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Aviation & Aerospace · head to head

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 vs DUATS

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 logo

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Aviation & Aerospace

Hyper-realistic cloud-based flight simulation

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DUATS logo

DUATS

Aviation & Aerospace

FAA Direct User Access Terminal System for flight briefings

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 standard Edition is limited to 70 aircraft and 150 airports, versus 95 aircraft and 160 airports in the Premium Deluxe Edition and 125 aircraft in the Aviator Edition; DUATS service has been discontinued as of May 2018
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, DUATS covers Flight briefings.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and DUATS actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and DUATS differ
AttributeMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024DUATS
Starting price$9.99/month$9.95/month
PlatformsWindows, XboxWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20201990

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation & Aerospace).

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.

Only in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

  • Photogrammetry scenery
  • Realistic weather
  • Aircraft systems
  • Global coverage
  • ATC
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • Azure cloud
  • Third-party add-ons

Only in DUATS

  • Flight briefings
  • Weather data
  • Flight planning
  • Flight filing
  • NOTAMs
  • FAA systems
  • Weather services
  • Chart databases

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

  • Flight trainingnot DUATS
  • Recreationnot DUATS
  • VR flyingnot DUATS
  • Network flyingnot DUATS

DUATS

  • Flight briefingnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
  • Flight planningnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
  • Flight filingnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
  • Weather briefingnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Where each one falls short

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

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

  • Standard Edition is limited to 70 aircraft and 150 airports, versus 95 aircraft and 160 airports in the Premium Deluxe Edition and 125 aircraft in the Aviator Edition

DUATS

  • Service has been discontinued as of May 2018
  • No longer available for flight planning or briefing

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

$9.99/month
  • Game Pass$9.99/month
    • Full simulator
    • Game Pass included
    • Cloud saves
  • Standalone$89.99/lifetime
    • Full simulator
    • Lifetime license
    • All updates

DUATS

$9.95/month
  • Basic$9.95/month
    • Flight briefings
    • Weather data
    • Flight planning
  • Premium$29.95/month
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced weather
    • Priority briefings

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 if

  • You need photogrammetry scenery.
  • You work on Windows, Xbox.
  • You also want realistic weather.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 review

Choose DUATS if

  • You need flight briefings.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want weather data.
DUATS review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or DUATS better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month and DUATS at $9.95/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or DUATS?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month and DUATS at $9.95/month.
Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or DUATS run on more platforms?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 runs on Windows, Xbox. DUATS runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 best used for?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is most often used for flight training, recreation, vr flying, network flying. Of those, flight training and recreation are not what DUATS is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 do that DUATS cannot?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, Realistic weather, Aircraft systems, Global coverage. DUATS covers Flight briefings, Weather data, Flight planning, Flight filing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DUATS: Is DUATS still available?

No. The FAA discontinued the Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS II) on May 16, 2018.

Source
DUATS: Did DUATS cost money?

No. DUATS was free to all registered U.S. pilots and student pilots holding a current medical certificate.

Source
DUATS: What replaced DUATS?

Pilots now access internet-based weather, aeronautical information, and flight plan filing through the FAA flight service website at no charge.

Source
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