Find the best flight planner for MSFS 2020, with clear recommendations for VFR, airline IFR, Xbox, charts, route export and moving maps.
Little Navmap is the best overall flight planner for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC. It is free, handles VFR and IFR planning, reads simulator scenery, exports MSFS .pln files and provides a live moving map. Choose SimBrief instead for airline dispatch, or the built-in World Map on Xbox.
Which MSFS 2020 flight planner should you choose?
Your type of flying and platform determine the right planner more than any single feature.
| Planner | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Little Navmap | Best overall on PC; VFR, IFR, route export and live tracking | Initial configuration takes time, and direct simulator integration is PC-focused |
| SimBrief | Airliner dispatch, operational flight plans, fuel and route generation | Not designed as a detailed VFR planner or full moving map |
| Navigraph Charts | Instrument charts, procedure planning and aircraft-position overlays | Key chart and navigation-data features require a subscription |
| MSFS World Map | Quick planning and Xbox flights without external software | Less control over routing, performance planning and route validation |
If cost is the deciding factor, our comparison of free planning options explains where Little Navmap, SimBrief and native simulator planners differ.
Why is Little Navmap the best overall?
Little Navmap offers the strongest combination of route planning, airport information and in-flight situational awareness for MSFS 2020 PC users.
- Plans visual, direct, airway and procedure-based routes.
- Displays airports, runways, parking positions, radio frequencies, airspace, terrain and navigation aids.
- Connects to MSFS through SimConnect for live aircraft tracking.
- Uses aircraft performance profiles to estimate fuel, range and flight time.
- Exports routes in the MSFS
.plnformat as well as formats used by various aircraft and avionics.
It is particularly useful for general aviation because a route can be adjusted around terrain, controlled airspace and suitable diversion airports rather than accepted as an automatically generated line. Simmers concentrating on sightseeing should also compare the available VFR maps and moving-map tools.
The main drawback is complexity. Little Navmap exposes far more information than the World Map, so new users need to configure the MSFS scenery library, simulator connection and aircraft profile before its estimates become dependable.
When is SimBrief better than Little Navmap?
SimBrief is the better choice for realistic airline IFR planning because it produces a dispatch-style operational flight plan rather than merely drawing a route.
It can calculate routing, fuel, alternates, winds, payload assumptions and a flight-plan package. Supported airliners can often retrieve the generated plan through their own avionics or electronic flight bag; other aircraft require an exported file or manual route entry.
SimBrief is less suitable for low-level VFR planning, detailed airport exploration or continuous moving-map use. Many airline pilots therefore use SimBrief for dispatch and a chart or map application during the flight. Our SimBrief creation and MSFS import walkthrough covers the transfer methods and aircraft-related differences.
What is the best flight planner for MSFS 2020 on Xbox?
The built-in MSFS World Map is the most practical planner on Xbox because it works directly with the simulator and requires no external file transfer.
Little Navmap cannot provide Xbox with the same direct SimConnect and local-file workflow available on PC. SimBrief can still be prepared on another device, but importing the route depends on whether the chosen aircraft supports account-based retrieval or another Xbox-compatible method.
For straightforward VFR flights and basic IFR routes, use the World Map and check every automatically selected runway, procedure and waypoint before departure. Our guide to planning flights with the MSFS World Map explains that workflow in detail.
Why does an imported flight plan change or fail?
Most MSFS 2020 flight-plan problems come from mismatched navigation data or allowing the World Map to recalculate an imported route.
- Different navigation cycles: A waypoint, airway or procedure may exist in the planner's database but not in the simulator or aircraft database. Use matching navigation data where possible and inspect any discontinuities manually.
- Changing procedures after import: Selecting another runway, departure or arrival in the World Map can rebuild parts of the route. Load the plan, make necessary changes and then verify the complete waypoint sequence again.
- Assuming the route includes performance data: An MSFS
.plnfile does not necessarily configure an airliner's weights, fuel, cruise performance or complete flight-management computer setup. - Using the wrong aircraft profile: Fuel and time estimates are only useful when the planner has a suitable performance profile for the aircraft and configuration being flown.
- Outdated scenery information: Refresh Little Navmap's scenery library after installing or removing airports so that parking positions, runways and frequencies match the simulator.
For most PC users, we recommend starting with Little Navmap and adding SimBrief when airline operations become the priority. Xbox users should begin with the World Map and only introduce an external planner when their preferred aircraft provides a dependable import method.