Compare the best Boeing 737 add-ons for MSFS 2024/2020, X-Plane, Prepar3D and FSX, including top realism, freeware and MAX choices.
The PMDG 737 family is the best overall Boeing 737 add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, offering deep systems, convincing handling and a complete airline workflow. For X-Plane 11 or 12, the freeware Zibo 737-800X is the best value and our default recommendation.
Best Boeing 737 add-on by simulator
There is no single 737 package that works across every flight simulator, so the correct choice starts with the exact simulator and platform you use.
| Simulator | Our pick | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or 2020 | PMDG 737 family | Confirm the supported simulator, aircraft variant and platform before buying. |
| X-Plane 12 or 11 | Zibo 737-800X | Freeware, but it requires careful installation and update management. |
| Prepar3D | PMDG 737 NGXu | The package must match the supported Prepar3D generation. |
| FSX or FSX: Steam Edition | PMDG 737 NGX | This legacy FSX product is not interchangeable with the Prepar3D or modern MSFS releases. |
Why is the PMDG 737 the best overall?
The PMDG 737 wins for simmers who want to operate the aircraft by airline procedures rather than simply fly a 737-shaped model. Its strengths include the FMC/CDU, autoflight modes, electrical and fuel systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, pressurisation and the normal cockpit flow from a cold aircraft through shutdown.
Mode annunciations, configuration errors and incomplete FMC data have consequences, which is exactly what makes the aircraft useful for procedural simulation. It is not formal training equipment, and no desktop add-on reproduces every airframe difference, but the overall depth is the benchmark we use for an MSFS 737. Our comparison of leading MSFS 2024 aircraft places the PMDG family among the strongest airliner choices for the simulator.
The main exception is the aircraft generation. PMDG's familiar packages model the 737 Next Generation family rather than the 737 MAX. If a MAX cockpit, engines and operating logic are essential, a dedicated product such as the iFly 737 MAX 8 may suit you better, provided its listing explicitly supports your simulator and platform.
When is the Zibo 737-800X the better choice?
The Zibo 737-800X is the better choice when you use X-Plane or want a highly detailed 737 without paying for the aircraft itself. It offers far more systems and procedural depth than most freeware airliners, while retaining X-Plane's strengths in flight dynamics and control response.
Installation mistakes cause many of the apparent faults we see. Keep Zibo in its own aircraft folder rather than overwriting X-Plane's default 737, start with the required full package, and apply only updates intended for that package. Mixing files from different releases can produce missing cockpit displays, non-working switches or plugin errors. See our recommended X-Plane aircraft and utility add-ons for the wider setup around it.
Which 737 variant should you choose?
The 737-800 is the safest first choice because it represents familiar short- and medium-haul airline operations and has broad livery and tutorial coverage. Choose another generation only when you have a specific aircraft or operator in mind.
- 737-600, -700, -800 or -900 NG: Choose the compatible PMDG package for MSFS, Prepar3D or FSX. Variants may be sold or installed separately.
- 737-800 in X-Plane: Choose Zibo when freeware value and systems depth matter most.
- 737 MAX: Use a purpose-built MAX add-on. A MAX livery or visual conversion applied to an NG does not provide MAX systems or handling.
- 737 Classic or 737-200: Look for a dedicated period-specific aircraft. These have substantially different cockpits, engines and operating procedures.
Product names reused across simulator generations are a common trap. PMDG NGX for FSX, NGXu for Prepar3D and the MSFS 737 family are separate products designed for different platforms; do not assume that an installer, licence or expansion transfers between them.
Can you use these 737 add-ons on consoles?
Console availability must be checked separately from PC compatibility. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 runs on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, while MSFS 2020 remains limited to PC and Xbox. An aircraft recommended for the PC edition is not automatically available or identically featured on every console marketplace.
Buy only a listing that names your console. Windows installers, external applications and manually installed community files cannot simply be transferred to Xbox or PlayStation.
How difficult is a detailed 737 to learn?
A study-level 737 is manageable once you learn the FMC, Mode Control Panel and cockpit flows in that order. Start with a short route in fair weather, master lateral navigation and altitude changes, then add VNAV, performance calculations and more demanding approaches.
A route discontinuity, missing take-off speeds, unaligned IRS or incorrectly set MCP altitude can make the automation appear broken when it is responding correctly. Our step-by-step 737 FMC programming guide covers that first hurdle. FSX and compatible Prepar3D users can also work through the full PMDG 737 NGX training flight.