CAE Flight Training vs X-Plane 12

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Pricing, plan by plan

Which should you pick?

Questions people ask

Is CAE Flight Training or X-Plane 12 better?

Neither clearly leads. CAE Flight Training starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, CAE Flight Training or X-Plane 12?

CAE Flight Training starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.

Does CAE Flight Training or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?

CAE Flight Training runs on On-site. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.

What is CAE Flight Training best used for?

CAE Flight Training is most often used for type rating and recurrent training for airline and business jet pilots, cadet to captain airline training programmes, cabin crew and maintenance technician training, flight data analysis and operations management through flightscape. Of those, type rating and recurrent training for airline and business jet pilots and cadet to captain airline training programmes are not what X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.

What can CAE Flight Training do that X-Plane 12 cannot?

CAE Flight Training covers Full-flight simulators, Type rating training, Crew resource training, Maintenance training. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation.