Best freeware aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Compare the best MSFS freeware aircraft for 2020 and 2024: free Airbus, GA, vintage, ultralight and heavy planes, plus installation help.
Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes aircraft with every MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 edition, and the in-sim Marketplace sometimes offers no-cost aircraft. On PC, you can also install separately downloaded freeware through the Community folder. Xbox and PlayStation users cannot install external files and are limited to included or free Marketplace content.
Are there any free planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
There are three distinct types of free or included aircraft, and confusing them causes many installation and ownership problems.
- Aircraft included with an edition: MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions each include an aircraft roster. These aeroplanes are part of your simulator licence rather than separately downloaded freeware. MSFS 2024 owners can manage them through My Library; MSFS 2020 uses Content Manager.
- No-cost Marketplace aircraft: Microsoft and third-party developers may offer aircraft through the in-sim Marketplace without charge. Availability can differ by simulator, platform, account and offer period.
- PC freeware: These are independent packages downloaded outside the simulator and installed through an official developer installer or the Community folder. This article concentrates on that category.
If you do not have much money for add-ons, start with the aircraft already attached to your edition. Add one well-supported freeware package at a time rather than filling Community with old, untested files.
Which MSFS freeware aircraft are worth installing?
The strongest choices come from identifiable developers with documented dependencies and active distribution channels. Our MSFS freeware downloads library provides more aircraft and add-ons, but the shortlist below is a better starting point than installing every free plane you find.
| Aircraft, developer and official source | Category | Simulator support and dependencies | Systems and limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| A32NX FlyByWire Simulations; FlyByWire Installer | Airbus A320-family airliner | MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 using the edition-specific installer package. It is standalone and does not require the default A320. | The best all-round free Airbus for normal airline procedures, with a custom MCDU, flight-management system and Airbus autopilot logic. It suits short- and medium-haul flying; not every failure or maintenance function is simulated. |
| A380X FlyByWire Simulations; FlyByWire Installer | Very large long-haul airliner | MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 packages are distributed through the official installer. No paid base aircraft or separate A32NX installation is required. | Custom avionics, flight management and automation make genuine long-haul routes practical. It remains an ambitious developing aircraft, so incomplete pages, systems and operational functions should be expected. |
| A339X A330-900neo Headwind Simulations; Headwind Installer | Long-haul Airbus airliner | MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 builds are supplied through the developer's installer. Let that installer manage the matching systems components rather than mixing in old manual packages. | Supports route entry, managed guidance, autopilot operation and long-distance IFR flying. It is a practical free wide-body, but system coverage and cockpit behaviour are not complete enough to assume every real A330 procedure is reproduced. |
| Boeing 787-8 Kuro; official project release | Long-haul Boeing airliner | Designed for MSFS 2020 and requires access to the default Boeing 787-10 supplied with Premium Deluxe. Treat MSFS 2024 use as unverified unless the selected release explicitly says otherwise. | Uses the improved default 787 avionics as its foundation, giving it a usable FMC, LNAV, VNAV and autopilot for long-haul routes. The add-on is free, but its Premium Deluxe dependency means it is not available to every Standard Edition owner. |
| Cessna 152 enhancement JPLogistics; official project release | General aviation trainer | Requires the default Cessna 152, which is included with the simulator. Use a release explicitly marked for your simulator; older packages should be treated as MSFS 2020 software. | Expands a familiar trainer with more detailed cockpit operation and aircraft behaviour. It is an enhancement rather than a separate aeroplane, so removing the required stock C152 will break it. |
| Van's RV-7 and RV-7A deejing; original developer package | Experimental general aviation and aerobatics | Primarily an MSFS 2020 aircraft, with no confirmed MSFS 2024 build assumed here. No paid base aeroplane is required; optional GPS additions are separate. | A rewarding choice for hand-flying, with tailwheel and tricycle-undercarriage variants. It is less suitable for readers seeking a deeply simulated IFR avionics suite, and the tailwheel version exposes poor rudder calibration quickly. |
| Legacy Collection Got Friends; official freeware catalogue | Bush, experimental and lightweight aircraft | Edition-specific packages are available for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Install all shared components supplied with the selected collection. | Aircraft such as the Savage Grravel and Vertigo favour visual flying, short strips and energetic handling over formal airline procedures. Some are deliberately modified or experimental, so they should not be used as references for a standard production type. |
| Mykrodian MX1 Mykrode; original developer package | Open-cockpit ultralight | An MSFS 2020 package; MSFS 2024 compatibility is unconfirmed unless stated by the particular release. Check its notes for any stock sound or effect aliases. | Excellent visibility and simple operation suit sightseeing and VR. Its low speed, exposed cockpit and limited avionics are intentional; it is not designed for complex IFR work or fast cross-country routes. |
| de Havilland Tiger Moth Ant's Airplanes; official developer download | Vintage biplane | Use the MSFS 2020 release unless the developer supplies a specifically labelled MSFS 2024 package. It is distributed as a complete aircraft rather than a livery. | Simple systems do not mean easy flying: limited forward visibility, adverse yaw and tailwheel ground handling demand coordinated controls. Modern navigation and autopilot functions are outside its purpose. |
| C-17 Globemaster III Delta Simulations; official project release | Heavy military transport | Established as an MSFS 2020 freeware aircraft. Do not assume MSFS 2024 compatibility without a developer-labelled build, and retain any companion folders supplied with the download. | The leading free option here for heavy transport, cargo operations and large-aircraft handling. It offers usable flight and navigation functions, but it should not be mistaken for a complete simulation of every military system or mission function. |
Choose the A32NX for the strongest everyday airline experience, the A380X or Headwind A339X for free long-haul flying, the Cessna 152 enhancement for training, the RV-7 for hand-flying and the C-17 for heavy transport. The MX1 and Tiger Moth are better when visibility, rudder work and low-speed flying matter more than avionics.
Are there any other free aircraft?
Yes. Freeware also covers gliders, helicopters, military jets, experimental aircraft and conversions of older simulator models. Check whether a download is a complete aircraft, an enhancement requiring a stock plane, or merely a livery; a repaint will not create a flyable aircraft on its own.
What is the best free Airbus or freeware airliner?
The FlyByWire A32NX is the best free Airbus for most pilots because its custom flight-management and autopilot systems support realistic scheduled operations without requiring a paid base aircraft.
For long-haul flying, choose the A380X when you want the scale and procedures of a very large Airbus and accept that it is still under development. Choose the Headwind A339X for a more conventional twin-engine wide-body. Both can operate long routes using an FMC and autopilot, but neither should be described as functionally complete in every aircraft system.
The Kuro 787-8 is the main Boeing alternative in this shortlist. Its FMC and automatic flight functions are suitable for long-distance routes, but the required Premium Deluxe 787-10 means it is not a completely independent free aircraft. Our comparison of free MSFS 2024 airliners goes further into choosing between the A32NX, A380X and A330-900neo.
What are the best MSFS 2024 freeware aircraft?
For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, use a package specifically released or confirmed by its developer for that simulator rather than copying an old MSFS 2020 folder and hoping it works.
Aircraft with confirmed MSFS 2024 packages
- FlyByWire A32NX: distributed in an MSFS 2024-compatible form through the FlyByWire Installer.
- FlyByWire A380X: available through the official installer for MSFS 2024, with the same developing-aircraft caveats described above.
- Headwind A339X: use the Headwind Installer's MSFS 2024 package and its matching dependencies.
- Got Friends Legacy Collection: has an edition-specific MSFS 2024 release for free bush and experimental flying.
A package being confirmed for MSFS 2024 does not necessarily mean that it was rebuilt entirely with native 2024 systems. It means the developer supplies or identifies a compatible release. Our broader guide to free aircraft in MSFS 2024 also covers included planes and the PC-versus-console distinction.
MSFS 2020 aircraft that should be treated as untested in 2024
The Kuro 787-8, JPLogistics C152 package, deejing RV-7, Mykrodian MX1, Tiger Moth and Delta Simulations C-17 should be treated as MSFS 2020 packages unless the exact download carries a developer confirmation for MSFS 2024. Community reports alone are not enough: a plane may load while still having broken displays, sounds, flight controls or WASM modules.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is at Sim Update 5, released in April 2026. Simulator updates can alter avionics, package loading and flight-model behaviour, so even a previously working aircraft may need a developer update. Remove an obsolete version before installing its replacement rather than merging the two folders.
How do you install freeware aircraft in MSFS?
Most PC freeware belongs in the Community folder, although aircraft distributed through FlyByWire, Headwind or another official installer should be installed and updated with that tool.
The usual default Community-folder locations are:
- MSFS 2020, Microsoft Store or Xbox app:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community - MSFS 2020, Steam:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community - MSFS 2024, Microsoft Store or Xbox app:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community - MSFS 2024, Steam:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\Packages\Community
Those defaults change if you selected a custom packages location. The reliable method is to enable Developer Mode in the simulator's developer settings, open Tools > Virtual File System from the developer menu and use the packages-folder or Community-folder command shown there. Menu wording can differ slightly between MSFS 2020 and 2024.
- Confirm the exact simulator: download the MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 build specified by the developer. Do not assume that identical aircraft names mean identical packages.
- Read the dependencies: install any required stock aircraft, avionics package or shared library first. If an archive supplies several package folders, place them alongside one another in Community rather than putting the library inside the aircraft folder.
- Extract the archive: a ZIP, RAR or 7z archive normally must be unpacked. Placing the unopened archive in Community does nothing.
- Find the package root: the folder copied into Community should normally contain
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. A common mistake isCommunity\aircraft-name\aircraft-name\manifest.json; move the inner folder up one level. - Remove older versions: delete or move the previous package before installing an update. Merging files leaves obsolete gauges, configuration entries and textures behind.
- Add optional liveries afterwards: verify that each repaint is made for the exact aircraft and version. A livery is normally its own package folder and may fail if the base aircraft is absent or renamed.
- Restart and test cleanly: restart the simulator, select a simple airport and test the aircraft before adding further modifications.
For screenshots of the folder structure and custom-installation cases, use our complete aircraft installation walkthrough.
Why does a freeware plane not appear or work?
Incorrect folder depth, missing dependencies and incompatible simulator versions account for most failures.
- No aircraft in the selector: check for a double-nested folder, confirm that the archive was extracted and verify that
manifest.jsonis inside the package folder placed in Community. - Only a new paint scheme appears: you downloaded a livery or enhancement, not a complete plane. Install the required base aircraft.
- Pink checkerboard textures or invisible parts: a texture library, base aircraft or shared dependency is missing. Duplicate old versions can also make the simulator load the wrong files.
- Dark displays: first test the aircraft's normal battery, external-power and avionics procedure. If the cockpit has power, an outdated gauge or unsupported simulator build is the likely cause.
- FMC or autopilot behaves incorrectly: verify the flight plan, aircraft state and required navigation data before reinstalling. If the same route works in the documented simulator version, remove conflicting avionics modifications.
- Crash or endless loading: move all unrelated Community packages out temporarily, retain only the aircraft and its stated dependencies, then restore other add-ons in batches.
- Uncontrollable handling: remove duplicate axis assignments and inspect assistance settings, sensitivity, dead zones and separate tiller or rudder bindings.
Can Xbox and PlayStation install freeware aircraft?
No console can install externally downloaded Community-folder aircraft. Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro users must use aircraft included with their edition or no-cost content distributed through the in-sim Marketplace.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is available on PC and Xbox and was never released for PlayStation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, and it launched on PS5 and PS5 Pro on 8 December 2025. The PlayStation and Xbox versions do not expose a Community folder, so copying packages by USB or downloading them through a console browser will not work.