Best Android Emulators For Windows PC & Mac

Best Android Emulators For Windows PC and Mac
In the event that you are an Android fanboy, at that point you may have thought of getting a portion of the best android emulators for your PC to experiment with new applications or even some improvement fills in too. You'll not just get widescreen domain which is better to game, you could likewise do a cluster of different things too including establishing and attempting root get to required applications. Indeed, having an android emulator doesn't cost you a penny, as there are huge amounts of free ones out there on the off chance that you require additional highlights you need to spend a few bucks.
There is a great deal of substantial reasons why somebody would need to run Android emulators on their PC. Application engineers might endeavor to test their application before delivery it out. Gamers might need to utilize a mouse and console on their recreations. Perhaps you simply need it there to have it. Regardless, Android imitating on PC is conceivable and we will investigate the best Android emulators for PC. It would be ideal if you take note of, the procedure is once in a while simple and some of these require some specialized learning. Likewise, take note of that a large number of these emulators are made pretty much a similar way. It's a matter of finding the one that works for you! How about we begin.
How about we experience a portion of the best Android emulators for Windows PC and MacOS, these product works fine in Windows 10, 8 and 7. with no further ado how about we make a plunge!
1. Nox App Player
Moderation at its pinnacle, Nox App player is one of the moderate yet best Android emulators for Windows PC and Mac PCs. On the off chance that you are into overwhelming gaming then it has your name composed on, the productive amusement rendering motor makes compelling utilization of your framework asset and gives you enough headroom to other multitasking too.
The undeniable working framework grows your conceivable outcomes, you could introduce applications straightforwardly from the Google Play Store or introduce through Apks (ensure you empower establishment from obscure sources). In the event that you are a designer, at that point, you could make utilization of Nox application player to develop Android OS skins, subjects or even symbol packs. 

All things considered, the entire bundle seeks free of cost, which is the outstanding thing among all. In the event that you require more data about this android emulator, look at our top to bottom audit here. Accessible for Windows and MacOS.

2. MEmu

MEmu is a light-weight Android emulator for Windows PCs comes in few kernels that support Android Jellybean, KitKat & Lollipop, as they tout it will get Marshmallow & Nougat soon. Being a freeware, it has got most of the things like it’s contenders. It supports both Intel & AMD Systems also the dedicated & integrated graphics, in most of the popular games. It is a flexible emulator, means the user can configure CPU, ram, device model & other settings.

You can also create multiple instances & perform a sort of multitasking within the emulator, which sounds cool though. And it supports full-screen support in some popular games, you can play using keyboard, mouse & even joysticks. Other features including drag-and-drop to install apk files, faster loading times, keyboard mapping, easy file sharing between Android & windows and bunch of others.

3. Droid4X 

Droid4X has had its ups and down.s However, it's one of the classic Android emulators for PC. It features a simple design that should be easy for most people to use. It markets itself towards gamers and boasts support for simpler, casual games. However, like most Android emulators, you can do productivity stuff if you want to. We're not entirely sure if Droid4X is still active, but their download page is. Thus, we recommend you tread with caution as this could be a buggy and unstable product. Droid4x is also Mac compatible. Finding the installer for that is a little difficult, though.

4. Remix OS Payer

Remix OS player is a Windows-only Android emulator that is easy to use with less or no hiccups. It’s based on the Android Marshmallow (v6.0.1), which isn’t far behind from what we have now. What sets Remix OS apart is its dual booting capability, you could use as a desktop client or install Remix in a separate partition in x86 compatible systems. Follow this guide to install remix os 3.0 on your computer. 

The user interface is easy to use & seems stable throughout our testing, Google Play Store comes by default, so you don’t have to side load. The team behind Remix OS player touting about the games it supports & experience you’ll get. You could remap the keyboards shortcuts to raise any action you need, and also run multiple games simultaneously, thanks to the efficient software optimization.

The unavailability for the MacOS & turns off the Apple users, it is not a big deal as the developers claiming this as the Android emulator for Windows PC, not the Mac. Also, make sure you are covered under the recommended system configuration for optimum performance.

5. BlueStacks

Uncommonly, Bluestacks is one of the most popular yet free Android emulators For Windows & MacOS out there. Being a complete Android package on the desktop, it offers way more than most of the features any commercial user needs. it still runs on Android KitKat version, which makes it a no go for developers, apart from this it is nothing short than other Android emulators.

The multi-gesture support, & seamless integration with the computer peripherals like keyboard, mouse, trackpad & web camera are notable features. Also, there a compatibility with Android TV, if you are into that sort of thing.

Simple one-click installation and straightforward user interface make the Bluestack as the top notch performing app player. To play the graphic intense games, ensure that you have a dedicated graphic card installed on your computer. Unlike most of the Android emulators, you can open most of the apps or games in full-screen mode, which is a bonus for watching videos from Youtube or Netflix. Also, it also received the best software award in CES 2012 for the innovative idea.

Everything is fine with Bluestacks, except the resource intensive nature. It doesn’t need much CPU horsepower, but it is a memory hog. If your Windows computer/Mac have 4 GB of less RAM, then you’ll notice lags & even freeze. We don’t recommend, if your system has less than a couple gig of RAM, it might not be the best experience. Apart, from that everything is good enough.

6. XePlayer 

XePlayer is a best and free Android Emulator for pc that enables all Android games and apps to run smoothly in Windows systems. It built on x86 Architecture, support advanced features like OpenGL & hardware acceleration, run faster, more stability and compatibility than other Android Emulators. XePlayer Android Emulator for pc support video recording, gamepad & keyboard, and internal integrated Google Play store to compatible with all apps, more than 99% apps & games Running perfect on XePlayer.XePlayer Android Emulator is downloadable for Windows 7,8,10,xp and Laptop.

XePlayer is very quick and the emulator never freezes.You can see the highest performance with Xeplayer emulator.This Xeplayer is designed based on Android 4.4.2 Kernel and it is compatible with X86 and AMD.The response speed of Xeplayer android emulator is really quick and very stable.You can see Best Game Experience with Xeplayer. This is really a great android emulator to play all kinds of games on this emulator.You can see File Manager, Facebook Lite, Camera apps are already installed.Shaking features is also available in this emulator.Google Play Store and Browser is also available on Xeplayer emulator.Download Xeplayer Android Emulator For PC now!

7. AMIDuOS

AMIDuOS, also called DuOS, is yet another Android emulator developed by American Megatrends, a Georgia-based company. Before installing DuOS, make sure that the “Virtualisation Technology” is enabled in BIOS and you have Microsoft Net framework 4.0 or above.

DuOS is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop but for some weird reason, there’s an option to download the Jellybean-based version too. One important thing you should know is that it does not come with the Google Play Store, but instead, ships with the Amazon App Store. Amazon’s offering is nowhere near the Play Store when it comes to the apps and games offered, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem because you can always install APKs in DuOS. In fact, you can just right click on an APK in Windows and it’ll present you with the option to install the APK directly in DuOS.

On the hardware side of things, it supports gamepads and external hardware GPS. The configuration tool lets you set the amount of RAM, frames per second and DPI manually. One feature I really liked about it is the ability to run in “root mode“. This means that you essentially have baked-in root user privileges and can run all the awesome root apps for Android. There’s no keyboard mapping feature, so playing games isn’t going to be any convenient, that is unless you attach an external gamepad.

There’s a free 30-day trial version available, but you will have to shell out $15 for the full version. The full version comes with Android 5.x Lollipop and there’s $10 lite version that comes with Android 4.2 jellybean.

8. GenyMotion

If you are an app developer or one who tests lots of apps, then you should give Genymotion a shot which is one of the self-claimed developer suits. It is a complete package for developers that’s is compatible with Android SDK tools, Eclipse and Android Studio. Further, you can go ahead & install Genymotion plugins on your Android Studio for quick access (you should also install Genymotion). Deploying multiple instances, testing your websites through various browsers – user agents, try your location permission required apps, battery status & pretty everything.

Further, you can also automate your app testing through Genymotion’s Java API. It manipulates the sensor values of the specified app & tests it in the different locations & scenarios. Changing the device’s name, IMEI, MEID is seamless, you can even emulate the fake SMS/calls to know how your app reacts in that situation. And other geeky stuff!

It takes advantage of the OpenGL compatible graphic cards, which slightly makes it faster & more responsive when performing any graphics-oriented tasks. It is power packed for the developers, Genymotion Cloud is something exciting, you could get Android emulator online using Genymotion Cloud, which resides in the cloud & you could browse from your internet browser. Team collaboration & seamless integration is something Genymotion Cloud advertises about.

It is a paid android emulator, which turns off many. Many of the features are only available for paid version, although there is a free version available to download, you are only limited to use few basic features for non-commercial purpose only. If you are app developer professionally, then you should get your paid version without any doubt, nothing comes to it. Also, compatibility isn’t an issue, it is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux & Cloud based as well.

9. Andyroid

Ever since the launch of Andyroid in 2011, it has been a major player in the Android emulator market for a while now.  Giving the top priorities for the gaming sector, few games perform better in Andy when compared with other emulators. To take things to next level, you can control the gameplay with your Android device if it is synced with the emulator. Which eliminates the need for any wired/wireless controllers, no other emulator provides this option as of writing this post.

It could run most of the apps available on the play store, including communication apps like Hangouts, IMO and others.You can customize anything right from the launchers to the lock screen. The Android skin it has got is stock and without any bloatware, Google Play stores services come by default. The OpenGL acceleration is enabled, which make uses of your computer’s discrete GPU to render graphics. While concentrating on the gaming, Andy doesn’t fall behind in productivity. It is pretty responsive and doesn’t need any high-end system to the requirement to run smoothly.

Unlike other developer kits, you will not get apps testing environment you have to deal with what it has got. It is targetted towards to broad demographic audience who likes to game, multitask and do the normal usage. If you are streamlined audience like Developers, App testers, better you go with Genymotion or Android Studio’s emulator, it provides you the headroom and lot more intuitive tools.

It is available for both Windows & MacOS, sorry Linux. On the whole, it is sort of a complete package, it isn’t a specific niche targeted software, it suits most of the consumer needs.

10. Ko Player

Ko Player is another great Win-only Android emulator, which is decent enough to give a shot. Google play store comes by default, also it is compatible with most of the games & apps. The adaptable resolution makes it the best solution for apps like Youtube, Netflix & others to watch the content in full-screen. Other features include drag & drop for installing apps, supports most of the wired/wireless keyboard, mouse, and trackpads.

It needs a discrete graphic solution and virtualization technology, you could easily enable in your BIOS settings. It is compatible with both AMD & Intel processors platforms which made it reach most of the user. The one con being, it is only available for Windows, for Mac users you have to wait until they come up with one. Meanwhile, check some other emulators which are far better than Ko Player.

11. Youwave

Youwave is elder among all the Android emulators for PC available, it has not updated for years.It has got two different versions, Free & Premium versions. If you are booted into free software, you’ll be greeted with Android ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) with some advertisements. Premium has got nothing but Android Lollipop as the OS & no ads that’s what it is. The major drawback being the lack of apps support, apps require any sensor information and apps which use closed APIs might not work in Youwave.

Unlike most of its competitors, it doesn’t need high-end system configuration because it runs Android ICS which is not a demanding OS at all. It brings nothing new to the table, but if you are looking for a basic software to emulate the Android apps and does light gaming then you can check Youwave. But anything above this requirement you have better options. It is available only available for Windows, no MacOS or Linux version out there.

12. LeapDroid

LeapDroid was a robust Android emulator for PC a few years back, after the acquisition by Google they stopped the updates & closed customer service door. Still, you can install & use Leapdroid, but you won’t get any sort of updates in the future including the security patches, which is not recommended.

With a clutter-free user interface, well-supported apps & games and lighter impact on system resources, LeapDroid stands out. Unlike other emulators, LeapDroid has sharp features built-in which is best for enhanced gameplay, seamless apps, games compatibility. The built-in GPS helps you in the navigation system, after all, you don’t have to worry about the shortcuts you can manually assign with the keyword mapping.

If you are into gaming, then LeapDroid is the hands down emulator you need. Unlike others, It boots in seconds which is crucial.

13. Windroy 

Windroy is a classic. It's one of the older Android emulators for PC. As such, it's difficult to recommend it to everybody. Think of this one as a last ditch effort if none of the newer, more updated ones work out right. We've heard that it works best on older versions of Windows. It's primarily for productivity. You'll be able to run office apps easily enough. Game support is less reliable. At the very least, the emulator is free to download and installs easily enough. It's worth trying. Especially for older machines.

14. Android Studio’s Emulator

Android Studio is the successor to the old yet still used Eclipse IDE. Android Studio grown by leaps and bounds since its initial release in 2013 as beta. Now, Android Studio also includes an inbuilt emulator to try out the app you develop. That’s an another android emulator right? Sort of. Android Studio is meant for developers, not for consumers, so that emulator would be most suitable for developers.

Although the consumer could give a shot, we don’t recommend as there are tons of other best android emulator for both Windows & MacOS out there. You’ll get most of the developer options within the emulator, only with few exceptions. It comes only with Android’s Studio, you have to install it first. You can check more the emulator by clicking here.

15. ARChon

ARChon isn't a traditional emulator. You install it into Google Chrome. It then gives Chrome the ability to run Android apps. It's not an easy emulator to get running. You'll have to install the thing to Chrome. From there, you have to obtain APKs and load them in. As an added rub, you may need to use a tool to change the APK in order to make it compatible. We have the basic instructions linked up at the button above. This one is compatible with Mac, PC, and Linux. It's also one of the most difficult to set up, but it's also one of the most unique Android emulators.

16. VirtualBox

VirtualBox is not an Android emulator specifically, it is a software that installs other operating systems as Guest OS on your computer. You have to download VirtualBox & Android iOS to get this going, it is quite time-consuming & tedious to setup. Once, you have grounded yourself with the setup, you could play around with Android like you do on a physical device. Even, few Android emulators like Andyroid are based on the VirtualBox & VMware software.

This is powered by Android x86 project, which is one of the unofficial initiatives to bring the Android to the desktop & workstation grade platform running Intel & AMD chipsets. Thanks to the Android’s open source nature, they tweaked few things and made it run on desktops.

You need to create a new instance in VirtualBox & make change settings, add the downloaded Android iOS as disk image you are good to go. If you still unable to get through this step, follow this guide by howtogeek. Though you could up & running Android in few minutes we don’t recommend this for most of the consumers. Better go with any android emulator for your computers, rather than downloading iso and setting up the instance.

Download VirtualBox

Download Android ISO

17. Xamarin Android Player

Update: After the successful run, Xamarin Android Player is discontinued. You can continue with the Visual Studio but you will not find any emulator.

Xamarin Visual Studio (Rebranded from Xamarin Android Studio) the Microsoft version of Android Studio, developed for Windows & MacOS. As you might know, every mobile app development comes with a built-in emulator to test things. As this might not the best Android emulator for everyone if you’re a developer or student, it could be a learning curve. If you have got touchscreen laptop or any trackpad, it is compatible with most of them.

It is not meant for general consumption, so the consumer might find it hard to navigate. And without Visual Studio you cannot use the emulator, if your desktop is low powered then this might crash. If you’re a pure developer or need something geeky, then you can go with this Android emulator.