Aviation & Aerospace · head to head
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 vs Garmin Pilot
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Aviation & Aerospace
Hyper-realistic cloud-based flight simulation
- From
- $9.99/month
- Rated
- -
Garmin Pilot
Aviation & Aerospace
All-in-one flight planning and navigation app
- From
- $99/year
- Rated
- -
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; Garmin Pilot garmin Pilot's iPad app is offered on a 30-day free trial from initial download, after which the subscription plans described on Garmin's site apply
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, Garmin Pilot covers Flight planning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Garmin Pilot actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Garmin Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9.99/month | $99/year |
| Platforms | Windows, Xbox | Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2020 | 1989 |
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 Garmin Pilot
- Flight planning
- Aeronautical charts
- Weather overlays
- Panel sync
- Traffic display
- Garmin avionics
- GTN series
- G1000/G3000
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Flight trainingnot Garmin Pilot
- Recreationnot Garmin Pilot
- VR flyingnot Garmin Pilot
- Network flyingnot Garmin Pilot
Garmin Pilot
- Flight planningnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Weather analysisnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- In-flight navigationnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Aircraft panel syncnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Chart viewingnot 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
Garmin Pilot
- Garmin Pilot's iPad app is offered on a 30-day free trial from initial download, after which the subscription plans described on Garmin's site apply
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
Garmin Pilot
$99/year- Premium$99/year
- IFR/VFR charts
- Weather radar
- Flight planning
- Premium + Global$199/year
- Everything in Premium
- Worldwide charts
- International planning
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 if
- You need photogrammetry scenery.
- You work on Windows, Xbox.
- You also want realistic weather.
Choose Garmin Pilot if
- You need flight planning.
- You work on Ios, Android.
- You also want aeronautical charts.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or Garmin Pilot better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month and Garmin Pilot at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or Garmin Pilot?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month and Garmin Pilot at $99/year.
- Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or Garmin Pilot run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 runs on Windows, Xbox. Garmin Pilot runs on 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 Garmin Pilot is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 do that Garmin Pilot cannot?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, Realistic weather, Aircraft systems, Global coverage. Garmin Pilot covers Flight planning, Aeronautical charts, Weather overlays, Panel sync.