The concept of Android emulators is not unique, considering they have been around for a while now. Despite smartphones getting cheaper, people still prefer to run Android apps on their desktop devices. In the aspect, one name that has been prominent ever since the Android emulation concept came into play is Bluestacks. So, Bluestacks Player was the first and one of the Best Android Emulators made available for Windows and macOS.
Although, Bluestacks has now become a memory hogger, is no longer stable, and offers bare minimum features. Now, Games run sluggishly on the software, and there are no developer-oriented features in the software. Whether you are someone who shares the same emotion towards Bluestacks and is looking for a replacement, read on, as we bring you our list of 7 the Best Bluestacks Alternatives that you can try in 2020.
Note: Now there are a lot of Android emulator options out there, we tried each one individually to determine which ones are the most stable and offer similar or better experience than Bluestacks.
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Best Bluestacks Alternatives for Windows PC
MEmu Play
MEmu Play is a great Android emulator that has lately gained a lot of traction. It is a hard task to name a single or even a couple of features why it is, though, considering that MEmu comes loaded with a ton of features. One of the emulator’s prominent features is the fact that it supports both Intel and AMD CPUs. So, As astonishing as it may sound, it is a feature not sported by many Android emulators out there, including Bluestacks.
Aside from that, the emulator comes with the ability to run multiple instances at once. Moreover, the software supports Android JellyBean (4.2), Kit Kat (4.4), and Lollipop (5.0), all while allowing you to have three different windows for all three versions. Now the emulator also has significant optimizations for gameplay. Well, Unlike Bluestacks, it is very much dedicated to Android developers, only for the excess of developer-oriented features.
- Download: Free (Windows)
LDPlayer
If you are finding for a Bluestacks Alternative optimized for gaming, let me offer you the latest Android emulator in town, LDPlayer. This has been just a few months since its launch, but LDPlayer has quickly risen to popularity due to its excellent performance. So, I installed it on my AMD powered laptop, and it worked flawlessly without throwing any error. This also means that the emulator will comfortably run on Intel-based PCs as well. Well, As for the Android version, It runs on Android Nougat similar to Bluestacks for better performance & compatibility.
There is a dedicated application store for games that run quite well on LDPlayer. If you like to improve the performance, you can also take advantage of Virtualization Technology from the Settings page. Still, All in all, I would say LDPlayer is an up-to-date Android emulator that provides a fierce competition to Bluestacks in terms of gaming.
- Download: Free (Windows)
Remix OS Player
We have previously talked about Remix OS, the full-fletched OS replacement for your system based on Android, and gives you an entire desktop experience. Though, if you wish to avoid all the hassles of installing a new OS on your device, the Remix OS Player is the one for you. So, Remix OS Player is a free Android emulator for Windows-based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Now, Remix OS Player is, in most ways, one of the best Android emulators out there. Aside from carrying a ton of features such as button mapping, native Google Play support, network type, location, battery, manual settings for signal strength, and more, what sets the emulator aside from the herd is how stable the software is. I have tried it on almost all the laptops I have owned and reviewed and never has the software allow me down. However, Stability is a factor in which Bluestacks has always let me down, while Remix OS Player won me over in that very aspect.
- Download: Free (Windows)
Nox Player
If you are someone who’s watching for a Bluestacks Alternative that offers tons of features, well then, Nox Player is the one you’re looking for. We have previously reviewed the emulator and boy, does it come preloaded with a plethora of features. So, Gameplay optimizations, controller compatibility, ability to change the Android device’s build.prop, and a completely user-friendly interface are just some of the things where Nox Player outshines Bluestacks. This is based on Android Lollipop 5.1.1. and sports the Material UI. Just one factor where Nox Player indeed scores over Bluestacks is root access. If you have ever tried rooting Bluestacks, you would know that it is a tedious task. Simply on Nox Player, you have to enable a toggle in the settings, and poof! – you are rooted. That is how simple Nox Player is for you.
- Download: Free (Windows, macOS)
Genymotion
If you are an Android developer & looking for a way to test out apps on various Android devices virtually, then Genymotion is one that you should pick over Bluestacks. This runs on both desktop and cloud through a web browser to use it on any platform, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Also, you have lots of flexibility as you can choose your platform from Android 4.1 to the newest Android build. However, you can also install the Google Play Store by selecting your choice of GApps package.
Though, you can’t install massive games like PUBG and Call of Duty, so keep that in mind. Aside from that, the good thing about Genymotion is that you can integrate it with Android Studio and render your app smoothly on your choice of device and platform. Therefore, if you want to test apps on multiple Android environments, go with Genymotion.
- Check Out : (Free Cloud Trial for 60 minutes, Desktop plan starts at $136/year)
Gameloop
Gameloop is another Bluestacks Alternative developed for gamers who want to play a range of Android mobile games on desktop PCs. Thus, You may be amazed to find that Gameloop– earlier called Gaming Buddy — has been developed by Tencent as part of the desktop-mobile gaming experiment. First, you could only play PUBG on this platform, but now Tencent has brought support for a massive list of Android games, which include Free Fire and Call of Duty as well.
Besides, you can get the Google Play Store by installing a separate module that is available inside the setup. Primarily, with Gameloop, you are getting Play Store support, all the popular Android games with mouse and keymapping support. Certainly, if you want an emulator like Bluestacks, but only for gaming, then Gameloop is a much better resolution.
- Download: Free (Windows)
Other Bluestacks Alternatives
I have mentioned here some of the top Bluestacks Alternatives above, which have a click-and-run approach. These programs can be installed on top of another operating system & can also be uninstalled easily. Though, if you are looking for a solution where Android is the underlying operating system, you will have to install a desktop-based Android fork in a different partition. These Android persons will work as a standalone operating system with Play Store support and better performance than emulators like Bluestack.
Hence, if you want to try those Android-based desktop operating systems, you can give a shot at Bliss OS, Phoenix OS, or PrimeOS. Well, All of these operating systems are good and well-maintained by the developers, yet go through the site and pick one based on your preference.
Run Android Applications on PC Using Bluestacks Alternatives
So that was our list of the great Bluestacks Alternatives out there. If you are a developer looking to test apps or you’re a casual user looking to play some games, you will undoubtedly find the best emulator for your need. For me, I’d prefer the Nox Player, only for the plethora of features it offers. However, what about you? So, Which one is your favorite Android emulator? Now, Was it on this list, or did we miss out on that one? Sure, Let us know in the comments down below.
