An Android emulator is an application that allows your computer to mimic the features of the Android operating system. It allows you to install apps from smartphones running Google's operating system on your iMac or MacBook, and use them natively. It is mainly used for debugging purposes, but many also look for these gaming software.
Advice and resources for choosing an Android emulator
Before getting to know the list of the 5 best Android emulators for macOS, let's go through some general principles that you should keep in mind when choosing your emulator.
Free emulators: you don't have to pay for an Android emulator, and there are perfectly decent free options out there. But there will be concessions and you must check if they are acceptable. Some emulators install bloatware and other nasty stuff on your system. Keep in mind that this is unfortunately normal in this area.
Ease of setup: although installation is pretty straightforward in theory, all android emulators experience a lag at some point while downloading a bunch of files. Don't expect to be able to run the app instantly.
Performance: how fast does the emulator run? Does it approach the good performance of an updated Android phone or does it lag? Don't expect a lot of power, and unfortunately, it's normal to have a bad experience in fast mobile games, for example.
Version: what version of android does the emulator offer? Very few will let you run the latest edition.
Features: the main factor to look out for is the ability to emulate touch screen gestures. Some allow you to link virtual device slides and tilts to keyboard shortcuts. Be aware of this if you intend to play mobile games on your Mac.
The best Android emulators for Mac
The following is a list of the best Android emulator options to use on macOS. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.
Bluestacks 3
With Bluestacks 3, you have an emulator that has been around long enough to solve any problem, but also with many users around the world. Unfortunately, more users means there can be more lag, especially while gaming. However, Bluestacks 3 is one of the best emulators for graphics-heavy games.
Download Bluestacks 3
Nox Player
Nox Player has some amazing perks, like the fact that this app is completely free. One important feature that stands out in Nox Player is that if you are able to connect a console controller to your Mac, you can also use it with Nox Player, making gaming much easier.
It's really easy to install, so even if you're new to emulators, you should be able to get Nox Player up and running smoothly on your MacBook or iMac.
Download Nox Player
K.O. Player
If you want an emulator for more than just gaming, but also for making use of other apps, then KO Player is a great choice for you. It will allow you to use basically any Android app on your Mac.
KO Player is also completely free. However, this might not be the right emulator for you if you are strictly looking for an Android emulator for games, because while you can use KO Player for games, it is not optimized for that purpose.
Download KO Player
Android Studio
This Google emulator is available to everyone. It doesn't have as many features as other emulators on the market, but it is definitely more stable. This is more complicated software to use and more aimed at developers as it has everything needed to create and design your own apps. But beware: this emulator is not a good idea for beginners as it has a steeper learning curve.
Download Android Studio
ARCHon
This might be the black sheep of this list because, unlike all the other emulators already mentioned above, it doesn't require any kind of installation. ARChon is actually a Google Chrome extension, so you don't need to install any extra software on your Mac.
Because it's a Google Chrome extension and not an actual software installation, it doesn't work as well as other Mac emulators. Still, it is quite valid if you liked the idea of a site that emulates the Android system.
Access ARChon
