GSX Pro is not free for MSFS. Learn what requires a paid licence, what free profiles contain and which no-cost ground-service options exist.
No. GSX Pro is a paid, separately licensed ground-services add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC. The installer, updates and community-made airport profiles may be free to download, but they do not unlock GSX Pro itself. You must buy and activate a valid licence before its full services will work.
What is free and what requires payment?
The downloadable installer is not a free copy of GSX Pro. It installs and updates the software, but the complete product remains locked until its licence is activated.
| Item | Cost status | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| GSX Pro licence | Paid | The working ground-services add-on and its supported features |
| Installer and updater | Free to download | Installation files only; no product entitlement |
| Airport profiles | Often free | Configuration for parking stands, stop positions, vehicles and passenger routes |
| Built-in MSFS ground services | Included with MSFS | Basic pushback, baggage, catering and fuel services |
A common mistake we see is downloading a free GSX profile and expecting it to add GSX. A profile contains airport-specific instructions; it does not include the service engine, vehicles or animations. Once licensed, follow our GSX Pro installation and activation guidance to get the add-on running correctly.
Is GSX Pro included with any MSFS edition?
GSX Pro is not included with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, regardless of the simulator edition or subscription used to access it. MSFS has its own basic ground handling, but that is a separate system and does not grant a GSX licence.
Can you use GSX Pro free on Xbox or PlayStation?
No. GSX Pro is a PC add-on and is unavailable on the Xbox and PlayStation versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. It depends on external software and activation facilities that console editions do not support, so buying it for a console installation would not make it usable.
Are there free alternatives to GSX Pro?
Yes, although free options usually cover fewer parts of the turnaround. MSFS includes basic ground services, while dedicated freeware tools may provide better pushback planning without adding passengers, marshallers, loaders and a complete boarding sequence. Our comparison of free and paid MSFS ground-service options explains the practical differences.
Choose a free pushback utility if controlling the tug is your main requirement. GSX Pro makes more sense when you want coordinated boarding, baggage handling, catering, refuelling, marshalling and airport-specific stand configuration. Before paying, our assessment of whether GSX Pro is worth buying covers who benefits from those extra features.