Download the Android simulator on a Russian PC. The best Android emulators for your computer

Running mobile applications on your computer, playing “telephone” games on the big screen, and controlling your character using a full-fledged keyboard and mouse—this is real. All you need is a very small thing - an environment that will allow you to implement all this, namely an Android emulator for PC.

Android emulator is an application that simulates the hardware and software functions of a smartphone or tablet on a computer. Today there are more than a dozen such programs. They are designed for different tasks, have a different set of capabilities, and have their own advantages and disadvantages. We present to your attention the Top 5 Android emulators on PC, as well as 2 free Internet services, the best according to users and experts.

The free Android emulator (until September 2018, it was officially called Nox App Player) is designed specifically for gamers and is “tailored” to various gaming needs. The Russian language, a very simple and intuitive interface, support for joysticks, gamepads, hotkeys and any applications from Google Play, the ability to change your location and a host of other useful features, coupled with low system requirements, leave almost no chance for its competitors.

Here's an incomplete one list of Knox features:

• Emulation Android 7.1.2 (supports games from 2017-2018) and earlier versions.
• Horizontal and vertical screen orientation.
• Obtaining root rights without additional means (by checking a box in the settings).
• Simultaneous launch of several copies of the player on one machine.
• Copy files and install applications by dragging and dropping from folders and from the PC desktop.
• Work in 2D and 3D modes.
• Binding hardware keyboard keys to selected points on the screen.
• Screenshots.
• Synchronizing applications with your Google account on your mobile device.
• Built-in application and game stores.
• Emulates shaking the phone and controlling it with two fingers.
• DirectX and OpenGL support.
• Several options for designing the working environment (skins).
• Transmission of game audio with support for volume control.
• Recording autoplay scripts (macros) in games.
• Run games with high fps (up to 60).

NoxPlayer is available in versions for Windows and OS X (both are available on the official website) and works quite well even on old and weak computers. The application itself, along with the content that fills it, is ready to be content with one GB of hard drive space and 512 MB of RAM.

The emulator comes with several applications and games (apparently sponsored), in particular, Facebook, Lineage 2 and Pokemon Go.

If you have questions about using NoxPlayer, as well as in case of errors in its operation, which, although rare, does happen, you can refer to the FAQ section on the developer’s website. All information in it is in Russian.

Bluestax is perhaps Knox's main competitor among Android gaming emulators. It is also compatible with the vast majority of existing mobile games and applications, translated into Russian, allows you to obtain root rights and supports keyboard and mouse controls.

One of the features of the emulator is in-game currency BlueStacks Pika Points, which the user receives as a reward for installing and launching new games, as well as for performing certain actions to increase the level. The accumulated currency can be exchanged for real prizes, such as a Pro Gamer T-shirt, gaming mouse, mouse pad, sticker pack, gift cards, and more from the BlueStacks Store and BlueStacks Market.

Other BlueStacks features:

• Quick installation.
• Emulation of Android 7.1.2 (in BlueStacks 4 version) with support for 2018 games.
• Control using a gamepad and joystick. There is no direct support for some of these devices in the program, so they are connected through mouse and keyboard emulator utilities.
• DirectX and OpenGL support.
• Synchronization of data in applications on different devices (when used from the same Google account).
• Windowed and full screen mode. Launch multiple windows at the same time.
• Additional skins and wallpapers (paid feature). Purchases can be made using virtual currency Pika Points.
• Pre-installed applications (sponsored, but there are some interesting games among them) and content stores.
• Adjust screen resolution, adjust sound volume.
• Instantly hide the BlueStacks window by pressing hot keys (will be useful for those who play at work or hide the program from their parents).
• Backup (backup) of the system state and recovery from it.

The emulator is available in versions for Windows and OS X. Although it supports older operating systems (in particular, Windows 7 and 8), it is demanding on computer resources. So, for fast and stable operation, it needs at least 2 GB of RAM and 512 GB of video memory. Running Bluestacks on PCs and laptops with built-in video is possible, but you can play comfortably only on medium and low settings.

On the official BlueStacks website, like NoxPlayer, there is a help section in Russian.

The free Android emulator Andy is one of the veterans of the genre. Unlike the first two reviewers, it is more focused on working with non-gaming applications, although it is capable of playing many mobile games. Despite the lack of support for the Russian language, users choose it for its stability, speed and advanced functionality. Yes, under the hood of this unassuming-looking program lies power that surpasses BlueStacks.

Basic Andy OS features:

• Emulation of the latest versions of Android, regular release of updates.
• An interface that completely replicates the original Android.
• Built-in content store and other system applications. No extra stuff.
• Synchronization of application data in the emulator and on the mobile device.
• Using your phone as a controller to control a game or application running in Andy.
• Obtaining root rights.
• Multi-touch support.
• Access to webcam and microphone.
• Streaming (streaming the game over the air).
• Exchange files with the host system.
• Support for joysticks of Xbox and PS game consoles.
• Taking screenshots and much more.

Some functions of the emulator, such as obtaining root rights, are designed for experienced users, but the bulk of its capabilities are available to everyone.

Andy is available in versions for Windows and Mac OS X. It works stably and quickly on machines with three or more gigabytes of RAM and a video card that supports OpenGL 2.0.

Help materials for Andy OS are available in English only.

is a relatively young emulator, but it has already gained popularity among connoisseurs of mobile gaming. The interface of this program is somewhat reminiscent of NoxPlayer, and an experienced player will not spend more than 5 minutes learning it. However, novice users may find it difficult due to incomplete and sometimes inaccurate translation into Russian.

The distribution includes standard system applications, content stores, Facebook and a sponsorship “present” Casino Delux.

Basic Memu Play features:

• Emulation of Android version 5.1.1 and earlier.
• Selecting a specific mobile device model (from those offered).
• Support for mouse, keyboard, gamepads.
• Windowed and full screen mode.
• Horizontal to vertical screen orientation.
• Emulation of shaking a mobile device.
• Recording autoplay scripts.
• OpenGL and DirectX support.
• Setting the screen resolution.
• Generate phone number and IMEI (for some applications and games).
• Network settings.
• Hotkey management.
• Binding keys to selected points on the screen.
• Play sound with volume control.
• Shared folders with the host system.

The Memu Play emulator is designed only for Windows and does not place any special demands on PC hardware resources. To run it correctly, one GB of RAM and a video card with OpenGL 2.0 support are enough.

- not quite an ordinary Android emulator. More precisely, not an emulator at all, but without it our Top 5 would be incomplete. It is one of the few that can replace a physical device when developing and testing mobile applications. The principle of Genymotion is to virtualize the “live” Android system in the VirtualBox environment.

Genymotion is the only paid product in today's review. Its price starts at $136 for an annual license, but according to professional developers, it's worth every penny. The program comes with several dozen customized and ready-to-use Android images (already at the end of 2017, Genymotion implemented support for Android 8.0), the Eclipse and Android Studio development environments with plugins, and shell. There is ADB support.

Others Genymotion features:

• Very high speed.
• Supports almost all versions of Android.
• Emulation of sensors, GPS with the ability to change coordinates, front and rear cameras, battery level.
• Emulates phone calls, SMS and various methods of connecting to the Internet.
• OpenGl hardware acceleration support.
• Emulation of resetting the phone to factory settings.
• Windowed and full screen viewing mode.
• Change IMEI.
• Changing the amount of RAM, the number of processors and other hardware parameters of the emulated device.
• Pixel Perfect mode.
• Quickly switch between emulated gadgets.
• Built-in Google Apps service.
• Shared clipboard with the host system.
• Other functions available in traditional emulators: keyboard and mouse control, multi-touch, screenshots, macros, streams, synchronization of application data with a real device, root rights, etc.

Genymotion is available in versions for Windows, OS X and Linux. Installation requires at least 2 GB of RAM and OpenGl support. To download the installer, you need to register on the official website.

In addition to the desktop version of the product, there is a paid service Genymotion Cloud, designed for testing developments on virtual machines in the cloud. The service can be accessed from any device, regardless of its platform and performance.

Android emulators online

The free online emulator ApkOnline works directly in the browser window. It is designed to run mobile applications on any operating system without installing a virtual Android environment on your computer.

The service emulates Android OS version 6.0 and supports the following Features:

• Calls and SMS.
• Screen rotations.
• Selecting the location of the device.
• Sensors
• Taking screenshots.
• Keyboard and mouse control.

The virtual system has several pre-installed programs and games: Whatsapp, Telegram, Facebook, several games (Angry Birds, Zombie Age 2, etc.) and an application for working with documents.

Anyone who wants to have ApkOnline always at hand can install it as an extension in Google Chrome or Firefox. A manager and application loader (apk) are installed along with the emulator.

DARK Wylder (ARC Welder)

The DARK Wylder extension (ARC Welder) is another online emulator that runs directly in the browser window, this time in Google Chrome. Its purpose is to launch and test mobile applications and games in apk format on any desktop platforms.

ARC Welder emulates the Android 4.4 system. It launches as an empty vertically oriented window and does not require any special settings. To install an application into it, click the plus button next to “Add your APK”. Point to the Android program file previously saved on your computer and wait for it to launch.

ARC Welder features:

• Switch between vertical and horizontal screen orientation.
• Windowed and full screen mode.
• Control using keyboard and mouse.
• Shared clipboard with the host system (apk is not intended for loading into the emulator).

By the way, ARC Welder does not have a built-in Google Play content store, which some may find inconvenient, but this is explained by the fact that the emulator is designed to run only its own developments.

Android is one of the most popular mobile platforms, powering millions of smartphones and tablets around the world. It is not surprising that hundreds of thousands of applications have been developed for such a widespread system, both paid and free.

All these applications can be easily run on a regular computer. All you need is the application installation file and an Android emulator. Launching mobile applications can be useful in different situations - to check their operation during the development process or just to look at it before downloading it to a phone or tablet.

There are different ways to launch an Android application on a PC, but using an emulator is the easiest and 100% working method. You just need to decide which emulator you should use - after all, there are a huge number of such programs today. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, which we will try to understand.

Let's look at eight free emulators; for each program there is a link to the official website of the developer:

Important: In order for emulators to work, Intel VT-x or AMD-v virtualization may be required, which runs in the BIOS. It is usually launched by default, but if the programs do not work, it is worth checking this point.

Nox App Player

This emulator, according to many users, is the best option of all.

The program is compatible with all common versions of Windows - 7, 8.1 and 10. In addition, the emulator is very undemanding of computer resources and can work without any problems even on not very powerful laptops running a modern operating system.

Once launched, the program will take a couple of minutes to fully load. Then the user will see a standard Android screen - system version 4.4.2 is emulated on a device with 30 GB of internal memory.

The system interface is no different from that on any mobile device - there are all the usual control keys; Among the preinstalled programs you can find a standard browser and file manager.

Initially, the program is in English, but in the settings you can enable the Russian version of the interface.

In the emulator settings you can adjust the display mode and performance. By default, the program has a screen resolution of 1280x720, but if this workspace size does not suit you, you can choose one of three other options, including Full HD mode.

You can also switch the screen orientation between tablet and phone. Depending on the computer resources, the performance mode is selected; a low level allows you to run the emulator on weak PCs. If necessary, you can manually allocate this or that amount of RAM and processor power to the program.

Controlling the system is no different from that on any device - a physical computer keyboard is initially connected, but you can also use its standard on-screen version. Sound and webcam also connect automatically, without additional configuration. The Play Market is fully functional - after logging into your Google account, you can freely download and install any applications.

The functionality of the emulator expands the capabilities of the Android system. On the right side of the program window you can see a number of icons with which you can perform the following actions:

• launching third-party .apk files from your computer’s hard drive;
• simulation of any location that will be perceived by the system as GPS coordination;
• loading any files into the internal memory of the emulated device;
• taking screenshots;
• launching several emulations simultaneously.

In general, the emulator allows you to run almost any Android application on Windows without any problems - simple games, Instagram and others. The emulator is optimized almost perfectly, and nothing should hang. However, resource-intensive 3D games may not start if the machine's resources are insufficient.

Important: if the emulator does not work, check that the path to it is in English - there should not be Cyrillic in the names of files and folders.

You can download the best Android emulator Nox App Player from the official website: bignox.com.

BlueStacks is a Russian-language emulator that does not completely recreate the Android shell, but simply allows you to run applications designed for this platform. The program is aimed at games, and in them it shows better performance than its analogues.

After launching the program, you will need to log in to your Google account or create one. The emulator will then display a list of the most popular games available for download.

The functionality is not limited to this - you can also launch third-party applications, either through a button in the emulator menu, or simply by dragging a file onto the program window.

If you have a mobile device running Android, you can install BlueStacks Cloud Connect on it, which allows you to synchronize games between your smartphone or tablet and the Windows emulator.

You can download BlueStacks from the official website: bluestacks.com/ru/

Koplayer is a free and very simple emulator that has only the most basic functions that allow you to run Android games on a Windows computer.

Settings, interface and performance are practically no different from other emulators; You can also use .apk files that were not downloaded from the official store, and manual allocation of memory to applications is available.

A distinctive feature of this emulator is the ability to fine-tune the gaming keyboard. You can assign a variety of actions to the keys: pressing the screen and touchscreen gestures, simulating the operation of the accelerometer, and much more.

All settings can be made individually for each individual game.

You can download Koplayer from the official website.

Droid4x is an emulator that stands out from other similar programs with its quality of execution, pleasant interface and high speed. Belongs to a group of emulators that completely imitate the software shell of the Android system.

Droid4x is well optimized and generally tailored for running games - the ability to fine-tune the controls also helps with convenient gameplay. Thus, you can bind individual points of the emulated screen to keys on the physical keyboard of the computer.

The program's arsenal includes a fully functional Play Market and the ability to launch third-party applications from any folder in the Windows file system.

Like Nox App Player, the program can simulate any GPS coordinates. The program has an English interface, but the Android system can be configured to any convenient language.

The emulator's performance in games is tied to computer resources; Thanks to good optimization, you can run heavy 3D games (for example, Asphalt) on weak laptops and old desktop computers. Graphics and speed will differ slightly from those when running the application on a modern mobile device.

You can download the Android Droid4x emulator from the developer portal.

One of the main features of the Genymotion emulator (formerly known as Android VM) is that it is multi-platform, meaning it can be run on computers running not only Windows 7, 8.1 and 10, but also Linux with macOS.

In addition, the program has built-in hardware graphics acceleration. The emulator allows you to run the simulation of mobile devices on the Android platform of many versions, up to the latest - 6.0, and the base of available devices is constantly expanding.

It is worth noting that the functionality of the emulator is not designed for ordinary users who want to run Android applications and games on a computer, but for software developers for mobile devices. The following advantages of Genymotion will help programmers:

• simulation of calls, SMS, battery consumption and other functions typical of smartphones and tablets;
  integration with many popular application development environments;
• Wi-Fi connection emulation;
• imitation of the operation of both rear and front cameras;
• ability to create screencasts.

After registering on the official website, you will be offered several links to download the emulator. It is advisable to download the version with a built-in virtual machine so as not to run it separately; In addition, this option will automatically select the necessary settings.

After starting the program, you will need to create a new virtual device. To do this, you need to enter your registration data and select the appropriate device from the list of available ones. In addition to the Android version, you can select the screen resolution, number of cores and allocate RAM manually. Then the emulator will download all the software components for the simulation from the website, after which the desktop will open, which is familiar to the user of mobile devices.

The main functions are available immediately and no additional analysis is required. You can learn more about advanced features for application developers in the emulator help; Please note that some functions are available only in the paid version of the program.

Important: to ensure that the emulator does not generate errors during operation, it should be run as an administrator.

You can download the Genymotion Android emulator from the official website: .

Chinese program available for Windows XP, 7 and 8.1. It differs from analogues in its significantly higher operating speed, which is achieved due to the fact that Windroy does not emulate Android in the literal sense of the word, but ports the main components of the system to a computer, during which all its resources are used.

In addition to faster work, this also leads to a large number of bugs; However, the program is under development, so some errors will be corrected over time.

Unlike other emulators, Windroy needs to be installed in the root directory on your computer's hard drive.

You can download Windroy here: .

A very easy to understand and use program, which is one of the most used Android emulators among users.

It doesn't stand out in anything special, but it works quickly and has good compatibility with different versions of Windows. Suitable if none of the analogues start.

This program is downloaded from the official website for Android application developers and is not an emulator, but a development environment. But applications can be launched - this is important for checking and debugging programs written by the programmer.

Overall, this is the official way to run Android applications on a personal computer, which can be difficult to master for an inexperienced user.

If none of the emulators start, you can use other methods to launch Android applications on your computer. For example, install a mobile system on a PC hard drive, creating a separate partition for this. It is also possible to run Android from a flash disk or install the system in a virtual machine. If you are interested, write in the comments, we will tell you how to do it.

If you are unable to do something on your own, then we advise you to contact emergency computer help - pchelp24.com, reasonable prices, experienced specialists, free call and diagnostics.

There are many reasons why you might need Android emulators on your PC. Application developers test their products on emulators before releasing them on Google Play. Gamers use emulators to play Android games using a mouse and keyboard. In addition, in emulators you can select the simulated device and specify settings such as Android version, number of CPU cores, RAM, presence of an SD card, etc.

In any case, it’s not so important why you need an Android emulator, you need to know that, firstly, such programs exist and there are many of them, secondly, emulators are largely similar in their filling to each other and, thirdly , the installation and configuration process is not so simple and requires minimal technical literacy, so be patient. Below are the 15 best Android emulators on PC with comments. Choose the one that suits you.

Table of comparative characteristics of the main Android emulators for PC

	Bluestacks 3	Andy	NoxPlayer	Genymotion	AMIDuOS	Memu	Droid4X
Price	Free / $2 per month	Free	Free	Free / $132-$412 per year	15$ / 10$ (one time)	Free	Free
Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mac	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Linux	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Applications and games	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Streaming	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Changing screen sizes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Customization and configuration	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
File sharing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Synchronization	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Connecting external devices	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Virtual sensors	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multitasking	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Running applications as root	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Android Studio Emulator is an emulator for developers.
Free

Download Android Studio Emulator

Android Studio is an IDE (integrated development environment) for Android recommended by Google. This environment has a large set of development tools specifically for Android. And, of course, the program has a built-in emulator so that you can test the developed application or game.

We can say for sure that this program is unlikely to be suitable for those who want to play games or who need an ordinary “consumer” emulator. However, for developers this is a real godsend, a powerful and at the same time free environment with the ability to test on the fly.

Installing this emulator is quite a headache, but once you install and configure it, and then understand all the features, you most likely will not need anything else.

Bluestacks 3 is the most popular emulator.
There are free and paid ($2/month) versions

Download Bluestacks 3

Bluestacks is the most popular Android emulation program on your computer. According to the developer, Android applications are launched more than a billion times a month on Bluestacks! And there are several reasons for this. To begin with, we can mention that there are versions for Windows and for Mac. They were the first to make a multi-platform emulator that worked well. Mainly BlueStacks aimed at gamers. Early versions were a bit bloated and complex. The latest version (#3) was released in 2017 and differs from the previous ones in that it is noticeably simpler and faster. At the same time, it allows, for example, to work in multitasking mode and run several applications. You can even run multiple versions of the same game at the same time. In addition, the application supports assigning hotkeys in games. Agree, for many games this can be a very good bonus. Although Bluestacks 3 is noticeably faster than previous versions, it still remains too bloated and overloaded when compared to Andy or Remix.

And yet, those who choose an emulator for games should take a closer look at Bluestacks 3.
If you want something simpler and faster, choose something else. Even though Bluestacks is number 1, there is still a choice.

AMIDuOS is a relatively new emulator.
There is a free trial version and two paid versions ($10 and $15)

Download AMIDuOS

AMIDuOS is a relatively new emulator for Windows (Win 7, 8 and 10 are supported). Android version can be: Lollipop and Jelly Bean. Just the version of the program with Jelly Bean costs $10, and the version with Lollipop costs $15. And it seems like this is the only difference. The good news is that these are one-time payments and not monthly payments.

AMIDuOS is tailored to fulfill various needs (not just games). Its main feature is high performance. Therefore, this emulator will be a good choice for office or home needs. For example, for Instagram, Telegram... The emulator does not have any special features for games, but games run relatively well on it. Developers can use AMIDuOS for some simple tests, but it is unlikely to be suitable for more complex use. In general, on the whole, AMIDuOS is a good program and deserves attention.

Do a trial to see if it suits you or not.

Andy is one of the best emulators for games.
Free

Download Andy

Next on our list is a completely free emulator called Andy. It appeared quite a long time ago and at the time of its appearance it was full of bugs and various surprises. However, a lot of time has passed since then, and the developers did not waste it: today there are practically no bugs, and the program itself is an excellent lightweight alternative to such monstrous emulators as Bluestacks. On Andy you can run the entire gamut of Android applications. And although Andy is more focused on non-gaming use, you can play on it just fine. Whatever one may say, the emulator is free and works well.

In addition, Andy has a significant advantage: applications can be launched as root.

Available for Windows and Mac. Below is a video comparing Bluestacks and Andy (in English).

Remix OS Player is a fresh update for gamers.
Free

Download

Remix OS Player (developed by Jide) is one of the newest PC emulators on the list. And this is the only emulator at the moment that works on the Android version of Marshmallow instead of Lollipop or Kit Kat. The installation process is very simple. The program is also quite easy to use. Mostly Remix aimed at gamers. Inside the program there is a convenient sidebar where you can change the emulation settings.

Due to the fact that the program is relatively new and free, the developers continue to catch some bugs. That said, Remix is ​​better than many on our list and performs relatively well. And besides, it's free.

Weak spots: Remix OS Player only works on Windows 64-bit (7 and above) and does not support AMD processors.

ARChon is an emulator add-on for Google Chrome.
Free

Download ARChon
ARChon ARChon is not an ordinary emulator. Simply because it is not a program at all. This is an add-on for Google Chrome. You install this extension in Chrome and after that you can launch Android applications directly in the browser. Sounds cool, right? In theory, yes, but in practice, installing the extension can turn into a real pain. Here are the installation instructions. Perhaps she can help. If you don't have minimal technical skills, then it might not be worth trying.

You need to install this extension (in developer mode). And then you need to convert the APK of the required application using their utility into a format that will work in Chrome with the ARChon extension enabled. Sounds complicated? Then don't try it. If you want to dig in, it might not be that difficult.

The extension works on Windows, Mac and even Linux. This is perhaps the most difficult emulator to install and configure. But also the most unique of its kind.

Genymotion is a fast emulator for developers.
Free for personal use (with paid options)

Download Genymotion

This option is more suitable for developers. It allows you to test your application on many different devices without owning them. You can select in the Genymotion parameters the device and version of Android on which you want to launch. For example, you can choose a Nexus One with Android 4.2 installed or a Nexus 6 with Android 6.0 installed. And at the same time, you can switch between devices on the fly.

Genymotion is not the most user-friendly program for consumer needs. But this is a bomb emulator for developers. In addition, the program is shareware for personal use. And only for those who really need it, paid options arise.

Droid4X is a simple emulator for games.
Free

Download Droid4X

Droid4X has its pros and cons. And for many people and their needs, it is not an ideal emulator.

However, it suits most people due to its ease of installation and simple, uncluttered design. In addition, Droid4X was originally created for gamers. Therefore, the program is focused mainly on emulating games that are not graphically complex. In principle, you can try to run something more heavyweight on it.

But remember that the program is a little outdated. So far, the emulator download page is live, but apparently, the developers stopped updating the program a long time ago.

In general, download at your own risk: the emulator may be buggy. Yes, there seems to be a version for Mac somewhere in nature, but it seems impossible to find it.

KoPlayer is for gamers.
Free

Download KoPlayer

KoPlayer is one of the new products. Perhaps that is why it has not yet enjoyed the popularity it deserves. This emulator is aimed mainly at gamers. The program supports assigning hotkeys in games. In addition, KoPlayer supports a feature such as gameplay recording. So, streamers and game bloggers, take it into account. The installation process is quite simple and the emulator itself seems to work without errors. Although there are bug reports on the forums. But this is again a tribute to novelty.

Overall, KoPlayer is a good choice. And not only for games, but also for everyday use (for example, for Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.). But for now there are bugs in it. There will probably be fewer of them in future versions, unless the developers abandon their creation.

MEmu – supports Intel and AMD.
Free

Download MEmu

MEmu is another newcomer in the list of emulators that has just entered the scene. But it has already won the hearts of users. The main feature of MEmu is that it supports not only Intel processors, but also AMD ones. If you think that this is not that rare, then it is not. So if you have AMD, feel free to download MEmu.

MEmu emulates several versions of Android: Jelly Bean, Kit Kat and Lollipop. Additionally, multitasking is supported and you can run multiple applications at the same time. In fact, there aren't many emulators that offer Lollipop multitasking.

MEmu supports most games and applications. However, I recommend using it not for gaming.

NoxPlayer (bignox) – a bomb emulator for gamers (in Russian).
Free

Download NoxPlayer

NoxPlayer is an emulator created specifically for gamers. It contains utilities and settings to improve your experience with the game. For example, in addition to the keyboard, the use of gamepads is supported. And it supports various native gestures (such as “swipe right”), which can be assigned to buttons on the keyboard or joystick. In general, this is cool and, apparently, it works like a charm.

The program is free. There is a version for Windows and for Mac. Supports gaming at 60 fps.
If you are looking for a powerful Android emulator for games, download Nox, you won’t regret it!

YouWave is a dinosaur.
There are free and paid ($29.99) versions

Download YouWave
YouWave YouWave is one of the oldest Android emulators for PC. He is already many years old, really. And although the last update was in 2016, it is still slightly outdated. The free version of the emulator uses Ice Cream Sandwich. If you pay $29.99 for the paid version of the program, you will get a Lollipop emulator.

Overall, the emulator works well and without any glitches. Installation is also easy.

And although YouWave does not have any special options for gamers (for example, assigning hot keys or native gestures), you can still play on it. Perhaps this emulator will appeal to developers, especially beginners.

There is a version of YouWave for Mac.

VirtualBox Party Generally speaking, this is not just an Android emulator, it is an emulator of any operating systems. Like all DIY on this list, installation and setup requires technical skills. Therefore, if they are not there, then look at emulators “out of the box”.

Ok, that's how it works. You need to download the VirtualBox file for your OS (Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris) from the link above. Then you need to download the Android image from the Android-x86.org website. And then you need to install the Android OS image into the virtual machine. Get ready for the fact that the likelihood that it will work out right away is not so great. If this doesn’t work, then you need to “smoke” specialized forums and search the Internet for step-by-step guides. Write in the comments if such a guide should be made. If we have to, we'll do it.

To summarize, this emulation option is suitable for geeks and old-school programmers.
What advantages does it have then, you ask? In fact, there are a lot, and the main one is that you can install absolutely any version of Android and configure absolutely everything. Full customization.

Download Xamarin

Xamarin is an IDE (integrated development environment) that is similar to Android Studio in many ways. The difference is that Xamarin can connect to a monstrous development environment like Microsoft Visual Studio.

Just like Android Studio, Xamarin has a built-in emulator for developers.

Xamarin is a tool for developers. Although theoretically it may be suitable for you for personal use if you want to customize the entire Android infrastructure for yourself. Xamarin is not as powerful as Genymotion, but it can handle all applications at once.

Xamarin runs on Windows. It is free for personal use.
Development teams and companies can choose different pricing plans.

Windroy Windroy is a classic. This is one of the oldest emulators in history. Due to this, it is difficult to recommend it to anyone.

Use it only if you have completely lost hope and newfangled programs cannot solve your problems.

There is an opinion that Windroy works better on older versions of Windows (for example, XP).

Windroy is more about non-game applications, such as office ones. Games on it can only be played by those as ancient as itself. And that's a stretch.

On the other hand, the emulator is free. And it installs quite easily.

If you (suddenly) have Win XP, install Windroy.

As a conclusion

Above are all the best Android emulators for PC currently available online. By and large, they are all good in their own way and it is up to you to decide on the choice. Compare the stated features and choose the one that best suits your needs. You need to understand that there is no one program that is ideal for everyone. One is good for a developer, the other is good for a gamer, and the third is good for a Telegram channel admin. But I can definitely recommend not to rush into buying paid versions of programs. Install the trial, play with the settings and only then switch to the premium version.