How to choose the best Android Emulator for Windows VPS

Have you ever had the need to run your favorite Android applications on your Windows VPS? Or perhaps you use your server for development and to test out how your application will behave on a mobile device? If that’s the case, you are going to need to install an Android emulator that can run on your Windows server. But what is an emulator?

Generally speaking, an emulator is a type of software application that enables you to run OS or platform specific apps on another device without having to worry about dependencies and requirements. This is because they create a virtual environment on your computer or server which can accommodate different applications for Android or iOS for example.

Advantages of using an Android emulator with a Windows VPS

There are many reasons why android emulators and Windows VPS servers are beginning to go hand in hand as of recently. One of the main benefits of utilizing this combination is the fact that you get a much better overall performance with a virtual server than with your own personal computer.

This is quite important in particular if you are going to be using your server for development purposes. Some mobile applications require a lot of processing power and testing environments, which leads us to the next advantage - you can install multiple emulators on a single server. This means that you are capable of running a number of different processes simultaneously, which can help you perform much more in-depth testing.

Additionally, if you are going to be using an Android emulator in order to access or edit sensitive data or customer information, then you should definitely consider doing so on a Windows cloud server, due to the extra security that the infrastructure offers. This will not only help you ensure better data protection but will also enable you to maintain your privacy. This is because all information is going to be stored on your server rather than your physical device, meaning that even if you were to lose it, you don’t have to worry about any personal or private company information leaking.

Finally, with an Android emulator, you get access to all of the applications that can be found on the Google Play Store. Naturally, there are a lot of apps that involve gaming and streaming, which require a lot of processing power and resources in order to run smoothly. With a Windows VPS, you get exactly that - unrivaled performance combined with impeccable security.

How to choose the most suitable Android emulator for your needs

Before you make a choice about the Android emulator that you are going to be using, you need to take factors into consideration such as system requirements, additional features, price and overall performance.

When it comes to Android emulators, the 3 top choices are usually BlueStacks, MEmu Play and NoxPlayer because they offer a free version as well as a plethora of divergent features.

BlueStacks

Let’s start with BlueStacks - the most popular Android emulator. Initially created in 2009, BlueStacks is one of the most trusted and reliable emulators out there. One of its greatest advantages is the fact that it offers support for multiple Android versions while also enabling users to utilize keyboard and mouse controls for their applications.

Additionally, it is also highly preferred by business and organizations due to the fact that it can create custom Android environments while also enabling users to manage multiple Android devices remotely. Combine this with a Windows VPS equipped with RDP and you get a very efficient system that you can access from anywhere.

BlueStacks also allows you to deliver a lag-free emulation experience regardless of whether you intend to use it for gaming, software production or for business. If you do want to use it for gaming, then you also need to know that it comes equipped with a live streaming feature, enabling you to stream your games on platforms like YouTube and Twitch directly from the emulator.

In terms of system requirements, BlueStacks needs an operating system of Windows 10 or higher with 4GB of RAM and at least 5GB of free disk space, which makes it suitable for cheaper Windows VPS hosting plans in addition to the more higher-end ones. Despite it appearing quite resource-intensive, the emulator is designed in a very lightweight way, which is why it utilizes minimal CPU and RAM.

In general, BlueStacks has a really well-designed free version with a number of useful features such as the ones we mentioned above. However, there is also a premium plan that you can go for which comes with additional extras such as immediate support, real-time translation, GPU acceleration and zero ads.

MEmu Play

Next up on the list is MEmu Play. Similarly to BlueStacks, it is also incredibly powerful and capable of running multiple Android emulators simultaneously, while also featuring customizable keyboard and mouse controls that you can use to operate your desired applications.

Just like BlueStacks, MEmu also offers real-time recording and streaming. Not only that but it can also output games and applications much more easily, making it suitable for servers with lower specs that don’t have that much resources.

Finally, it is also very compatible. MEmu supports a wide range of applications that are not available in the Play Store, making it a great option for accessing other applications.

While it can also be useful for testing and app development, MEmu Play is mainly aimed towards emulating games due to its high-performance. However, it does have substantially lower system requirements in comparison to BlueStacks, needing only 2GB of RAM and storage space. MEmu is also compatible with Windows 7, which can be a plus for some users.

NoxPlayer

Finally, there is NoxPlayer. This final emulator is entirely free and open-source, meaning that it offers better security, faster bug fixes and new feature development. In addition to its ability to also run a number of Android emulators at the same time and to customize keyboard inputs, NoxPlayer also comes equipped with a very easy-to-use and intuitive interface. This makes it a great choice for beginners as well as those who don’t have that much experience when it comes to Android emulators.

Similarly to MEmu, it also supports applications that are not present in the Play Store as well as streaming and recording. Another advantage of NoxPlayer is the fact that it allows you to create macros, which is quite useful for task automation, particularly when it comes to development. NoxPlayer also doesn’t have any ads and is entirely open-source!

In terms of system requirements, it is the same as MEmu, requiring just 2GB of RAM and storage, while also being compatible with Windows 7.

Here’s how all 3 emulators compare to each other:

Overall, MEmu Play can offer the best performance, whereas NoxPlayer has a very intuitive user interface and is entirely free and open-source, meaning better security. BlueStacks, on the other hand, combines a wide range of features with a clean design and great performance.