging installation of Android Studio and the Android Software Development Kit (SDK). Naturally, this presents no difficulty for developers who already have all the necessary apps installed on their workstations.
The final major classification is productivity. It is far less prevalent as Chromebooks are more affordable and provide a better experience when running Android apps on a device other than a phone. In addition, the majority of productivity tools are cross-platform. In today’s world, we advocate using a Chromebook (with pretty excellent hardware) to run productivity apps in a laptop or computer environment. It is simply superior.
Finally, a word of caution. At the moment, no consumer emulators support the latest Android versions. It is only available in Android Studio and is not intended for use with mobile games. Fortunately, most apps and games continue to work on previous versions of Android, so this shouldn’t be a major issue.
1. Phoenix OS
Price: Free
Phoenix OS is a rather new Android emulator for the PC. As is customary these days, it features a gaming experience. However, because it provides a desktop-like environment, it also does quite well in productivity. This best emulator for PC supports Google Play Services, albeit updating them can sometimes be a hassle.
It is among the best Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac. You’ll have access to every app and game available in the Google Play Store. Phoenix OS runs Android 7.1, which is quite contemporary for an Android emulator. The emulator is available for download through its official website, and its forums are hosted on XDA-Developers.
2. LD Player
Price: Free
LDPlayer is a small Android emulator that is optimized for game performance. It runs Android Nougat 7.1 and comes standard with gamer-friendly features, including excellent keyboard mapping controls, multi-instance, macros, a high frame rate, and graphics support.
It supports a variety of games, including Epic Seven, Clash of Clans, and Arknights. In addition, it is one of the few emulators on the list that receives regular updates to maintain compatibility. For example, LDPlayer’s most recent updates improved the smoothness of Free Fire and Mobile Legends and removed the device restriction from Moonlight Sculptor.
Additionally, It is among the best Android Emulators for gaming and running apps. LDPlayer is a capable emulator for TikTok, Instagram, and other popular apps. This best emulator for Windows pulls certain design elements from Bluestacks, which isn’t always bad. It’s a solid all-arounder that should satisfy the majority of users.
3. GameLoop
Price: Free
Are you seeking for the best Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac? GameLoop, originally Tencent Gaming Buddy, is a gaming-oriented Android emulator. Indeed, it is sufficiently competent that Tencent refers to it as the official emulator for their mobile games, including Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile. In addition, of course, it includes games from other developers in addition to Tencent’s, albeit its catalog is not as extensive as it could be.
The emulator was downloaded and installed without incident, and the games we tested performed flawlessly. Unfortunately, it is not a productive or developmental test. However, if you are looking for some mobile FPS gaming and specific titles, this is an excellent game emulator that features a sizable variety of modern titles. Additionally, the keyboard controls and performance are excellent.
4. Android Studio emulator
Price: Free
Android Studio is the platform’s primary developer console (also known as an integrated development environment, or IDE). It includes a slew of tools designed to assist developers in creating Android-specific apps and games. As it turns out, there is also an integrated emulator for testing your software or game. We occasionally use the emulator to evaluate new versions of Android.
Although the setup is somewhat involved, it is the quickest and most feature-rich option on our list of the best Android Emulators. Additionally, you can run vanilla Android, download apps from the Google Play Store, customize launchers and keyboards, and imitate any device regardless of size or form factor. Additionally, you can experiment with foldable devices!
5. ARChon
Price: Free
ARChon is among the best Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac. It is not a standard emulator. It s a Google Chrome extension that you install. ARChon enables Chrome to run Android apps and games (albeit with limited support). It’s not easy to get this emulator functioning. First, you’ll need to add the extension to Chrome. From there, you’ll need to download and install APKs.i
Additionally, you may need to use a program to modify the APK to make it compatible. It requires significantly more steps than most other Android Emulators for PC. On the bright side, it works with any operating system capable of running a Chrome instance (macOS, Linux, Windows, etc.). We included a link to the official GitHub repository, which contains extensive instructions on using it.
6. BlueStacks
Price: Free
If you are looking for the top-rated Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac then BlueStacks is a perfect choice. It is widely regarded as the most comprehensive Android app player available, and with reason. Apart from being compatible with both Windows & Mac, this best android emulator for PC is jam-packed with features that enhance the gaming experience.
Moreover, its most popular features include the Keymapping Tool, which enables the creation of customized control schemes, the Instance Manager, which allows the creation of multiple instances of the emulator and the simultaneous execution of various games, and quality-of-life features such as Eco Mode, which helps reduce resource consumption when running the most demanding games. Additionally, it is the safest emulator available, having been verified GDPR compliant – your data is always secure with them.
BlueStacks 5 is the lightest & fastest version, delivering high-performance gaming even on low-end smartphones. In addition, the latest version tackles several of the most often voiced criticisms about the prior version – specifically, the fact that it can feel bloated, particularly on older hardware. Try it for yourself and see why BlueStacks has a global community of over 500 million gamers!
7. Genymotion
Price: Free with paid options
It is one of the best Android Emulators for gaming and running apps. This Android emulator for PC download is primarily intended for use by developers. It enables you to test your apps on various devices without purchasing them. You can set the emulator to run on a range of devices running multiple versions of Android to meet your specific requirements. For instance, you can run Android 4.2 on a Nexus One & Android 6.0 on a Nexus 6. You can quickly and conveniently switch between virtual devices.
While it is not ideal for consumer use, Genymotion does offer its services for personal use for free. Its most advantageous feature is that it is available on your desktop computer and in the cloud. Those without powerful PCs can rely on Genymotion’s servers to perform all necessary tasks.
8. MEmu emulator
Price: Free / $2.99 per month / $29.98 per year
MEmu is another fantastic Android emulator that appears pretty popular among gamers. One of the most notable features is that it supports AMD and Intel chipsets. While most development is on AMD processors, it’s wonderful to see developers focusing only on AMD’s platform. MEmu’s latest version runs Android 7.1, a significant upgrade from its early days when it ran Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
Moreover, it is one of the highly-rated Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac. You can also run numerous instances simultaneously to test multiple games or features. Like Bluestacks and similar emulators, it is geared toward gamers, but it also functions as a productivity tool. The premium edition costs $2.99 a month, removes advertisements, expands customization choices, and enables premium support. The emulator is updated on a semi-regular basis. The current changelog is available here.
9. MuMu
Price: Free
Next best emulator on our list of the best Android Emulators is MuMu. With MuMu, NetEase created a truly decent emulator. It’s another gaming emulator that shares most of its capabilities with its competitors. Further, like the majority of its competitors, the emulator runs Android 7. This best emulator for low-end PC has a good boot time and a sufficient number of features to merit consideration. Additionally, there is a beta version optimized for low-end PCs.
We encountered no significant concerns when using it, but it performed well and allowed us to download all the games we needed to test. Besides, MeMU, Bluestacks, and GameLoop have exceeded it in terms of features, and all three receive regular upgrades. However, if none of those methods work, this one is likely to.
10. Bliss OS
Price: Free / Optional donations
It is among the best Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac. Bliss is unique. It functions as an Android emulator for the PC through a virtual machine. However, it can also be launched directly from a USB stick on your computer. Booting from a USB drive is undoubtedly a power user option and is not suggested for less intensive use cases.
As a virtual machine installation, the process is straightforward but tiresome if you’ve never created a virtual machine before. The USB installation method is more involved, enabling your PC to boot directly into Android. Besides, this one is not for the faint of heart. However, it makes Bliss a unique emulator if you can make it through the steps.
Naturally, it will only work correctly if your system is compatible, so be sure to prepare a backup of your existing operating system. The system runs Android Oreo, one of the more recent Android versions available on an emulator. Additionally, you can get additional information on this on its XDA-Developers post here.
11. Xamarin
Price: Free / Enterprise options
Another best emulator on our list of the best Android Emulators is Xamarin. It is a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) akin to Android Studio. The distinction is that it may be integrated with other development environments, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, to create a much more significant development environment (for better or for worse).
Additionally, similar to the Android Studio, this includes an integrated emulator for the app or game testing. To be clear, we exclusively recommend this one to developers. The setup process is too time-consuming for everyday consumer use. Although Xamarin’s emulator is not as strong as Genymotion, it will suffice if you intend to use it & adapt it to your specific needs. It is entirely free for personal use. Businesses and larger teams may be required to establish a payment schedule.
12. PrimeOS
Price: Free
PrimeOS is something of an anomaly in the Android Emulators world. It is not, in fact, an emulator. Instead, it is installed as a partition on your PC, and it boots directly into native Android. It’s an Android experience geared for gamers, though you can use it for productivity if you desire. PrimeOS has a gaming center, mouse and keyboard compatibility, and access to most Android apps and games.
Like be honest, it runs almost identically to ChromeOS without the Chrome components. You can multitask, watch video material, or play games. Perhaps the most impressive feature is that it is compatible with the latest versions of Android (up to Android 11), as it does not require a virtual machine. Further, the official website is one of the worst on the list, but fortunately, you need to visit it to download PrimeOS.
13. Remix OS Player
Price: Free
Jide’s Remix OS Player is an earlier Android emulator for the PC. It runs Android Marshmallow, which is not the most recent version available. The installation process is quite straightforward, and using it is also relatively short. It is primarily geared toward gamers. Along with a customizable toolbar, there are a few game-specific features. In addition, it includes features such as simultaneous execution of many games.
Hence, It is among the top-rated Android Emulators for gaming and running apps. it is a reasonably clean emulator and is utterly acceptable as a productivity tool. Unfortunately, the official website appears to be down, and we’re rather convinced that Remix OS Player is no longer in active development. However, you may still download the Sourceforge builds if you look for something older but relatively stable.
14. Nox
Price: Free
If we talking about the best Android Emulators, Nox is another excellent Android emulator for PC that is optimized for gaming. It contains standard features like keyboard mapping, joystick support, and even the ability to key-map gesture controls. So, for example, you can map the right-swipe function to an arrow key and use it in a game that lacks hardware controller compatibility.
Nox is updated regularly. Additionally, it is one of the few emulators that run Android 9, a far newer version of Android than the Android 7 that most emulators run. Additionally, this android emulator Mac supports multiple instances, allowing you to play many games simultaneously. Besides, script recording is available. Nox began as a lighter option for harder hits, but it is rapidly maturing and becoming more usable.
15. Make your own
Price: Free (usually)
As it turns out, it’s possible to create your emulator. In a nutshell, here’s how it works. VirtualBox must be downloaded. Then, from Android-x86.org, get an image. It is simply a matter of locating one of the several guides available online and following the instructions. It’s undoubtedly one of the more challenging methods, but it is not nearly as laborious or time-consuming as installing an entire IDE such as Android Studio or Xamarin.
ALSO SEE: Best Photo Editing Apps
We do not advise that you attempt without first completing a tutorial and acquiring some basic understanding. It will not function properly, be buggy, and be tough to fix unless you are a programmer. Nonetheless, it will be yours to configure as you choose, and who knows, perhaps you will create and distribute an emulator that will be included on this list one day.
Final Words – Best Android Emulators
Dear Visitors, If I missed any of the best Android Emulators for PC, tell me about them in the comments!
