The 5 Best Android Emulators for Mac in 2019

Play Android games on your Apple computer

Apple iMac

KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/Getty Images 

by Joana Simoes
Joana Simoes is a freelance technology writer who specializes in Microsoft Office, iOS, Windows, and Mac technologies.
Updated October 24, 2019

There are some Android apps on the market today that even Mac users would like to get their hands on. Whether it's a game, productivity app, or something else, if you're using a Mac computer, you can still get access to Android apps. All you have to do is use an Android emulator. But not all emulators are the same, so we've reviewed emulators to bring you this list of the best Mac Android Emulators on the market.

01
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Best Overall: Nox Player

Nox loading screen

What We Like

  • Easy to install.

  • Able to connect a controller.

  • Free to use.

What We Don't Like

  • Sometimes lagged on startup.

Nox Player has quite a few amazing attributes, one of which is that it is completely free. One major feature that stands out for Nox Player is that if you're able to connect a controller to your Mac then you can also use it with Nox Player, making playing video games much easier. It is really easy to install so even if you're a rookie to emulators you should be able to get Nox Player up and running with no problem.

02
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Most Popular: Bluestacks 3

Bluestacks 3 download site

What We Like

  • Easy to use.

  • Stable.

What We Don't Like

  • Not great for developers.

With Bluestacks 3 you are getting an emulator that's been around long enough to get any issues ironed out, but it also means there are a lot more people using it. Unfortunately, more users mean there could be more lag happening while you're playing. Bluestacks 3 is one of the emulators that can handle most of the games with heavy graphics.

03
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More Than Just Games: KO Player

KO Player Download Page

What We Like

  • Can use it with all Android apps.

  • Completely free.

  • Supports OpenGL & hardware acceleration.

What We Don't Like

  • Focus isn't strictly on gaming.

If you want an emulator for more than just gaming purposes then KO Player is the emulator for you. It is going to allow you to use basically any Android App on your Mac. KO Player is also another emulator that's completely free. Even so, this may not be the right emulator for you if you're strictly looking for an Android emulator for Mac just for gaming purposes because while you can use KO Player for gaming, it's not optimized strictly for that purpose.

04
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No Installation Required: AR Chon

AR Chon download screen

What We Like

  • Easy to use.

  • No installation required.

What We Don't Like

  • Not as stable as the others.

This might be the black sheep of the bunch because unlike all the other emulators on this list it doesn't require any kind of installation. AR Chon is actually a Google Chrome extension so you don't have to install any extra software onto your Mac. Because it's Google chrome extension and not an actual software installation, it doesn't run as smoothly as the other emulators for Mac.

05
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Best for Developers: Android Studio

Android Studio download page

What We Like

  • Extremely clean and stable.

  • Great for developers.

What We Don't Like

  • Too complicated for beginners.

This is emulator by Google is available to everyone. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the other mass marketed emulators but its definitely more stable. This is a more complicated software to use and more directed towards developers as it has all the things needed to create and design your own apps. But beware: this emulator isn't for the rookie emulator for Mac user.