Compare Boeing 737-800 add-ons for MSFS 2020, see what PMDG includes, understand freeware limits, and avoid MAX, livery and FSX mix-ups.
For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, PMDG's 737-800 is the main complete, native Boeing 737-800 add-on. Its package covers the passenger jet, BBJ2 and converted freighters. Most other 737-800 downloads are liveries, sound or camera modifications, not flyable aircraft, while 737 MAX and old FSX models are different products.
Which complete Boeing 737-800 aircraft is available?
PMDG 737-800 is the established full-aircraft choice for MSFS 2020, with a detailed flight deck, flight-management systems and normal airline procedures.
| Option | What it provides | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PMDG 737-800 | Passenger 737-800, BBJ2 business jet and BCF and BDSF converted freighters | Paid base aircraft; select the correct passenger or cargo model when loading a repaint |
| PMDG-specific liveries | Airline, business-jet and freighter paint schemes | Requires the PMDG 737-800 and must match the intended model |
| Sound, camera and utility modifications | Changes to presentation or supporting features | Usually requires a particular aircraft version and may be PC-only |
| Legacy FSX conversions | Older models adapted by users | Not equivalent to a native MSFS aircraft and often affected by broken systems or gauges |
The PMDG 737-600, 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900 are separate products. Owning another PMDG variant does not install the 737-800, and a repaint made for the 737-700 or 737-900 will not automatically fit it.
Does MSFS 2020 include a default 737-800?
No edition of MSFS 2020 includes a default Boeing 737-800. A download described only as a livery for the “default 737-800” is usually intended for FSX, where the aircraft was included, rather than Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
A repaint supplies textures, not the aircraft model, cockpit or flight dynamics. This is the most common reason a newly installed 737 livery fails to appear in the aircraft selection screen.
Is there a free 737-800 for MSFS 2020?
Free 737-800 downloads exist, but many are liveries, sound packs, configuration changes or experimental legacy conversions rather than a self-contained native aircraft. Our breakdown of free Boeing 737 downloads explains what each type of package actually adds.
An older FSX 737-800 cannot simply be placed in the MSFS Community folder. Missing instruments, unusable avionics, incorrect animations and incomplete flight dynamics are common because the two simulators use different aircraft systems. See our explanation of why FSX aircraft are not directly compatible with MSFS 2020 before attempting a conversion.
How do I avoid downloading the wrong Boeing 737?
- Check the generation. The 737-800 is part of the 737 Next Generation family. A 737 MAX 8 may have a similar number, but it is a different aircraft with different engines, cockpit details and add-on requirements. We cover those products separately in our guide to 737 MAX aircraft for MSFS 2020.
- Read the dependency. Phrases such as “PMDG 737-800 required” mean the download is an enhancement or repaint, not the flyable base aircraft.
- Match the airframe. Passenger, BBJ2, BCF and BDSF liveries are not interchangeable in every case. Use the model named by the repaint author.
- Confirm the simulator and platform. The package must explicitly support MSFS 2020. PC users can install compatible manual packages, while Xbox users can install only content delivered through the in-simulator Marketplace.
- Check the folder structure. For a manual PC livery or modification, extract the archive and place the package folder containing
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonin the Community folder. If those files sit inside an extra nested folder, MSFS may not detect the package.
Which 737-800 add-on should I choose?
Choose PMDG when you want a complete Boeing 737-800 with working airline systems and realistic procedures. If you already own it, add only repaints and modifications explicitly made for that package; our guide to compatible PMDG 737-800 passenger, BBJ2 and freighter liveries explains the model matching.
If your requirement is strictly freeware, inspect each download carefully. A free livery or sound modification can improve an aircraft you already own, but it does not replace the paid base model, and an old FSX conversion will not provide the same reliability or systems depth as a native MSFS 2020 aircraft.