Aviation & Aerospace · head to head
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 vs X-Plane 12
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Aviation & Aerospace
Hyper-realistic cloud-based flight simulation
- From
- $9.99/month
- Rated
- -
X-Plane 12
Aviation & Aerospace
Professional flight simulation software
- From
- $59.99/lifetime
- 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; X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | X-Plane 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9.99/month | $59.99/lifetime |
| Pricing model | subscription | one-time |
| Platforms | Windows, Xbox | Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Founded | 2020 | 1995 |
Identical on both: 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 X-Plane 12
- Flight physics
- Global scenery
- Realistic aircraft
- Weather simulation
- ATC system
- Plugins
- Add-ons
- VR headsets
Both cover
- Hardware
- Multiplayer
- Online flying
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Flight trainingnot X-Plane 12
- Recreationnot X-Plane 12
- VR flyingnot X-Plane 12
- Network flyingnot X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12
- Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot 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
X-Plane 12
- Commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
- The personal edition therefore cannot be used for paid training or commercial simulation
- The professional edition is a distinct product rather than an upgrade path
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
X-Plane 12
$59.99/lifetime- X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
- Full simulator
- Global scenery
- Realistic physics
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 X-Plane 12 if
- You need flight physics.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want global scenery.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or X-Plane 12 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month 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, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or X-Plane 12?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 starts at $9.99/month and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
- Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 runs on Windows, Xbox. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- 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 X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 covers Photogrammetry scenery, Realistic weather, Aircraft systems, Global coverage. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. Both handle Hardware, Multiplayer, Online flying, Windows support.