Best Android Emulators for PC in 2026: 9 Picks Ranked

Starting March 5, 2025, Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore are no longer available in the Microsoft Store, so Microsoft’s own route to Android apps on a Windows 11 PC is closed. The best Android emulators for PC now differ most in what they ask of the PC.

The spread is wide. LDPlayer 9 lists a minimum of 2GB of system memory, while Android Studio with its emulator needs 16GB of RAM on 64-bit Windows 10. Nine emulators are ranked below for Windows 11 and 10 PCs, with Mac support noted where a vendor offers it. Every version, requirement and support date was checked on the vendor’s own pages on October 15, 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore are no longer available in the Microsoft Store starting March 5, 2025.
• MuMuPlayer runs Android 15, supports Windows, Windows on ARM and macOS, and can run Android 15 and Android 12 instances simultaneously; it scores 8.50 on our weighted criteria.
• LDPlayer 9 lists a minimum of 2GB of RAM and 36GB of free hard disk space, the lowest memory floor here alongside MEmu.
• BlueStacks 5 needs at least 4GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space on Windows 7 and above.
• Google Play Games on PC needs 8 GB of RAM, an SSD with 10 GB of available storage and Windows 10 (v2004).
• Google says the Android Emulator runs best with at least 16 GB of RAM and 16 GB of disk space, matching the 16GB of memory Genymotion requires.
• ESET discovered a supply-chain attack compromising the update mechanism of NoxPlayer in January 2021, and only 5 of its users with NoxPlayer installed received a malicious update.

Quick Picks

Two checks narrow the field in a minute: how much RAM the PC has, and whether you want games or app testing. MEmu lists 2GB of RAM, or 4GB for an x64 system, as its minimum, while the developer tools start at 16GB.

• Best overall: MuMu Player runs Android 15 on Windows, Windows on ARM and macOS, and scores 8.50.
• Best for switching Android releases: BlueStacks 5 offers Nougat 32-bit, Nougat 64-bit, Pie 64-bit, Android 11 and Android 13 instances.
• Best for low-RAM PCs: LDPlayer lists 2GB of RAM as the LDPlayer 9 minimum.
• Best for PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile: GameLoop is the official PUBGM and CODM emulator.
• Best for app testing: Android Studio Emulator runs on 64-bit Windows 10 or higher, MacOS 12 or higher, Linux or ChromeOS with 16 GB of RAM.
• Best official Google option: Google Play Games on PC is available in more than 140 regions.

Source: MuMuPlayer, BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MEmu, GameLoop, Android Developers, NoxPlayer, Google Play Help and Genymotion pages, October 2026

Each pick was scored across the weighted criteria in How We Ranked.

1. MuMu Player

MuMuPlayer advertises deep Android 15 integration and support for Windows, Windows on ARM and macOS, which makes it the newest Android base and the widest platform reach of any gaming emulator here. It can run unlimited instances with Android 15 and Android 12 simultaneously, so an older game that refuses Android 15 still has a home.

MuMuPlayer’s recommended configuration is Win7 or above, an i5 7500 or above with 4 cores or more and VT enabled, a GTX950 or above, and 4GB or more of memory. It also asks for 2GB or more on the installation disk and 1.5GB or more on the system disk, small next to LDPlayer’s 36GB.

The catch is on the Mac. MuMuPlayer offers a 7-day free trial for untried Mac devices, after which you purchase or renew the subscription. On a Mac, compare it with BlueStacks Air before the trial ends.

Best Overall

8.5/10

Editor’s rating

Android 15 Gaming Emulator

MuMu Player

Best for Gaming on the newest Android

Android Android 15 and Android 12

Platforms Windows, Windows on ARM, macOS

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 8.50: gaming 9, Android 10, hardware 7, platforms 10, cost 6.
• Scored from the MuMuPlayer homepage and its FAQ: Android 15 earns the top Android mark, and the paid Mac subscription holds down cost.

Which is better than BlueStacks?

MuMuPlayer edges BlueStacks on the vendor-stated Android version. MuMuPlayer runs Android 15, while Android 13 is still listed as Beta in the BlueStacks 5 release notes. For a game that needs a recent Android, start with MuMu; for one that needs an old Nougat instance, BlueStacks covers more versions.

2. BlueStacks 5 and BlueStacks Air

BlueStacks 5 runs on Microsoft Windows 7 and above with an Intel or AMD processor, at least 4GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space, double the 2GB RAM floor that LDPlayer 9 and MEmu state. Its strength is choice. BlueStacks 5 can create Nougat 32-bit, Nougat 64-bit, Pie 64-bit, Android 11 and Android 13 instances, so a game pinned to one Android version still runs.

The BlueStacks 5 release notes, updated October 9, 2026, list BlueStacks 5.22 as the latest version and Android 13 (Beta). Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can only use BlueStacks versions 5.21.300 and below, and the latest version needs Windows 10 or above.

By the numbers: BlueStacks 5 lists at least 4GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space as its minimum, and recommends Windows 10 and above, 8GB of RAM or higher, an SSD and virtualization enabled. A PC that only meets the floor runs lighter games, and the recommended setup is what shooters need.

On a Mac the product changes name. BlueStacks Air needs macOS 11 (Big Sur) or higher, an Apple Silicon M1 to M4 processor, 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended) and 12GB of free space. BlueStacks markets the download as Play Android Games on PC & Mac (FREE). Its catalog leans on the same blockbusters covered in the most popular Android games ranking.

Best for Switching Android Releases

8.25/10

Editor’s rating

Multi-Instance Gaming Emulator

BlueStacks 5 and BlueStacks Air

Best for Games pinned to one Android version

Windows Windows 7 and above, 4GB RAM

Mac BlueStacks Air, Apple Silicon M1 to M4

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 8.25: gaming 9, Android 8, hardware 7, platforms 9, cost 8.
• Scored from the BlueStacks Support requirements, instance and release notes articles: five selectable releases earn a high gaming mark, and Android 13 still in beta keeps it below MuMu on Android.

Is BlueStacks still the best Android emulator?

BlueStacks is still the most flexible, though no longer the newest. BlueStacks 5 offers Nougat, Pie, Android 11 and Android 13 instances, a range no rival here matches. It ranks second only because MuMuPlayer states a newer Android base and a Windows on ARM build.

3. LDPlayer

LDPlayer’s homepage advertises an industry-leading Android 14 and a brand-new Android 14 core, second only to MuMu on Android version. Its LDPlayer 9 requirements page lists an Intel or AMD x86 / x86_64 processor, Windows XP XP3 through Win 11, DirectX 11 or OpenGL 2.0, and a minimum of 2GB of system memory.

The same page asks for at least 36GB of free hard disk space and hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x/AMD-V) enabled in BIOS, the largest disk floor here. Its recommended specification for LDPlayer 9 is an Intel i5 10500 or better, 16GB of RAM or higher, 100GB of disk space and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or better. The requirements page names LDPlayer 9 and still lists Windows XP, so check the installer before relying on that line.

The chart compares the minimum RAM each vendor states, leaving out MuMuPlayer, which publishes only a recommendation.

Best for Low-RAM PCs

7.8/10

Editor’s rating

Lightweight Gaming Emulator

LDPlayer

Best for Low-RAM gaming PCs

Android Android 14 core

Minimum RAM 2GB (LDPlayer 9)

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 7.80: gaming 8, Android 9, hardware 9, platforms 5, cost 7.
• Scored from the LDPlayer homepage and requirements page: a 2GB floor and an Android 14 core score high, and Windows-only system requirements hold down platform reach.

Which is the lightest Android emulator for PC?

LDPlayer 9 and MEmu tie on memory: LDPlayer 9 lists a minimum of 2GB of RAM and MEmu lists 2GB of RAM, or 4GB for an x64 system, with 5GB of free disk space. For a PC too weak for either, the Android OS builds for low-end PCs go further.

4. MEmu Play

MEmu’s minimum system requirements are a 2 cores x86/x86_64 processor, Microsoft Windows 7 and above, hardware virtualization enabled in BIOS, 2GB of RAM (4GB for x64 system) and 5GB of hard disk free space. Its 5GB disk minimum ties BlueStacks 5, and MuMuPlayer states less, 2GB for installation plus 1.5GB on the system disk.

Its recommended specification is Microsoft Windows 10 with VT enabled, 8GB of RAM or higher and an SSD with 10GB of hard disk free space. MEmu Play is a free software that may contain advertisements. MEmu does not offer a Mac/Linux version, though it can run on Mac OS using Parallels Desktop with nested virtualization enabled. For casual titles like the fun games on Android list, the 2GB floor is enough.

6.7/10

Editor’s rating

Ad-Supported Free Emulator

MEmu Play

Best for 2GB RAM floor, 5GB disk minimum

Minimum RAM 2GB (4GB for x64 system)

Disk 5GB free

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 6.70: gaming 7, Android 5, hardware 9, platforms 5, cost 7.
• Scored from the MEmu requirements page and homepage: a 2GB RAM floor earns a top hardware score, tied with LDPlayer; the pages checked name no Android release, so Android sits halfway.

5. GameLoop

GameLoop describes itself as the official PUBGM and CODM emulator, with a smart key-mapping feature. Publisher backing is the reason to pick it. It suits players whose PC gaming centers on those two shooters.

The emulator downloads for free from gameloop.com. GameLoop publishes no requirements page that could be retrieved during the check, so its hardware floor was scored as unknown. If your library is mostly the titles in the best shooting games for Android ranking, GameLoop is the specialist; for anything else, the first three picks cover more.

Best for PUBG Mobile and CODM

6.35/10

Editor’s rating

Shooter-Focused Emulator

GameLoop

Best for Mobile shooters on PC

Official for PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile

Cost Free download

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 6.35: gaming 8, Android 5, hardware 5, platforms 5, cost 8.
• Scored from the GameLoop product page: official publisher status earns a high gaming score; it publishes neither an Android release nor requirements, so both of those criteria sit halfway.

6. NoxPlayer

NoxPlayer supports Android engines 5.1, 7.1 and 9, in both 32 and 64 bit, and is compatible with both X86 and AMD. That makes it the place for a game that only runs on an old Android release, though Android 9 is the newest base it states. NoxPlayer says users can run mobile games at any Android version (Android5/7/9).

ESET describes NoxPlayer as an Android emulator for PCs and Macs, part of BigNox’s product range with over 150 million users worldwide. No requirements page on the vendor’s own domain could be retrieved during the check.

Update security: In January 2021, ESET discovered a supply-chain attack compromising the update mechanism of NoxPlayer. ESET saw the first indicators of compromise in September 2020 and reported the incident to BigNox after uncovering explicitly malicious activity on January 25, 2021. Download NoxPlayer only from its official site.

Best for Older Android Engines

5.9/10

Editor’s rating

Multi-Engine Emulator

NoxPlayer

Best for Games that need an older Android

Android 5.1, 7.1 and 9

Platforms PC and Mac

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 5.90: gaming 7, Android 5, hardware 5, platforms 8, cost 4.
• Scored from the NoxPlayer FAQ and ESET’s report: three Android engines and a Mac build earn reach, and the 2021 update-channel attack sets the lowest trust score.

Is Nox a trusted emulator?

Treat it with care. ESET found that more than 100,000 of its users had NoxPlayer installed and only 5 received a malicious update, calling Operation NightScout a highly targeted operation. A hijacked update channel is why it ranks sixth.

7. Google Play Games on PC

Google Play Games on PC lets you play mobile games on your Windows computer, and needs Windows 10 (v2004), an SSD with 10 GB of available storage, 8 GB of RAM, an Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU or comparable and 4 CPU physical cores. It is Google’s own client rather than a general emulator, so it installs games from Google’s catalog instead of any app.

It also requires a Windows admin account and hardware virtualization turned on, and recommends a gaming-class GPU like the Nvidia GeForce MX450 with 8 logical cores. You can sync your progress and earn Play Points whether you play on a computer or a mobile device. Many smaller titles, including a lot of offline Android games, are not in its catalog, which is where a general emulator still earns its place.

Best Official Google Option

5.8/10

Editor’s rating

Google's Windows Game Client

Google Play Games on PC

Best for Synced progress and Play Points

Windows Windows 10 (v2004)

RAM 8 GB with an SSD

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 5.80: gaming 7, Android 5, hardware 3, platforms 5, cost 9.
• Scored from the Google Play Help requirements article: first-party trust earns a high score, the 8 GB plus SSD floor holds down hardware, and with no Android release named, Android is scored at the midpoint.

8. Android Studio Emulator

The Android Emulator in Android Studio is best used on a computer with 16 GB RAM, 64-bit Windows 10 or higher, MacOS 12 or higher, Linux or ChromeOS, and 16 GB disk space. It is the emulator for building and testing apps, and the only one here that covers four desktop platforms.

On Windows, Android Studio needs 8 GB for Studio alone and 16GB for Studio and the emulator, with 32GB recommended, plus virtualization support and a CPU microarchitecture after 2017. On a Mac it needs macOS 12, an Apple M1 chip or a 6th generation Intel Core or newer, and Google is phasing out support for Macs with Intel chips. The current download is Android Studio Rabbit 1 | 2026.2.1.

Worth noting: Google says that without the recommended specs the emulator might still run but not smoothly, and that higher API levels or larger screens may need more. For gaming, keep to the first five picks and use this one for testing builds.

Best for App Testing

5.15/10

Editor’s rating

Official Developer Emulator

Android Studio Emulator

Best for Testing apps you build

Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS

RAM 16GB with Android Studio

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 5.15: gaming 3, Android 5, hardware 2, platforms 10, cost 9.
• Scored from the Android Developers install and emulator pages: four platforms earn the top reach score, the 16GB floor sets the lowest hardware score, and Android takes the midpoint mark because Google names no release for it.

9. Genymotion Desktop

Genymotion Desktop’s stable release is 3.11.0, with downloads for Windows 11 (x86_64) and for macOS (x86_64, arm64) on Tahoe (26) and Sequoia (15). It requires an Intel x86_64 6th generation, AMD Ryzen or Apple Silicon processor, VT-x or AMD-V enabled, an OpenGL 3.3 capable GPU and 16GB or more of memory.

Linux support covers Ubuntu 24.04LTS or higher, Debian stable 13 or higher and Fedora Workstation 40 or higher, and the Windows installer includes VirtualBox. Genymotion Desktop for personal use is free, but it is not suitable for trial or POC, some features are disabled and technical support is not available. It is a developer tool, so it ranks last here.

Best for Device Simulation

4.4/10

Editor’s rating

Developer Device Emulator

Genymotion Desktop

Best for Developers testing on Windows, Mac or Linux

Version 3.11.0

Memory 16GB or more

Visit Website

• Scorecard: weighted total 4.40: gaming 2, Android 5, hardware 2, platforms 10, cost 6.
• Scored from the Genymotion download and pricing pages: three desktop platforms earn the top reach score, a 16GB floor with no gaming tools sets the lowest totals; Genymotion names no Android release either, so that criterion sits at the midpoint.

Verdict by Use Case

The nine picks score between 4.40 and 8.50 out of 10, and the top three sit within 0.70 of each other, so your PC and your games decide more than the rank does.

• Best for most gamers on Windows: MuMu Player, for the newest stated Android base.
• Best for games that need a specific Android release: BlueStacks 5, with five selectable versions.
• Best for a PC with little RAM: LDPlayer, or MEmu, which shares LDPlayer 9’s 2GB RAM floor and ties BlueStacks 5 on a 5GB disk minimum.
• Best for PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile: GameLoop, the publishers’ official emulator.
• Best for an Apple Silicon Mac: BlueStacks Air, with MuMuPlayer’s paid Mac build as the alternative.
• Best for app developers: the Android Studio Emulator, with Genymotion for device simulation.

How We Ranked

Nine emulators were scored on five criteria weighted to 100%, led by gaming at 30% because most readers run games. Each score comes from the vendor’s own requirements pages, release notes, homepages and FAQs, plus ESET’s published research for trust.

Evidence per criterion. Gaming came from the gaming features each vendor documents, and Android from the newest release each vendor names.

Hardware came from stated minimum RAM and disk, and platforms from the operating systems each download supports. Cost came from pricing pages and published security research.

Source: TechLila scoring rubric, October 2026

Candidate pool. Twelve routes to Android apps on a PC were evaluated and nine were scored. Inclusion required a download a reader can install today and a vendor page stating at least one of the scored facts.

Exclusions. Three widely recommended options were evaluated and not ranked:

• Windows Subsystem for Android: no longer available in the Microsoft Store, as covered below.
• Waydroid: it runs Android in a container on Linux rather than on Windows, so it belongs with the full installs in the Android OS for PC ranking.
• Bliss OS and other Android-x86 builds: they replace or dual-boot the operating system instead of running in a window.

Evidence completeness. Each emulator was scored against the criteria above using its vendor’s requirements pages, release notes, homepage and FAQ. Where a vendor publishes no requirement or Android version, that criterion was scored as unknown at the midpoint, and the item’s writeup says so.

Is Windows Subsystem for Android still available?

Starting March 5, 2025, Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore are no longer available in the Microsoft Store, so the answer is no. Microsoft had built it so a Windows 11 device could run Android applications available in the Amazon Appstore. An emulator from this list is now the practical replacement, and the other Windows routes are compared in the guide to running Android apps on a PC.

How much RAM does an Android emulator need?

Plan on 4GB to 8GB for gaming. LDPlayer 9 lists a 2GB minimum, BlueStacks 5 asks for at least 4GB and recommends 8GB or higher, and Google Play Games on PC needs 8 GB of RAM.

App testing in Android Studio with the emulator needs 16GB, with 32GB recommended. A laptop with less memory is often better served by a full Android install, compared in the Android OS for laptops ranking.

Conclusion: Choosing From the Best Android Emulators for PC

MuMu Player is the best Android emulator for most Windows PCs because it states the newest Android base and runs on Windows on ARM and macOS as well. It runs Android 15 alongside Android 12 instances, while BlueStacks 5 remains the safer choice when a game needs an old Nougat or Pie instance, and LDPlayer suits a PC with 2GB to spare.

Since March 5, 2025, Windows Subsystem for Android is no longer available in the Microsoft Store, so match the emulator to your RAM first and your games second, and download it only from the vendor’s own site.