Nox is a simple Android emulator to set up (download the installer, double-click it, drag the app icon into Applications and you're good to go), works fine on Mac, doesn't cost anything and has a. Best Android Emulators for Windows and Mac to play games #1 Bluestacks. Bluestacks is presumably the most mainstream Android emulator right now accessible in the market, and in light of current circumstances. This application has served Windows and Mac clients for a couple of years at this point, giving them a suitable method to utilize Android.

Recently, we had covered some of the best ways to run Windows apps on macOS. The point was to overcome the lack of multi-platform software. This time, however, we have something different. We are going to talk about the ways to run Android apps on Mac. Yes, about using Instagram, playing Asphalt 8, or listening to Audible on Mac.

This time too, we have found multiple ways to run Android apps on macOS. Since different people have their different purposes, we’ve different methods too. In this article, you will find the best methods to run Android apps on Mac for normal users, gaming enthusiasts and developers. Shall we now check out the options?

Run Android Apps on Mac

#1 BlueStacks — Best for Running Apps

BlueStacks (also called BlueStacks App Player) is the oldest and the most popular way of running Android apps for Mac. You will be able to run almost any Android app using this simple emulator. It’s the best choice if you want to run WhatsApp on your Mac or access your Instagram account. You will be able to run your Mac apps and Android apps side by side, which is great.

The BlueStacks interface is equally awesome as well. Apps are opened in individual tabs and you have access to Google Play Store. Depending on the specifications of your Mac, BlueStacks lets you handle multiple apps with ease. Despite the optimizations for running apps, BlueStacks offers a true Android feel as well. You can even make changes from the Settings section.

So, there are Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Mac. If you have any other favorite Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Mac then don’t forget to share them with us in the comment below. Also, if you liked this article, Share on your favorite Social media platform. Android emulators: tips and features. There are a number of basic principles to consider before choosing a good Android emulator for Mac computers. A quick glance will help you find the best choice. At this point, you don’t need to pay for an Android emulator. You should know that there are some very decent free options out there. Xamarin is one of the preferred Android emulator software for Mac. There are step by step instructions throughout the setup process of this software. So that you find it comfortable working with. Your loved Android apps would run on a Mac using this program. Here are the best Android emulators for PC and Mac. It’s also worth noting that Windows may allow for Android apps directly in Windows 10 starting in 2021. This could mean big things for the Android emulator market. Read more: The three main uses for Android emulators. There are three main uses for emulators. Let’s review best emulators you should try in 2021 to emulate Android screen on larger computer screen. Device Support: Windows and Mac. Level up your game with the world’s fastest Android gaming platform for PC that is trusted by millions of users around the world.

Installing and using BlueStacks is like a piece of cake! You have to download the free installer from the official site of BlueStacks and run it. If you have previously installed bluestack, do a clean uninstall, before you reinstall it. Once the installation is done, it may take a few seconds for starting up. Before you can install apps, however, you need to sign into a Google account. Altogether, we think it’s really easy to get started with BlueStacks.

As far as running apps is concerned, BlueStacks does the job very well. We were able to install and use apps like WhatsApp and Instagram without any hassle. We also tried playing some Alto’s Odyssey game.

Pros

• BlueStacks is really easy to set up
• It doesn’t involve long installation processes
• Performance is optimized for apps

Cons

• Not much suitable for games or development

Who Is It For

We think BlueStacks is the best option for those who need to use Android apps on Mac. It works fine when it comes to running apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. While the gaming performance is okay, we believe there are better options.

Check Out BlueStacks

#2 VirtualBox — Best for More Control

At the core, Android is also a Linux-based operating system. As it happens, you can install Android on Mac using a tool like VirtualBox. In order to do this, you have to create a virtual machine and install Android in it. Compared to the other options we’ve listed, this VirtualBox method offers better control over the Android device and the apps you install.

Once the installation is done, VirtualBox gives you a pure Android experience. This is because we’re installing the basic Android Operating System on the virtual machine. However, you should not expect an optimized environment for running apps or games. Chances are, there are some bugs too. On the bright side, you can deploy Android v8 Oreo in the virtual machine.

We would not say that Android on VirtualBox is easy to set up. There are some downsides that you will have to tolerate in the long run. In order to do this, you need to download Android x86, a project that ports the popular OS to PCs. Then, as we always do, you can create a virtual machine based on Linux, Android. Once the installation is done, you’ll have a full-screen Android experience.

While apps like WhatsApp and Instagram work fine, the performance isn’t the best. We would not suggest this method if you’re into gaming either.

Pros

Android Emulators For Mac Os

Best Android Emulator For Mac 2020

• Offers more control over the virtual Android device
• You can run the latest version of Android
• It offers a fully-fledged Android OS experience

Cons

• Installation is somewhat complex
• Lacks performance optimization or customization options
• Chances of bugs

Who Is It For

Running Android on Mac using VirtualBox is best when you need better control over the process. As a virtual machine, you can customize performance too. However, in the long run, you will have to compromise overall performance and gaming controls.

Check Out VirtualBox and Android x86

#3 Nox Player Mac — Best Optimized for Gaming

If you want to play some graphic-rich Android games on Mac, Nox Player Mac is the best option in town. It’s an Android emulator that prioritizes speed and performance. There are also some features such as screen capture, on-screen button mapping etc. Once set up, Nox Player Mac offers a standard Android experience as well.

Nox Player Mac manages to run apps as well. However, we found that things aren’t as smooth as BlueStacks when it comes to app downloads and installs. But, the reason you should install Nox Player Mac should be to play high-quality games like PUBG on Mac.

To install Android apps on your Nox Player, you can either login with your Google account and use the built-in Google Play Store or if you don’t want to go through that hassle, you can download the apk using the browser and install it directly.

Nox Player Mac is the easiest to install. It doesn’t even ask you any questions. Just run the installer and in a few seconds, you will find the fully-fledged Android virtual tablet. It runs Android v4 KitKat — which is a downside when compared to others.

Nox Player Mac is perfect when it comes to handling popular apps. So, if you want to bring some common apps and high-end Android games to Mac, choose this program.

Pros

• Easy to set up and get started
• Optimized performance for games and apps
• Advanced features like keyboard mapping and location manipulation

Cons

• Not suitable for development
• Runs on Android KitKat
• Ships with some bloatware

Who Is It For

Nox Player Mac is the best option if you’re into high-end Android games. Even if you have a mid-end MacBook Air, it should offer the best performance. Also, thanks to the macro and mapping features. We’d also recommend the tool for running WhatsApp and all.

#4 Genymotion — Most Suitable for Developers

Genymotion is an innovative way to run Android apps on Mac — and on Cloud, for that matter. However, it is offering a bunch of different options. If you’re a professional, you can create a virtual Android device on a Mac or in the cloud. Let’s come down to the Desktop version, which is great. You will be able to create a big variety of Android configurations for testing.

For instance, you can change the Android version, device hardware etc. Genymotion is the best option to make sure that your app runs perfectly on all Android devices out there. However, if you are getting started as a developer, you can find standard solutions as well. Genymotion also offers some additional features, for instance, embed your Android app on the website and let people try the app.

There is no necessity that you should install Genymotion on your Mac. As we said earlier, it can be used as a cloud service as well. However, Genymotion Desktop is really easy to install. We used the Personal version of Genymotion as well. It’s more convenient if you just want to try some apps. On the other hand, if you like the fully-fledged Android development experience, Genymotion Desktop is the way to go.

Running apps on Genymotion isn’t as smooth as the other platform. This is because the emulator has a major focus on features that help developers.

Pros

• Awesome features for developers
• Multiple Android configurations
• Better Control over Running Apps

Cons

• Performance Optimization could be better

Who Is It For

Genymotion is the best solution for Android developers who want to run their Android apps on a number of virtual devices. It syncs so well with your coding process and customization needs. Thanks to the plug-in, you can integrate this program with Android Studio as well.

Check Out Genymotion (free trial, $136/year) Macos 10.14 6.

#5 Andy — a Smoother Workflow

Last but not the least, Andy is another way to run Android apps on Mac. However, compared to all emulators we’ve listed above, Andy offers a smoother workflow. The best part is that you’re getting a 100% full Android experience when you start up. You get built-in apps like Gmail, ES File Explorer and a lot more. It’s running on Android v4.0 KitKat, though.

Because Andy comes with Play Store access, you can easily download and install apps. There are some other important features as well. For instance, you can run the Android emulator in vertical and landscape modes as well. Also, there’s Key Mapping and Location manipulation. These features are awesome when you want a more optimized way to run Android apps.

Andy has one of the easiest installers we’ve seen. It’s an online installer, which would download files over an Internet connection. It needs to be noted that Andy downloads around 500MB of files, the largest on the list. Once the installation is done, Andy will show you the standard Android interface. You can use the mouse and keyboard for managing the virtual Android tablet.

As we said, Andy is the best when it comes to running apps. However, it would not be our go-to choice when it comes to playing Android games.

Pros

• Easy to Install and Manage
• Best optimization for apps
• Offers a standard Android experience

Cons

• Runs on KitKat
• It’s lagging a bit when other apps are running

Who Is It For

Andy offers the perfect level of optimization and a standard Android experience. We’d recommend this tool if you need a real-like virtual Android device on your Mac. Of course, there are some performance lags but you can avoid it by avoiding multitasking.

Check Out Andy (Free)

The best way to Run Android Apps on Mac?

So, these are the five different ways to run Android apps on Mac. In a way, you’re creating an Android device within macOS environment as well. As we said earlier, not a single solution is suitable for everyone. We have recommended Nox Player for Mac if you want to play games. On the other hand, if you just want to use apps smoothly, BlueStacks and Andy are the best options. And, for those upcoming developers out there, we will recommend Genymotion, which has a ton of features packed inside.

Android emulators fill an assortment of needs: from developers testing apps to gamers playing on an enormous screen. Standard users likewise long to encounter Android OS on a Windows PC, commended with a mouse and console.

Perhaps you are changing from iPhone to Android, or you only need to try out a Custom ROM, the conceivable outcomes with Android Emulators on Windows 10 are perpetual. While BlueStacks has constantly beaten the rundown of phone emulators for PCs, hardly any others are making up for lost time madly quick.

In this way, here is the rundown of the top Android Emulators for PC. Further down the article, we’ll be talking about the advantages and disadvantages of these emulators in detail.

Best Android Emulators for your PC and Mac

GameLoop

Game Loop, recently known as Tencent Gaming Buddy, as of late made it to the top Android emulators for PC, on account of restrictive help for Call of Duty Mobile game on PC.

Flavours 2 for macbook air. Prior to the dispatch of COD, the emulator for Android just upheld PUBG and a lot of gaming titles from the Tencent Developer.

GameLoop is really committed to Android gaming, henceforth the absence of help for other Android apps. The silver covering is GameLoop is extraordinary compared to other Android emulators for Windows 10 PCs, offering tenacious gaming execution.

One thing you will see immediately is the absence of various great gaming titles, also the Android emulator can’t be used for testing and other Android apps.

Value: Free

Why use GameLoop?

• Brilliant console and mouse mix
• Obligation at hand authority accomplice
• Incredible execution

BlueStacks

BlueStacks is presumably the most popular Android emulator among Android users. The emulator is favored for gaming and is incredibly simple to set up. Other than the Play Store, you have the choice to download BlueStacks enhanced apps from its own app store.

While BlueStacks bolsters console mapping, it turns out poorly with motions. A significant disadvantage of the BlueStacks emulator is that it gets languid in profitability apps. Other than that, the supported advertisements cause the emulator to lose behind other best free Android emulators for Windows.

With respect to gaming execution, Blustacks outperforms a few other Android emulators, nonetheless, you would even now see slacks, particularly on underpowered PC’s. BlueStacks Android emulator is now dependent on Android 7.1.2 (Nougat).

Value: Free/Premium $24

Why use BlueStacks?

• Simple to set up with no specialized knowledge required
• Numerous records support
• Best all-rounder Android Emulator

MEmu

MEmu is moderately another app player in contrast with the others. Propelled in 2015, the MeMu Play, once more, is focused on gaming. With respect to speed, this Android emulator gives comparable outcomes as Nox and BlueStacks.

One of the most significant highlights of the MeMu Android emulator is its help for both AMD and Nvidia chips. It likewise bolsters different Android renditions like Android Jelly Bean, Kit Kat, and Lollipop. While MeMu advocates for elite gaming, the execution of the illustrations is moderately poor. I saw surfaces and smoothness missing in contrast with other app players.

MEmu is at present dependent on Android Lollipop and works top of the class with efficiency apps. What’s more, if you are anticipating messing around like Ingress or Pokémon Go, this ought to be your decision.

Value: Free

• Why use MEmu?
• Key Mapping
• Set your virtual area on Google Maps
• Bolster both AMD and NVidia

KOPlayer

Like other Android gaming emulators out there, Ko Player focuses on conveying a slack free gaming involvement in lightweight programming.

As Ko Player is liberated from cost at this point you may see a couple of promotions to a great extent. The app player is anything but difficult to install and explore through the apps. It additionally underpins console mapping and gamepad imitating.

The drawback of this Android emulator is that it once in a while freezes suddenly. Additionally, the player is somewhat surrey and makes it difficult for the user to uninstall the Android emulator.

Value: Free

Why use KOPlayer?

• Basic UI
• Set up any Android device
• Simple to set up

Genymotion

Genymotion isn’t your easygoing Android emulator; it is just focused at developers. The Android test system lets you test apps on an assortment of virtual devices with different forms of Android. The emulator is perfect with Android SDK and Android Studio. It even takes a shot at macOS and Linux.

Since Genymotion is slanted towards developers, it is furnished with bunches of developer-accommodating highlights. Also, it probably won’t be the correct decision for individuals searching for Android gaming experience.

Value: Trail/Premium $136 every year.

Why use Genymotion?

Android Emulator For Mac El Capitan

• Supports Android Studio
• Runs on MacOs and Linux
• Run renditions from Android 4.1 to 8.0

Android emulators are a great way to experience Android on your Windows or Mac computer. They allow you to have the mobile feel of an android phone without having to buy a new device. Plus, they’re perfect for playing games that aren’t available in the Apple Store!

So you want to run android apps on your PC? Well, it just so happens that there are a ton of android emulators out there. However, not all android emulators are created equal. Some have limited features while others offer the same functionality as Android devices themselves. In this article, we will discuss our top 10 best android emulators for Windows and Mac!

The Best Android Emulator For Mac Download

Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’ll be able to find one that suits all your needs!

Advantages of Android emulators

Android emulators are great tools for developers and android enthusiasts to test out android apps without having an android device. Moreover, the android emulators enable you to enjoy the same experience as if you were using a phone or tablet – meaning that they can be used with keyboard+mouse or touch screen, depending on what suits your needs best.

The android emulators also offer an opportunity to test out different builds of android without having access to a variety of devices – meaning that they can be pretty handy if you need a place to tinker with new android versions and new builds of android.

Mostly the android emulators are also compatible with a variety of other operating systems, meaning that you can use them on your Windows or Mac machine without the need for any specialized software – just download the emulator like normal and away you go! Android emulators provide an opportunity for people who don’t like owning their own android devices to still be able to use Android apps or games on a computer.

Developers are able to test their app’s compatibility with various versions of Android as well as screen sizes and resolutions without having an actual phone. Android emulation allows developers to test out their apps on various devices without having access to each individual device separately.

Emulation also offers users an opportunity to run android apps that may not be compatible with specific OS’s, meaning that Android can be used on a variety of different computers.

BlueStacks

The number one Android emulator on this list is BlueStacks. This versatile emulator comes with a variety of benefits such as the ability to run pretty much any version of android you want, compatibility with Windows and Mac operating systems (as well as Linux), an intuitive user interface that’s super easy to use and lots more.

BlueStacks comes with an inbuilt app store, meaning that after installation, you can go ahead and download any of your favorite apps without the need for a separate app market.

The emulator also includes integrated Google Play services, making it compatible with all Android games as well! This is one of the safest android emulators on the market for Mac and Windows. This is a great option if you’re looking to avoid downloading any malware.

The emulator also offers the ability to record gameplay on your computer without having any additional software – perfect for gamers who want to show off their gaming skills!

However, one of the most notable features of this software is it, instance manager. With it, you’re able to launch multiple android instances at the same time. This is great if you need more than one emulator for different purposes – such as testing out a new game or working on an app that needs two versions of Android in order to work properly.

BlueStacks is one of the best android emulators out there and will allow you to access pretty much anything that Android has to offer, including all your favorite apps!

Pros:

• Great for beginners.
• Fits on most screens (meaning that you can enjoy Android without having to buy a whole new computer).
• Ability to test out different versions of android and operating systems.

Cons:

• Doesn’t work with all games – especially ones that require an accelerometer or gyroscope.
• Doesn’t work with some apps and games that require Android OS versions lower than Jellybean.
• Requires a powerful computer to run smoothly.

NoxPlayer

NoxPlayer is another one of the best Android emulators for Windows and Mac. It’s not as popular as BlueStacks, but it has a lot to offer – like support for hardware acceleration! As we all know, there are many games that require good graphics card and processor power in order to run smoothly. So if you’re looking for a way to optimize your emulator experience, NoxPlayer might be the best option.

What makes it stand out from other Android emulators? Well, first of all – its performance! It can easily run games with the highest graphics settings without any hiccups or long loading times. Secondly, it’s very user-friendly and easy to use – perfect for beginners!

Lastly, it has a big advantage over most of the other emulators on this list. NoxPlayer is also available as an Android app which means that you can install and run it directly from your phone or tablet if you’re running low on space. That’s pretty neat, right?

Pros

• Easy to use
• Free for personal and commercial purposes.
• High-performance emulation (runs Android apps at near native speeds)
• Completely cross-platform (supports Windows, Mac and Linux)

Cons

• Runs on Android 5, which is too outdated to enjoy new games.
• Comes with some bloatware, i.e., difficult-to-delete software.
• Some antivirus software may detect its files as suspicious.

LDPlayer

LDPlayer is a powerful Android emulator that lets you run your favourite apps on Windows. It has been around for more than five years, and it comes with a user-friendly interface.

LDPlayer includes a built-in web browser, so you can surf the internet right from your desktop computer running Windows or Mac OS X. What’s more, this Android emulator introduces support for multi-touch – it supports up to ten points of input at once!

What’s more, one of the most prominent features in LDPlayer is its compatibility with thousands of Android games and applications. In addition to that, we must mention that even if your computer doesn’t meet the requirements for this emulator; you may still be able to run it.

Pros:

– LDPlayer is compatible with thousands of Android games and applications. It includes a built-in web browser, so you can surf the internet right from your desktop computer running Windows or Mac OS X.

What’s more, it supports up to ten points of input at once!

Cons:

• The emulator is not free.
• It takes a while to set up the emulator and get it running smoothly on your computer, depending on how powerful it is.
• LDPlayer doesn’t come with any keyboard shortcuts by default.

Andy Android Emulator

Andy is one of the best on this list. It has a lot of features and it’s pretty fast, requires just minimum system requirements to install on your computer. With Andy you can experience the same Android as on an actual device but without having to actually own one. This emulator also allows for multiple users accounts which makes great for testing apps or games.

The emulator also supports sync with Dropbox which is very convenient when you want to access your files from any device.

Andy allows you to sync the folders and system settings with a computer, while this may not sound like much it can come in handy at times where all other Android Emulators fail.

Pros:

Great for testing apps and games. Multiple accounts

Cons:

Expensive service, Requires more system resources so it’s not as fast as some other emulators in this list

MEmuPlay

One of the top rated Android emulators on our list is MEmuPlay. It is specifically created for gaming and offers an amazing user interface.

MEmuPlay is a highly customizable Android emulator which is available for Windows and Mac.

It has many features that make it one of the most desirable emulators on our list, including:

– It can be used to play games in high performance with its frame rate limit feature

– Ability to change screen size

– Optimized graphics engine for smoother HD graphics

– The emulator is quite lightweight and can be used on a wide range of PC’s

– It offers the ability to change the orientation of your screen from portrait to landscape while you are playing games. This allows users to play in either position which may come up depending on what they want to do with their device at that moment.

Pros:

– Its frame rate limit feature allows you to play games on a high-performance level. With this, gamers can enjoy smoother HD graphics and never experience lag when playing their favourite game.

You have the ability to customize your resolution which means that MEmuPlay will be perfect for any type of computer.

This emulator is also quite lightweight and can be used on a wide range of PC’s, regardless of the hardware specifications.

Ability to change screen orientation from portrait to landscape.

Cons:

– There is a lack of customization when it comes to the home screen

– The emulator may be difficult to use for gamers who are new to these types of programs.

Android Studio Emulator

The Android Studio is the official development environment created by Google. It has an inbuilt powerful emulator that lets you test and debug your applications without the need for a physical device.

The emulator has been designed to be as close as possible to an actual phone, which allows app developers to detect problems before they are deployed on a real-world system. It also enables the testing of different devices with one single installation of Android Studio.

The inbuilt emulator has been designed with some of the following features to make it as realistic as possible:

• Emulates phone calls and sensors like GPS, accelerometer, etc.
• Supports hardware acceleration
• Includes support for USB devices such as keyboard, gamepad, mouse and other peripherals to make testing apps more realistic.
• Provides an easy way to take screenshots at any time

It also comes pre-installed with Android SDKs so you can start developing right away without having to install it separately in your computer. It also has built-in tools like DDMS (Dalvik Debug Monitor Server) and CPU/Memory profiler, which can be used by developers as well as power users to debug and analyze applications.

The emulator lets developers test their apps on different system architectures (x86 or ARM) as well as different Android versions to ensure that it will work across all devices.

The emulator is versatile and has a lot of features for developers such as creating multiple virtual screens, generating pre-defined screen sizes (Smartphone, TV), adding/removing system overlays like battery level or using Google Play Store to download apps into the device.

Lastly, the Android Studio Emulator is enabled with Google Play Services and it can be accessed by logging into your account.

ARChon

ARChon (also known as ARChon Runtime for Chrome) is a versatile custom extension for Chrome or Chromium browser that can easily run Android apps straight on Windows PC and a wide variety of other supported platforms.

ARChon is an open-source, free Android emulator that allows users to emulate the android experience on their PC. Unlike other emulators mentioned above, ARCHON isn’t a traditional emulator, it is installed as a chrome extension. Hence, the extension must be downloaded and installed on Chrome browser. When installed, it gives chrome the ability to run android apps and games.

ARChon works with any operating system that can run an instance of Chrome, including macOS, Linux, Windows, etc.

How to download and install ARChon on Chrome.

• Download the ARChon.zip file and unzip it via Winrar or 7zip.
• Open Google Chrome browser on your windows.
• Click on the 3 dot option key at the top right corner of the browser. Select tools> Extension.
• You can also type chrome://extensions// on the address bar to take you directly to the extension tab.
• Once on the extension tab, enable the “developer mode” option at the top right.
• Select the developer mode and click on “load unpacked extension”. Select the unzipped ARChon folder.
• ARChon should start installing on your chrome browser. You may come across a warning after the installation but just ignore it.

Once you’re done with everything, you can then download any apk file of your choice, unzip it, and follow the same process as you install ARChon.

The Best Android Emulator For Mac Os

You should then find the app on your chrome://apps folder.

Beware that note all files are compatible with chrome. So ensure that the one you’re using is compatible and also update your browser to the latest version.

GameLoop

GameLoop is a free Android emulator software which you can play mobile games on your Windows computer.

However, as the name suggests, GameLoop was specifically built for gamers. It was formerly known as TenCent Gaming Buddy, and was developed by TenCent, a company that also created and distributed the Android version of the popular game “PUGB”.

With its help, gaming enthusiasts can discover, download, and play almost all available Android games on their PCs instantly!

Like other Android emulators, GameLoop allow users to install and play mobile games directly from its game store. You can instantly start playing any game you find without additional configuration.

Additionally, whenever a new game is updated or released, you can immediately access it using GameLoop.

While you can’t use the emulator to play all Android games, GameLoop does have a massive library of gaming apps. Once installed, you can use it to play many popular games, the likes of Clash of Clans, Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush Saga, and lots more! As soon as these games get emulated on your Windows laptop or desktop, you can start using your mouse or keyboard for control.