Find free aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, check MSFS 2020/2024 compatibility, install on PC and understand console limits.
You can get free aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator from our curated MSFS freeware library. Community-folder downloads work on PC; Xbox and PlayStation 5 players can only use aircraft offered through supported in-game channels. Check that each package matches MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 and is a complete aircraft, not just a livery.
Where can I download free planes for MSFS?
PC users can browse our MSFS aircraft and mods library for freeware covering airliners, general aviation, military, vintage and experimental aircraft. Read the individual description before downloading because the broad MSFS label does not guarantee compatibility with both simulator generations.
A mistake we see constantly is treating every aircraft-related file as a new flyable aeroplane. Check the package type first:
| Package type | New flyable aircraft? | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Complete aircraft | Usually | Any dependencies named in the description |
| Aircraft enhancement | No | The corresponding default, freeware or paid aircraft |
| Livery or repaint | No | The exact aircraft model for which it was made |
| Legacy conversion | Sometimes | Acceptance of possible cockpit, animation or flight-model limitations |
File size and screenshots are poor measures of quality. Prefer packages with an explicit simulator version, clear dependency information, installation instructions and documented limitations. Our selection of worthwhile freeware aircraft by flying category is a useful next step if you want named recommendations rather than browsing every file.
Are all planes free in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
No. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes a collection of aircraft with the edition you own or access, but it does not include every available aeroplane.
The standard and higher-priced editions have different included fleets. Other aircraft are sold separately, while some are released as free official content or PC freeware. An aircraft included with your edition costs nothing extra, but that is not the same as the simulator or every add-on being free.
| Aircraft source | PC | Xbox | PS5 and PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included with your simulator edition | Yes | Yes | MSFS 2024 only |
| Free content delivered in game | When offered | When offered | When offered for MSFS 2024 |
| Downloaded Community-folder freeware | Yes | No | No |
| Paid aircraft add-ons | Yes | Yes, through supported channels | Yes, through supported MSFS 2024 channels |
What planes do you get for free in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
The aircraft supplied at no extra charge depend on the simulator, edition, platform and any official content attached to your account. MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 do not have one interchangeable base-aircraft list, and premium-edition aircraft are not automatically unlocked for standard-edition owners.
For that reason, confirm the edition’s aircraft list before buying and check your in-game aircraft library afterwards. Free packages offered through official in-game channels can also change over time, so a list copied from an old article may not match what your account can claim.
Will MSFS 2020 aircraft add-ons work in MSFS 2024?
An MSFS 2020 aircraft should be considered compatible with MSFS 2024 only when its description or update notes explicitly say so. Some aircraft transfer successfully, but custom avionics, external libraries, older flight-model configuration and specialised installers can cause blank displays, missing controls or loading failures.
Keep the two installations separate. Place an add-on in the Community folder used by the simulator you are launching; installing it for MSFS 2020 does not automatically make it available in MSFS 2024. If separate versions of a package are supplied, use the one intended for your simulator rather than copying both.
Can I install free aircraft on Xbox or PS5?
Xbox and PlayStation players cannot install aircraft downloaded from a website because console editions do not expose a user-managed Community folder. Free planes must be supplied through the Marketplace or another supported in-game delivery channel.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation; it remains a PC and Xbox title. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on PS5 and PS5 Pro on 8 December 2025, alongside its PC and Xbox Series X|S availability. A ZIP, RAR or 7z package described as a PC or Community-folder download cannot be imported on any console, including from USB storage.
How do I install a free aircraft add-on on PC?
Most freeware aircraft are installed by extracting the actual package folder into the Community folder while Microsoft Flight Simulator is closed.
- Confirm that it is an aircraft. Make sure the download is a complete aeroplane rather than a livery, sound pack or enhancement requiring another model.
- Check its simulator version. Look for an explicit MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 compatibility statement and note every required base aircraft, avionics package or library.
- Extract the archive. Do not copy the compressed ZIP, RAR or 7z file directly into Community.
- Find the package root. In a conventional package, the folder containing files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonbelongs in Community. Remove unnecessary wrapper folders above it. - Use the correct Community folder. Its location varies with the simulator, store installation and any custom packages path. Our complete Community-folder installation procedure covers how to locate it.
- Start the simulator and check the aircraft selector. Clear restrictive filters if the aircraft does not appear, then confirm that you are looking under the expected manufacturer or aircraft name.
If a package uses its own installer, follow the supplied documentation rather than moving the installer itself into Community. Stop if an unexpected executable is included without a clear explanation.
Why does a free aircraft not appear or load correctly?
The most common cause is a package nested one folder too deeply, followed by installing a livery without its required base aircraft. Open the extracted folders until you find the package root rather than copying the top-level download folder blindly.
- Missing from the aircraft selector: check the selector filters, package nesting and whether the file is a complete aircraft.
- Blank cockpit displays: install the stated avionics or library dependency and remove conflicting old versions.
- Invisible exterior or missing textures: verify that the package was fully extracted and that any required base model is installed.
- Crash or endless loading: remove the add-on, restart the simulator and confirm that the release supports your simulator version.
- Problems after updating: delete the previous aircraft folder before installing the replacement. Merging releases can leave obsolete files behind.
- Works in one MSFS version only: confirm that it is in the Community folder belonging to the simulator actually being launched.
Are free MSFS aircraft safe and legal?
Legitimate freeware is generally safe when it comes from an established library and includes clear authorship, instructions and licence terms. Freeware does not mean public domain: keep the readme, respect restrictions on modification and redistribution, and avoid packages that appear to contain copied commercial assets.
Scan downloaded archives with your operating system’s security tools, verify dependencies before obtaining them and be cautious with unexplained executables. Our freeware safety and compatibility checklist explains the warning signs and the checks to make before adding a package to MSFS.