Best free Boeing 737 add-ons for MSFS 2020: learn which are complete aircraft, which need payware, and how to avoid broken FSX conversions.
There is no complete, high-fidelity freeware Boeing 737 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 that we would rank alongside the leading payware models. The best free 737 add-ons are liveries and compatibility enhancements for an aircraft you already own; stand-alone freeware choices are generally old conversions with limited cockpits and systems.
Are there any complete freeware Boeing 737s for MSFS 2020?
A few stand-alone freeware 737 packages exist, but most are legacy conversions or unfinished community projects rather than accurate, native simulations. They may provide a recognisable exterior model and a flyable cockpit, yet the flight management computer, autopilot logic, displays, electrical system and flight model are often generic or incomplete.
MSFS 2020 does not include a default Boeing 737 in any edition. A download described as a 737 livery, repaint, improvement package or sound mod therefore needs a separate base aircraft unless it explicitly says that a complete aircraft is included. Our comparison of complete Boeing 737 options and their limitations explains where the main models differ.
| Download type | Includes a flyable 737? | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native freeware project | Sometimes | Casual flying if the project is actively maintained | Cockpit systems and development status may be incomplete |
| Legacy FSX conversion | Usually | Exterior views and basic flights | Generic avionics, weak flight modelling and update problems |
| Livery or texture pack | No | Changing the appearance of an owned 737 | Requires the exact aircraft and variant listed |
| Camera, sound or configuration mod | No | Improving a compatible base aircraft | Can conflict with aircraft or simulator updates |
Which free 737 add-ons are worth installing?
The strongest free additions are those built for a specific, properly modelled 737 that is already installed. We would prioritise them in this order:
- Variant-specific liveries: These add real or fictional airline colours without changing the aircraft's systems. A 737-800 repaint must match both the 737-800 variant and the developer's base model; it will not automatically work on another developer's -800 or on a -700 or -900.
- Cabin and cockpit texture packs: These can improve signs, seat fabrics, instrument surrounds or cabin colours. Check whether they replace files or install as a separate Community package before using them.
- Camera and view presets: These are useful when tailored to the exact cockpit geometry and usually carry less risk than flight-model modifications.
- Sound or configuration enhancements: Install these only when the description names your aircraft and a compatible release. We put them last because aircraft updates can make them obsolete or cause conflicts.
Airline repaints are often advertised using screenshots of the complete aircraft, which causes understandable confusion. Our explanation of free Ryanair 737 downloads and their required base models shows how to distinguish a repaint from a stand-alone aircraft.
How can I check whether a free 737 download will work?
A compatible download must match the simulator, platform, aircraft developer and 737 variant. Check those details before copying anything into the simulator.
- Read the dependency information: Look for wording such as “requires”, “livery only”, “base aircraft not included” or “conversion”. If a separate product is named, the download is not a free complete aircraft.
- Match the exact variant: Treat the 737-600, -700, -800, -900 and MAX families as different aircraft. Paint layouts, model files and configuration entries are not interchangeable.
- Confirm the simulator: A package made for FSX is not automatically compatible with MSFS 2020. Read our guide to why legacy FSX aircraft cannot simply be installed in MSFS before trying an old 737.
- Check the package structure: A manually installed MSFS Community package normally has
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonnear its root. If they sit inside an extra nested folder, the simulator may not detect the add-on. - Check the platform: Downloaded PC Community packages cannot be installed on the Xbox version of MSFS 2020. Xbox users need compatible content distributed through the simulator's own Marketplace.
Why does a free Boeing 737 not appear in MSFS 2020?
A missing 737 usually means that the package is nested incorrectly, requires an aircraft you do not own, targets another 737 variant or was made for an older simulator. Restart MSFS after installation and look for a livery under the exact base aircraft rather than expecting it to appear as a separate aeroplane.
- No aircraft in the selector: Confirm that the package is for MSFS 2020 and that its working folder is directly inside
Community. - No new livery: Verify the developer and variant. A repaint made for one payware 737 will not attach itself to another.
- Pink or chequered textures: The package is normally missing a texture dependency, points to an absent base aircraft or contains an incorrect texture configuration.
- Crashes or broken cockpit controls: Remove the add-on, restart the simulator and test without other 737 modifications. Add packages back one at a time rather than overwriting official or paid aircraft files.
What should I use for realistic 737 systems?
A paid, native 737 is the practical choice when accurate Boeing procedures, LNAV/VNAV behaviour, failures and a working flight management computer matter. The PMDG 737 family is the established systems-focused reference for MSFS 2020; freeware conversions are not direct substitutes.
If remaining completely free matters more than flying a Boeing, choose a mature freeware airliner instead. Our guide to the strongest freeware airliners available for MSFS 2020 covers better-developed alternatives without pretending that an old 737 conversion offers the same depth.