What are the best add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

The best add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator are one well-supported aircraft you will learn properly, detailed scenery for an airport or region you revisit, and a utility that fixes a repeated problem. On PC, the FlyByWire A32NX is the strongest freeware starting point; on consoles, choose proven in-simulator releases marked for your platform.

These recommendations cover Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and MSFS 2024. Add-ons, sometimes written as “add ons” or called mods, include aircraft, airports, regional scenery, liveries and external utilities. Exact simulator and platform compatibility matters more than the label “best”.

Best MSFS add-ons by the type of flying you do

The best flight simulator add-on is the one that improves flights you already make regularly.

These aircraft are useful recommendations rather than a universal ranking. The Fenix A320 suits Airbus procedure work, the PMDG 737 suits Boeing operations, the A2A Comanche rewards careful engine management, and the BAe 146 offers a more manual regional-airliner experience. Our comparison of high-quality payware aircraft and the flying each one suits examines those choices in greater depth.

For freeware wide-body flying in MSFS 2024, the FlyByWire A380X and Headwind A330-900neo are the next aircraft to consider after the A32NX, provided the selected build explicitly supports your installation. See our focused MSFS 2024 freeware airliner shortlist for the differences and installation cautions.

Scenery should be personal. A detailed version of your home airport is normally better value than a famous hub you visit once, while low-level VFR pilots benefit more from regional landmarks, terrain fixes and carefully chosen city packages. Our airport, city and VFR scenery recommendations explain what to prioritise without duplicating areas unnecessarily.

Which MSFS add-ons are worth installing first?

Install add-ons in a controlled order: establish a clean baseline, add one aircraft or scenery package, test it, and only then add another.

1. Identify a real limitation. Decide whether you want deeper aircraft systems, a better local airport, improved VFR detail or a specific utility such as pushback.
2. Verify the exact target. The listing should name MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 and your platform. “Microsoft Flight Simulator compatible” is too vague on its own.
3. Install one major package. Start with one aircraft or one airport, not a large bundle of unrelated files.
4. Fly a representative route. Test a cold start, taxi, take-off, autopilot where applicable, approach and shutdown. Check loading time, missing objects, systems behaviour and frame pacing.
5. Add a utility only when needed. Ground services, traffic and world-life packages can improve atmosphere, but they also add dependencies and performance load.
6. Keep a package list. Record the source, simulator version and installation method. Remove an old copy before installing a replacement unless the package uses its own updater.

Free aircraft, scenery and utilities can be found in our MSFS freeware downloads library. Check each file’s compatibility notes rather than assuming every older package supports both simulators.

What are the best add-ons for MSFS 2024?

The best MSFS 2024 add-ons are native or explicitly supported builds, not MSFS 2020 packages that merely happen to load.

On PC, the A32NX is the clearest free airliner starting point, with the A380X and Headwind A330-900neo serving pilots who specifically want wide-body operations. For payware, choose the Fenix, PMDG, A2A or Just Flight product appropriate to your flying only when its product edition names MSFS 2024 support.

MSFS 2024 also makes a carefully chosen airport or regional package worthwhile, but first inspect the default scenery and installed official content. A third-party airport can be excellent on its own and still produce doubled terminals, misplaced jetways or broken terrain when another version of the same location remains active.

Do MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024?

MSFS 2020 compatibility in MSFS 2024 is package-specific and should never be assumed.

Some packages work through compatibility support; others need a dedicated installer, an updated package or a separate purchase. An aircraft appearing in the selection screen does not prove that its avionics, flight model, animations or external connections work correctly.

On PC, the simulators can use different content locations and separate Community folders. Do not copy an entire MSFS 2020 folder into MSFS 2024. Install the correct build, test it alone and add older packages individually.

Are freeware or payware flight sim add-ons better?

Freeware can match or exceed paid products, while payware makes sense when it funds specialist systems, detailed artwork, documentation and continuing support.

Payware simply means paid; it is not a quality grade. Judge both free and paid add-ons using the same criteria:

• Compatibility: the developer should identify the simulator, platform and any required base aircraft or official content.
• Scope: confirm whether an aircraft has custom systems and flight dynamics or is mainly a visual model, sound set or livery.
• Maintenance: look for evidence that simulator-update problems are investigated and corrected.
• Documentation: a complex aircraft should explain installation, configuration and normal operation.
• Dependencies: scenery may require object libraries, while utilities may need a background application or airport profile.
• Performance: a complex airliner, dense hub and heavy traffic package can perform acceptably alone but poorly when combined.

Is MSFS payware worth it (vale la pena)?

MSFS payware is worth buying when it covers a role you fly repeatedly and provides depth that the default simulator or freeware does not.

A single airliner studied for dozens of flights is usually better value than several discounted aircraft used once. The same applies to scenery: buy your regular departure, destination or training airport before collecting unfamiliar hubs. Do not pay merely for a long feature list, a large download or promises of future functionality.

Which add-ons work on PC, Xbox and PlayStation?

PC offers the broadest add-on support, while Xbox and PlayStation users are limited to content distributed and approved for their console through the simulator.

MSFS 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro; its PlayStation version launched on 8 December 2025. MSFS 2020 was never released on PlayStation and remains a PC and Xbox simulator.

Marketplace or in-simulator availability does not guarantee that one purchase supports every platform. Check the individual platform badge, simulator edition and product variant before paying. Do not assume that a PC licence includes a console version or that an Xbox release is also available on PlayStation.

Why do Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons cause problems?

Most add-on failures come from incorrect folder structure, missing dependencies, duplicate scenery, outdated packages or several demanding products being loaded together.

• The add-on does not appear: extract the archive instead of placing the compressed file in Community. In a conventional package, manifest.json and layout.json should sit inside the package’s top-level folder rather than beneath extra wrapper folders.
• An airport has doubled buildings: two packages are modifying the same location. Disable one version, including conflicting official handcrafted content where the simulator permits it.
• Textures are pink or missing: check for a required library, base aircraft or official content package. An old livery can also fail after its parent aircraft changes.
• Performance collapses at a hub: test the same aircraft, airport, weather and camera position without third-party traffic or world-life packages.
• A simulator update breaks an aircraft: remove the affected package until a compatible build is released. Reinstalling unchanged files does not repair a genuine version conflict.

On PC, isolate a suspected conflict methodically:

1. Move third-party packages out of Community and close external utilities.
2. Repeat the failing flight with the default simulator content.
3. Restore packages in groups until the problem returns.
4. Split the suspect group in half and repeat until one package or conflicting pair is identified.
5. Check its dependencies and supported simulator before reinstalling or replacing it.

Deleting the rolling cache is not a universal add-on repair. It can help with streamed terrain or imagery faults, but it does not fix incompatible aircraft code, missing libraries or duplicated airport packages.

Do I need any more MSFS add-ons?

No additional add-ons are needed once your aircraft, regular locations and basic workflow meet your needs reliably.

Add another only when you can name the gap it will fill, confirm support for your simulator and platform, and test it without changing several other components at once. A small setup containing one deeply modelled aircraft, a few familiar airports and one genuinely useful utility is usually more enjoyable—and far easier to troubleshoot—than an indiscriminate collection.