Compare FSX, MSFS 2020 and 2024 on realism, hardware, internet, add-ons, offline use and platforms, then choose the right simulator.
For most newcomers, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the best choice for its worldwide scenery, career activities and broad platform support. Keep MSFS 2020 if it runs well or supports essential add-ons. Choose Flight Simulator X (FSX) for modest PCs, dependable offline flying, nostalgia or a valuable legacy add-on collection.
FSX, MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 compared
The main divide is between FSX's locally installed legacy platform and the modern simulators' streamed world, 64-bit architecture, online services and newer simulation technology.
FSX is the 2006-era Microsoft Flight Simulator X and is itself a Microsoft Flight Simulator. MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 are separate products, not updates or editions of FSX. For a focused two-way comparison, see our detailed comparison of MSFS 2020 and FSX; we also cover the detailed comparison of MSFS 2020 and 2024.
| Factor | FSX | MSFS 2020 | MSFS 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core technology | Legacy 32-bit Windows simulator | Modern 64-bit simulator | Newer 64-bit platform using more cloud-delivered content |
| World and weather | Local landclass, autogen and scenery with older clouds and lighting | Streamed imagery, photogrammetry in supported areas, volumetric clouds and live weather | Updated streamed world, improved ground detail and vegetation, volumetric weather and live conditions |
| Aircraft and activities | Older default fleet, lessons, free flight and classic missions | Modern default fleet, tutorials, challenges, bush trips and free flight | Career progression, missions, free flight and expanded activities |
| Hardware behaviour | Lower graphics demands, but heavily CPU- and main-thread-limited | Needs a balanced modern CPU, GPU, memory and storage setup | Designed around newer hardware, fast storage and dependable broadband |
| Internet use | Core world is local; ordinary flights can remain offline | Best with a reliable connection for scenery and online services | More dependent on streaming additional world and aircraft content |
| Platforms and VR | Windows PC; no native VR mode | Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S; PC VR | Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro; PC VR and planned PSVR2 support |
| Add-ons | Huge legacy catalogue, including ageing installers, gauges and utilities | Mature modern library with broad developer support | Growing library; many 2020 products work or receive updates, but compatibility is not universal |
MSFS 2024 is the only version here available on PlayStation. It launched on PS5 and PS5 Pro on 8 December 2025, becoming the first Flight Simulator released on a PlayStation console; PSVR2 support arrives through a free update in 2026. MSFS 2020 was never released on PlayStation.
Console users cannot install ordinary PC Community-folder downloads, so their add-on choices are more restricted. MSFS 2024 reached Sim Update 5 in April 2026 following several rounds of post-launch updates.
Which simulator feels more realistic?
MSFS 2020 and 2024 depict the world, weather, lighting and atmosphere more convincingly than default FSX, while their modern flight modelling provides a more capable aerodynamic foundation.
The difference is clearest during VFR flying: coastlines, roads, towns and mountains are easier to recognise without first installing replacement mesh, terrain and textures. Source imagery can contain artefacts, and photogrammetry quality varies by location, but the unmodified modern world remains far ahead of default FSX.
Aircraft quality is a separate issue. A deeply modelled third-party FSX aircraft can reproduce systems and procedures better than a simplified stock aircraft in a newer simulator. No simulator guarantees study-level systems merely because an aircraft is included by default.
Before judging handling in MSFS 2020, select the Modern flight model unless the aircraft developer says otherwise. Disable unwanted piloting assists, then calibrate controller sensitivity and dead zones. Assistance settings or a noisy control axis often explain an aircraft that feels unnaturally stable, twitchy or difficult to trim.
Which Flight Simulator should you choose?
Your hardware, connection and essential aircraft should decide the choice; graphics alone should not.
What should a new simmer choose?
A newcomer with suitable hardware and reliable internet should usually choose MSFS 2024, or MSFS 2020 when there is a specific aircraft, utility or platform reason to do so.
Both modern simulators provide a convincing world without the extensive visual add-on work FSX normally needs. They are not maintenance-free: installations and updates are large, online services can fail, and an incompatible Community package can increase loading times or stop the simulator starting.
When does FSX still make sense?
FSX remains practical when legacy content, routine offline operation or hardware limits matter more than visual fidelity.
- You own a mature FSX library: replacing aircraft, airports, utilities, sounds and repaints may cost more than changing the simulator itself.
- You require a legacy product: some aircraft, gauges, training packages, missions and cockpit utilities were never rebuilt for modern MSFS.
- You enjoy classic missions and tutorials: these structured scenarios remain one of FSX's distinctive strengths.
- You need a local world: normal flights and installed scenery do not depend on streamed aerial imagery.
- You prefer manual configuration: FSX exposes scenery libraries, aircraft folders and configuration files directly.
FSX also suits some modest PCs, but old does not automatically mean fast or stable. Dense autogen, AI traffic, detailed airports, complex aircraft and layered weather can overwhelm its main thread while the graphics card remains lightly loaded.
When should you keep MSFS 2020?
Keep MSFS 2020 when it is stable and your favourite aircraft, scenery, control profiles and external utilities are fully configured there.
It still offers worldwide streamed scenery, live weather, PC VR and a mature add-on ecosystem. Rebuilding a complex installation has a real cost, so do not remove 2020 until every essential product is confirmed to work in 2024.
When should you choose MSFS 2024?
Choose MSFS 2024 for a new setup, structured career progression, newer simulation features or PlayStation support.
Check connection quality and support for any indispensable add-ons before replacing an established MSFS 2020 installation. Compatibility between the modern releases is far better than between FSX and either one, but it is not automatic.
Will FSX run better on an older PC?
FSX often runs on hardware that cannot handle modern MSFS, but its 32-bit engine has limits that additional RAM or a powerful graphics card cannot remove.
Both boxed FSX and FSX: Steam Edition have a restricted address space. Detailed scenery, large textures, complex aircraft and heavy AI traffic can trigger an Out of memory error even when the computer has ample physical RAM. A mistake we see constantly is moving every slider to maximum simply because the simulator is old; reducing autogen, traffic, scenery complexity or weather layers often helps more than upgrading the GPU.
MSFS 2020 and 2024 need substantially more graphics power, memory, storage and CPU performance, and both benefit from fast solid-state storage. Published minimum specifications do not predict performance at a busy airport with detailed aircraft, traffic and weather.
Do MSFS 2020 and 2024 need an internet connection?
Both modern simulators offer limited offline flying once installed and configured, but their defining scenery and several major services require a reliable connection.
Installation, updates, streamed imagery, photogrammetry, live weather and online content services use the internet. Cached data can reduce repeated downloads, but it is not a complete local copy of every region. Without streaming, the simulators fall back to less detailed local world data, with MSFS 2024 particularly dependent on cloud-delivered content.
Blurry or delayed terrain does not always indicate a weak GPU. Disabled online data, bandwidth limits or cache trouble can produce the same symptom, so check the simulator's data, streaming and cache settings before reducing graphics quality.
FSX is safer for capped connections, travel computers and unreliable broadband because its core scenery is installed locally. Third-party weather, multiplayer and connected utilities may still require internet access, and installation or activation requirements depend on the FSX edition.
Can FSX and MSFS 2020 add-ons move to MSFS 2024?
FSX add-ons do not transfer directly to either modern simulator, while many MSFS 2020 products work in 2024 or receive compatible updates.
Do not copy old SimObjects, Gauges, Effects or Addon Scenery folders into an MSFS Community folder. FSX models, gauges, materials, flight dynamics, sounds, animations and compiled modules use another architecture; the files are normally ignored and may cause conflicts or excessive loading times.
Aircraft and scenery usually require redevelopment from suitable source assets. Utilities that depend on FSX modules, registry entries or file paths need modern versions, and owning an FSX product does not guarantee a free replacement. Only install Community packages built for the exact simulator; Marketplace content is managed separately.
Complex MSFS 2020 aircraft and external utilities need particular care in 2024. Confirm support before deleting a working installation; our compatibility guide for legacy FSX content and modern MSFS explains what can and cannot be converted.
Physical controls are different from software add-ons. Many USB yokes, throttles and pedals can be reused if suitable operating-system drivers exist, although assignments, dead zones and sensitivity curves must be configured again.
Which simulator costs less after add-ons?
FSX costs less only when you keep it basic or already own the aircraft and scenery you need.
A heavily upgraded FSX installation can accumulate replacement terrain, airports, weather tools, traffic and aircraft. Our FSX freeware library can reduce that expense, although compatibility varies and old installers may struggle on modern Windows systems.
MSFS 2020 and 2024 demand more capable hardware, storage and bandwidth, but their default worlds need fewer visual upgrades. Compare the price of any PC upgrade and rebuilding your add-on hangar rather than looking only at the simulator licence.
If you choose FSX, should you use Steam Edition?
FSX: Steam Edition is usually the more practical FSX installation on a modern Windows PC unless you already have a stable boxed setup that depends on its original paths and components.
Steam Edition is not a remaster. It remains a 32-bit simulator with the same generation of scenery and graphics technology; its main advantages are simpler installation and activation plus some platform-specific fixes.
Compatibility with ordinary FSX aircraft and scenery is broad but not universal. Old installers may expect boxed-edition folders or registry entries and can report success while writing files where the simulator never reads them. Install one package at a time, test it and back up any configuration file it changes. Moving to Steam Edition will not remove FSX's underlying memory and CPU limits.