What are the best payware aircraft for MSFS 2020?
The best payware aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 are the Fenix A320 for Airbus flying, PMDG 737 for Boeing short haul, PMDG 777 for long haul, A2A Comanche 250 for piston GA, SimWorks Studios Kodiak 100 for bush operations, and Just Flight BAe 146 for classic regional routes.
No single aircraft wins every category. We favour add-ons with convincing flight dynamics, complete normal procedures, dependable system modelling and enough depth to reward learning. Our wider selection of paid MSFS 2020 aircraft and add-ons covers more alternatives; the shortlist below is deliberately stricter.
Best MSFS 2020 payware aircraft by role
The strongest choice depends on the cockpit, route length and type of flying you intend to practise.
| Flying role | Best choice | Why it stands out | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus narrow-body | Fenix A320 | Detailed A320ceo systems, ECAM logic, MCDU operation, failures and airline procedures. | PC only and dependent on its companion application. The A319 and A321 are optional expansions rather than part of the basic A320 package. |
| Boeing short haul | PMDG 737 family | A deep flight-management system, convincing Boeing workflows and several useful passenger and cargo variants. | Variants are sold as separate packages, so check exactly which airframe and equipment options are included. |
| Long haul | PMDG 777-300ER | Strong wide-body system depth, long-range automation and a detailed Boeing flight deck. | Its size and workload make little sense if most of your flights last less than an hour. |
| Piston general aviation | A2A Comanche 250 | Persistent wear, engine behaviour, maintenance and airframe state make it feel like an aeroplane you operate rather than reset. | It is a PC-focused product and deliberately punishes poor engine handling. |
| Bush and utility | SimWorks Studios Kodiak 100 | Excellent short-field capability, practical cargo flying and meaningful weight, balance and PT6 management. | Careless loading or power handling can undermine its impressive STOL performance. |
| Classic regional flying | Just Flight BAe 146 Professional | Custom systems, four-engine procedures and a distinctive analogue-era regional workload. | There is no autothrottle, and it demands more manual management than a modern Airbus. |
| Complex GA twin | Black Square Duke series | Detailed electrical, fuel and environmental systems with extensive failures in piston and turbine forms. | The cockpit workload is steep, and the piston and turbine editions may be packaged separately. |
For Airbus flying, the Fenix is our first choice when system depth matters more than Xbox support or simplicity. Our comparison of the leading A320 add-ons explains how it differs from lighter alternatives.
Which payware aircraft should you buy first?
Your first purchase should match the type of flying you complete regularly, not the aircraft with the longest feature list.
- Airline procedures: choose the Fenix A320 for Airbus logic or the PMDG 737 for Boeing logic. Learning one properly is more useful than switching between both.
- Hands-on general aviation: choose the A2A Comanche if engine care, maintenance and ownership simulation appeal to you.
- Short and rough runways: choose the Kodiak 100, particularly if you enjoy cargo, mountain and remote-strip operations.
- Older airliners: choose the BAe 146 for manual power control and classic regional procedures.
- Long-haul routes: choose the PMDG 777 only if you enjoy full pre-flight preparation and regularly finish longer flights.
A mistake we see constantly is buying a whole family before understanding its packaging. Check whether freighters, engine choices, cabin variants or related airframes are included, sold as expansions or treated as completely separate products.
Are the best MSFS 2020 aircraft available on Xbox?
Xbox availability is narrower because aircraft must be distributed through the in-simulator Marketplace and cannot depend on a Windows companion application.
The Fenix A320 is PC only, and the A2A Comanche should also be treated as a PC choice. Some PMDG, Just Flight and SimWorks Studios packages have Xbox-compatible Marketplace editions, but availability can differ between individual models and variants. Check the platform label on the exact package rather than assuming every aircraft from the same developer supports Xbox.
A licence bought outside the Marketplace cannot be manually installed on Xbox. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation, so PlayStation aircraft listings for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 do not apply to this simulator.
What should you check before buying an MSFS aircraft?
Confirm simulator compatibility, platform support and package contents before comparing screenshots or feature counts.
- Check the simulator generation. The product must explicitly support Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020; a package made only for MSFS 2024 is not backward compatible.
- Check the platform and delivery channel. PC installers may require an account manager or companion application, while Xbox users require a Marketplace edition.
- Check what the package includes. Similar-looking variants, freighters and engine options are often separate purchases.
- Define the system depth you want. “Study-level” has no fixed technical standard. Look for the specific features that matter to you, such as custom hydraulics, circuit breakers, failures, persistent wear or a custom flight-management system.
- Allow for performance and controls. Complex glass cockpits and wide-bodies are usually heavier than default aircraft. Custom events may also need dedicated controller or hardware mappings.
Why does a new payware aircraft not work after installation?
Most post-installation failures come from a missing companion application, an outdated livery, a duplicate package or conflicting control assignments.
- Blank displays: confirm the aircraft has electrical power and is not intentionally loaded cold and dark. For the Fenix, also confirm its companion application is installed and running; our Fenix A320 installation procedure covers the required PC setup.
- Broken cockpit after an update: remove third-party liveries temporarily. An old livery can reference files that changed with the aircraft update.
- Unexpected shutdowns or moving levers: search the control assignments for duplicate throttle, mixture, condition-lever and fuel-cut-off bindings.
- Two copies of the aircraft: do not install direct-download and Marketplace editions together. Remove the older copy before reinstalling through the intended channel.
- Unexplained loading or crashing problems: test the aircraft with its default livery at a default airport, with unrelated Community add-ons disabled. This separates an aircraft fault from scenery or mod conflicts.