The Best BlueStacks AlternativesTop Android Emulators and other similar apps like BlueStacks

BlueStacks is described as 'Runs Android apps on both Windows and macOS, switching environments without reboot. Supports enterprise IT in delivering apps securely' and is a very popular android emulator in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to BlueStacks for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and Web-based apps. The best BlueStacks alternative is Nox App Player, which is free. Other great apps like BlueStacks are Genymotion, MEmu, Anbox and Andy.

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BlueStacks alternatives are mainly Android Emulators but may also be Virtualization Tools or Operating Systems.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of BlueStacks.
BlueStacks iconBlueStacks
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Runs Android apps on both Windows and macOS, switching environments without reboot. Supports enterprise IT in delivering apps securely.

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BlueStacks alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
  1. Nox App Player icon
     147 likes

    Nox App Player offers an advanced Android emulation experience on PC and Mac, featuring a customizable UI for developers, ad-free environment, keyboard mapping, Google Play integration, screen recording, and low resource consumption, ideal for running apps and games seamlessly.

    24 Nox App Player alternatives
    Nox App Player screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Run Android Apps on Desktop
    2.  Integrated Android Emulator
    3.  Controller Support
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  IPAM
    6.  Skinnable
    Bundleware

    The emulator automatically installs sponsored Android apps together with yours

    Nox App Player iconBlueStacks Icon

    Nox App Player VS BlueStacks

    Is Nox App Player a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    Comments about Nox App Player as an Alternative to BlueStacks
     
       
    Bruno Finger

    It's light and free, not filled with bloatware, doesn't force you installation of apps to keep using it for free and doesn't feel like adware. Great software, I use it for Google Play Music on my PC.

    Top positive commentMar 1, 2017
    0
    lovecircle13

    This f***ing program completely deleted my Ubuntu WSL server on Windows 11 - which it then took 2 hours to restore from restore point. Please be catious with this program if you are using WSL for local development!

    Positive commentMay 28, 2024
    0
    Guest

    I have tried it before and it's way better than blue stacks

    Positive commentApr 15, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 11 comments
    BlueStacks Icon
    Nox App Player icon
    • Most users think Nox App Player is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • Nox App Player is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to BlueStacks.

    • Nox App Player is the most popular free alternative to BlueStacks.

    • Nox App Player is Free and ProprietaryBlueStacks is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Nox App Player is LightweightBlueStacks is not according to our users
  2. Genymotion icon
     104 likes

    Genymotion is an Android emulator for building and testing great Android apps. It’s fast, simple and powerful.

    27 Genymotion alternatives
    Genymotion screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Studio
    • Eclipse

    Genymotion Features

    1.  Integrated Android Emulator
    2.  Based on VirtualBox
    3.  Network Scanner
    Genymotion iconBlueStacks Icon

    Genymotion VS BlueStacks

    Is Genymotion a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    Comments about Genymotion as an Alternative to BlueStacks
     
       
    Guest

    It has a complicated yet similar design like bluestacks but has lesser abilities in managing apps compared to bluestacks

    Negative commentMay 12, 2017
    1
    Guest

    Impossible to launch Play Store Games (ARM Design can do it, not x86)

    Negative commentJan 23, 2021
    0
    Guest

    It actually works on Linux

    Positive commentJul 26, 2017
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    BlueStacks Icon
    Genymotion icon
    • Most users think Genymotion is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • Genymotion is the most popular Linux alternative to BlueStacks.

    • Genymotion is Free Personal and ProprietaryBlueStacks is Freemium and Proprietary
  3. MEmu icon
     108 likes

    Comparing to other Android emulators, MEmu provides the highest performance and greatest compatibility. It runs on nearly all Windows devices (PC, notebook, 2-in-1 devices, tablets).

    24 MEmu alternatives
    MEmu screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    Bundleware

    Attempts to install Avast Antivirus, can be declined.

    MEmu iconBlueStacks Icon

    MEmu VS BlueStacks

    Is MEmu a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    Comments about MEmu as an Alternative to BlueStacks
     
       
    frenchiveruti

    To keep my review short, it includes root functionality, no bloatware, free, fast to start, and also the lightest of all the ones that run on Windows. Even more, you can change the "device model" and processor virtualization literally increases the performance a lot.

    Top positive commentFeb 9, 2017
    1
    Guest

    If you download the offline installer, there's no bundleware. It's fast,too!

    Positive commentMar 31, 2020
    -1
    Guest

    Light, easy to use and multi functional

    Positive commentNov 14, 2018
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    BlueStacks Icon
    MEmu icon
    • Almost everyone thinks MEmu is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • MEmu is Free and ProprietaryBlueStacks is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MEmu is LightweightBlueStacks is not according to our users
  4. Anbox icon
     66 likes

    Anbox puts Android into a container and every Android application will be integrated with your operating system. Any Android version is suitable for this approach and try to keep up with the latest version from the Android Open Source Project.

    35 Anbox alternatives
    Anbox screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    2.  Unified inbox
    3.  No Tracking
    Discontinued

    According to their README, development has been discontinued in 2023.

    Anbox iconBlueStacks Icon

    Anbox VS BlueStacks

    Is Anbox a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    Comments about Anbox as an Alternative to BlueStacks
     
    Guest

    only one thet is an actuall free emulator (android-x86 isnt even an emulator).

    Positive commentDec 4, 2020
    1
    Juhayer Al Wasif

    crashes immidietely in moksha linux

    Positive commentNov 17, 2021
    0
    BlueStacks Icon
    Anbox icon
    • Most users think Anbox is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • Anbox is the most popular Open Source alternative to BlueStacks.

    • Anbox is Free and Open SourceBlueStacks is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Anbox is Lightweight and Privacy focusedBlueStacks is not according to our users
  5. Andy icon
     38 likes

    Andy breaks down the barrier between desktop and mobile computing, while keeping a user up to date with the latest Android OS feature upgrades. It also provides users with unlimited storage capacity, PC and Mac compatibility, and the freedom to play the most popular mobile...

    22 Andy alternatives
    Andy screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Andy Features

    1.  Fullscreen support
    Warning

    Andy OS reportedly installs a GPU Miner together with the Android emulator

    Bundleware

    The installer may contain adwares. Be careful during the installation: https://alternativeto.net/discussions/applications/11718/be-careful-in-the-installation/

    Andy iconBlueStacks Icon

    Andy VS BlueStacks

    Is Andy a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
  6. Appetize.io icon
     23 likes

    Run iOS & Android Apps in the Browser for Preview, Support, Demos, Testing and Automation using the fastest emulators and simulators. Try the instant online demo at https://appetize.io

    28 Appetize.io alternatives
    Appetize.io screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Browser-based
    2.  Portable
    3.  Embedded tutorials
    4.  Screen Sharing
    5.  Customer Segmentation
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Multiple Account support
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Live Preview
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    Appetize.io iconBlueStacks Icon

    Appetize.io VS BlueStacks

    Is Appetize.io a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    • Most users think Appetize.io is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • Appetize.io is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to BlueStacks.

    • Appetize.io is Freemium and ProprietaryBlueStacks is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Appetize.io is LightweightBlueStacks is not according to our users
  7. Droid4X icon
     20 likes

    Droid4x is Android simulator, which is good in aspects of performance, user experience, compatibility and gaming controllability. Making millions of mobile games and apps as desktop experience.

    17 Droid4X alternatives
    Droid4X screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Classroom monitoring
    2.  Run Android Apps on Desktop
    Droid4X iconBlueStacks Icon

    Droid4X VS BlueStacks

    Is Droid4X a good alternative to BlueStacks?
     
    Comments about Droid4X as an Alternative to BlueStacks
     
    Guest

    Once one gets past the Chinese characters it easily does what is says. It uses less space than Blue Stacks. When you turn it off it goes off. Blue stacks leaves many processes running on the home computer...

    Positive commentAug 19, 2015
    -2
    Guest

    it is the best alternative i like it

    Positive commentNov 28, 2015
    -3
    BlueStacks Icon
    Droid4X icon
    • Most users think Droid4X is a great BlueStacks alternative.

    • Droid4X is Free and ProprietaryBlueStacks is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Droid4X is LightweightBlueStacks is not according to our users
7 of 25 BlueStacks alternatives