What are the best payware aircraft add-ons?

The best payware aircraft add-ons are Fenix’s A320 family, PMDG’s 737 and 777, A2A’s Comanche 250 and Just Flight’s BAe 146 for Microsoft Flight Simulator; ToLiss Airbuses, Hot Start’s Challenger 650 and Rotate’s MD-11 for X-Plane 12; and Heatblur’s F-14 or Eagle Dynamics’ F/A-18C for DCS.

There is no universal winner. A detailed airliner, an ownership-based piston single and a combat module provide completely different experiences, while simulator version, hardware platform and the time required to prepare each flight matter as much as systems depth.

Best payware aircraft by simulator

The strongest payware aircraft are mature products designed for the simulator and type of flying you actually use.

For a deeper breakdown of premium Airbus, business-jet and long-haul choices, see our simulator-specific X-Plane 12 shortlist. Do not buy an X-Plane, Prepar3D or FSX edition because an aircraft with the same name exists in another simulator; these are separate products.

What are the best payware aircraft for MSFS 2024 and MSFS 2020?

For MSFS 2024 and 2020, choose Fenix for Airbus operations, PMDG for Boeing procedures, A2A for piston-engine ownership and Just Flight for classic regional jets.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on PC and Xbox Series X|S in November 2024, followed by PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro in December 2025. It reached Sim Update 5 in April 2026. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 remains a PC and Xbox product and was never released for PlayStation.

This distinction affects every list of the best MSFS 2024 add-ons. Consoles cannot run Windows installers, companion executables or manually installed Community packages, so an aircraft must be distributed for that console. Fenix is PC-only, and no PC purchase should be assumed to transfer to Xbox or PlayStation unless the product listing explicitly says so.

An aircraft that loads in MSFS 2024 through backward compatibility is not necessarily a native or fully supported MSFS 2024 release. Check custom avionics, tablet functions, liveries and updates as well as basic Free Flight operation. If Career mode matters, confirm that separately: loading in Free Flight does not guarantee eligibility for the missions or roles you want.

Our MSFS 2024 aircraft recommendations and platform caveats track that newer simulator specifically. Readers comparing aircraft with airports, scenery and other premium products can use our broader MSFS 2020 payware round-up.

ToLiss A320 vs Fenix A320: which is better?

Choose Fenix if you fly Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC; choose ToLiss if you fly X-Plane 12. Both are serious Airbus simulations, but they are not competing products for the same simulator.

The aircraft generations matter. ToLiss’s A320 is the A320neo, while Fenix centres on the A320ceo family; engines, performance and some cockpit indications therefore differ. Comparing screenshots or raw frame rates alone misses the main purchasing decision: the surrounding simulator determines scenery, weather, controls, other aircraft and multiplayer compatibility.

Neither product makes switching simulator inexpensive. Moving from ToLiss to Fenix, or from Fenix to ToLiss, can also mean replacing scenery, utilities, controller profiles and navigation-data arrangements.

Which payware aircraft should I buy first?

Buy the aircraft that fits your normal route length, preferred cockpit workload and available preparation time.

• For a first detailed airliner: a narrow-body such as the Fenix A320, PMDG 737 or ToLiss A320neo is usually more practical than a long-haul type. Short sectors expose you to more take-offs, approaches and turnarounds.
• For general aviation: choose A2A’s Comanche when engine management, maintenance and hand flying interest you more than programming an FMS.
• For classic airline flying: choose the BAe 146 or F28 for a more manual cockpit. Pick the Maddog or Rotate MD-11 only if their type-specific automation is part of the attraction.
• For combat: the DCS F/A-18C provides broad multirole and carrier capability. The F-14 and F-4E suit pilots who want multicrew procedures, analogue controls and less automated weapons employment.
• For short sessions: favour an aircraft you can start, fly and shut down in the time available. A complex long-haul jet offers poor value if flight preparation consumes most of the session.

“Study level” has no formal, simulator-wide definition. Look instead for the systems you will use: realistic engine limits, custom avionics, failures, circuit-breaker behaviour, saved aircraft state, performance calculation, useful manuals and dependable updates. A long feature list is less valuable when the normal procedures you care about are incomplete.

A mistake we see constantly is buying the deepest aircraft available before deciding whether its workload is enjoyable. Payware earns its price through repeated use, not merely complexity; our value checklist for deciding when payware earns its price covers support, performance and the cases where freeware is the better purchase.

How do I check compatibility and fix common payware add-on problems?

Match the exact simulator, generation, platform and purchase channel before installing a payware aircraft.

1. Confirm the simulator name: look for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, X-Plane 12 or a specific Prepar3D version rather than a generic reference to MSFS or X-Plane.
2. Confirm the hardware platform: PC, Xbox and PlayStation availability are separate. A console cannot use a desktop installer simply because the aircraft works in the same simulator on PC.
3. Check the operating system and processor: desktop plugins and companion applications may support only named operating systems or processor configurations.
4. Read what the package includes: engine variants, passenger and freighter models, family expansions and liveries may be separate products.
5. Identify dependencies: an expansion may require a base aircraft, a particular simulator edition or a companion process.
6. Check the update route: versions distributed through different purchase channels can receive updates at different times. Follow the installer or manager supplied with the edition you own.
7. Allow for performance: custom avionics, detailed cabins, high-resolution textures and background systems can be much heavier than default aircraft.

Common failures and practical fixes

Most failures come from an unsupported version, an incomplete installation, a blocked companion process or conflicting controller assignments.

• The aircraft is missing or returns to the menu: update it using its supplied installer or manager and verify that required base packages are present. Do not place installer files in the MSFS Community folder unless the documentation specifically instructs you to do so.
• The cockpit is dark or displays are frozen: confirm that any required companion application is running and signed in. Allow only the documented executable through security software rather than disabling protection globally.
• Throttles, spoilers or controls move by themselves: create an aircraft-specific controller profile, remove duplicate axis assignments and turn off assistance features that conflict with custom systems.
• The simulator stutters or crashes: test with unrelated community packages and third-party liveries removed. Then reduce texture, traffic and glass-cockpit load one setting at a time; complex aircraft often expose an existing memory or main-thread limit.
• The route has rejected waypoints or unexpected discontinuities: check navigation-data cycles and route format before treating it as an aircraft fault. The flight planner and aircraft database may not contain the same data.
• A simulator update breaks a working aircraft: install the aircraft developer’s supported update or temporarily remove the product. Reinstalling the same unsupported build rarely fixes an SDK or plugin incompatibility.