MSFS 2020 vs 2024: what’s different?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the better choice for most new buyers in 2026: it adds Career Mode, aviation jobs, walkarounds, stronger low-level scenery and revised physics. MSFS 2020 remains preferable for mature add-on collections, finely tuned installations and unreliable connections. They are separate products, and 2024 relies more heavily on cloud-streamed content.

This comparison reflects MSFS 2024 Sim Update 5, released in April 2026. Launch-day footage and performance reports are a poor basis for judging the maintained simulator.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 vs 2024 differences

MSFS 2024 retains the worldwide Free Flight foundation of 2020 but adds structured progression, more ground-level detail and a more streaming-led content system.

Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 just an update to 2020?

No. MSFS 2024 has its own licence, installation, editions and content packages; owning MSFS 2020 does not grant a free copy.

The two simulators can coexist without one replacing the other. Similarly named editions do not necessarily contain the same aircraft or airports, so compare the included content rather than assuming a 2024 edition reproduces its 2020 equivalent. Our guide to buying MSFS 2024 and carrying content over from 2020 explains the licence and installation distinction.

Add-on ownership is separate. Some Marketplace purchases can become available in 2024, but only where licensing, platform availability and a compatible package permit it. Owning an add-on does not prove that its 2024 version is ready or that its licence transfers between different platforms.

What is the biggest difference between MSFS 2020 and 2024?

Career Mode is the biggest practical difference because it gives MSFS 2024 persistent objectives, qualifications and an aviation business rather than expecting us to create every flight ourselves.

MSFS 2020 is primarily a sandbox. It includes flight training, landing challenges, bush trips and other activities, but no comparable continuing career system. Our explanation of the missions and structured activities available in MSFS 2020 clarifies what it offers instead.

MSFS 2024 adds licences, specialisations, paid jobs, reputation, aircraft ownership and company management. Work includes cargo, passenger transport, emergency response, agricultural operations and other specialist flying, with access determined by progression and available aircraft.

Career Mode is optional. Free Flight remains available without completing career qualifications, so 2024 still works as an open-ended simulator.

There is also more to do around supported aircraft. Walkarounds, inspections and ground interactions bring pre-flight activity outside the cockpit, although the number and depth of interactive items vary between models.

Does MSFS 2024 have better graphics and physics?

MSFS 2024 usually looks better close to the ground and changes surface handling, but the improvement is not equally visible at every location or in every aircraft.

The newer simulator increases terrain detail, vegetation density, surface variety and seasonal presentation. These differences are clearest in helicopters, light aircraft and utility operations near small airfields. From an airliner at cruise altitude, the change can be much less obvious.

Both simulators still depend on aerial imagery, terrain data, photogrammetry coverage, handcrafted scenery and successful data delivery. A polished add-on airport in MSFS 2020 can look better than a default airport in 2024, while an interrupted stream can leave 2024 with blurry terrain, delayed objects or incomplete assets.

MSFS 2024 also revises aerodynamic calculations, aircraft-ground contact and off-pavement surface behaviour. Taxiing, braking and rough-field operations can therefore feel different. This platform improvement does not guarantee that every aircraft is more realistic: a carefully developed 2020 add-on may still model its systems and handling better than a basic 2024 aircraft.

Control configuration can produce a misleading comparison. Duplicate rudder, brake or throttle assignments, aggressive assists and unsuitable sensitivity curves can make either simulator appear to have unstable physics or poor ground handling.

Does MSFS 2024 run better than MSFS 2020?

Neither simulator is universally faster because performance depends on the aircraft, airport, traffic, graphics settings, processor load, memory and incoming data.

• CPU-limited systems: MSFS 2024 can distribute some work more effectively, but busy airports, traffic and complex avionics can still expose a main-thread limit.
• GPU-limited systems: increased terrain and object detail may consume any efficiency gained elsewhere.
• Slow connections: blurred terrain, delayed objects and pauses may indicate a data-delivery problem rather than weak graphics hardware.
• Tuned installations: a stable MSFS 2020 setup can outperform a new 2024 installation carrying incompatible add-ons or copied settings.

A smaller starting installation does not mean a lower hardware workload. Before buying for PC, compare the PC requirements and practical hardware demands of both simulators, including memory and internet needs rather than checking the graphics card alone.

Which version is better for VR and consoles?

On PC, both simulators support VR through OpenXR; the better result depends heavily on headset resolution, CPU headroom, aircraft complexity and graphics settings. MSFS 2020 benefits from mature tuning knowledge, while 2024 is the newer platform and includes features unavailable in 2020.

Both versions run on PC and Xbox Series X|S. MSFS 2024 also launched on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro on 8 December 2025, becoming the first Flight Simulator released for a PlayStation console. PSVR2 support arrives through a free update in 2026. MSFS 2020 has no PlayStation version.

Why does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 stream more content?

MSFS 2024 keeps its initial installation smaller by delivering more scenery and aircraft assets on demand, making connection quality more significant.

MSFS 2020 also streams terrain, aerial imagery, weather and online services, so its complete world experience is not fully local. The difference is that 2020 installs more packages in advance, while 2024 relies more heavily on streamed assets and a local cache.

This reduces the initial footprint but does not guarantee low data use or permanently low storage consumption. The cache can grow, optional packages consume space and uncached content may need to be downloaded again. Slow or inconsistent delivery can cause blurry terrain, low-detail objects, delayed loading or apparently missing aircraft assets even when the PC or console is powerful enough.

Some content can be managed locally, but the simulator remains designed around online delivery. Our guide to downloading MSFS 2024 content and managing its streaming behaviour covers the available options and their limits.

How do you make a fair MSFS 2020 vs 2024 comparison?

A useful comparison requires the same scenario and a clean configuration in both simulators.

1. Confirm online data is working. Check that online functionality is enabled, no unintended data limit is active and background downloads are not consuming the connection.
2. Match the conditions. Use the same airport, aircraft type, weather, time, traffic level, display resolution and render scaling. Presets with similar names do not necessarily produce equal workloads.
3. Remove third-party variables. Temporarily empty the relevant Community folder. Old scenery, avionics modifications, traffic tools and utilities can affect loading, frame rate and stability.
4. Inspect control assignments. Remove duplicate axes and temporarily disable assists when investigating throttle jumps, twitchy rudder, unexpected braking or unusual handling.
5. Retest after assets load. Revisit the location once its scenery has been cached. Clear the cache only when there are signs of corruption; routinely deleting it forces more downloads.

Do MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024?

Many MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024, but backward compatibility does not guarantee complete operation.

Simple liveries and conventional scenery are generally easier to carry across. Complex aircraft, avionics, traffic programs, external utilities, custom installers and packages using simulator-specific code are more likely to require dedicated updates. Loading without an error message does not prove that every instrument, animation, flight-model feature or scenery exclusion works correctly.

A mistake we see repeatedly is copying an entire established Community folder into 2024 and then trying to diagnose missing textures, broken cockpit systems, long loading times or crashes. A safer migration is:

1. Keep MSFS 2020 installed until every aircraft, airport and utility essential to you has confirmed 2024 support.
2. Start MSFS 2024 clean and verify that its default aircraft and scenery work correctly.
3. Install the intended 2024 versions individually or in small groups rather than copying the whole collection.
4. Test after each addition, paying particular attention to aircraft, avionics, traffic software and external utilities.

Keep the simulators’ package directories, caches and Community folders separate rather than pointing both installations at one shared collection. Installers may also target MSFS 2020 automatically when both versions are present, so check the destination before proceeding. If a developer does not identify a package as compatible with 2024, treat it as untested.

Is MSFS 2024 better than 2020 in 2026?

MSFS 2024 is better overall for most newcomers in 2026, while MSFS 2020 remains the sounder choice for some established installations and restricted connections.

• Choose MSFS 2024 when: you want Career Mode, aviation jobs, walkarounds, improved low-level scenery, revised ground interaction or the newer base platform. It is generally the stronger starting point when the hardware and connection are suitable.
• Choose or retain MSFS 2020 when: essential aircraft and utilities only support 2020, you already have a dependable installation, you mainly fly self-planned routes or you want more packages stored locally. Its full online world still uses streaming, but it depends less on cloud-delivered aircraft content.
• Choose MSFS 2024 on PlayStation: it is the only version available for PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro.

Do not decide solely by counting included aircraft. Edition totals say little about the systems depth of individual models, and a larger list has limited value if the aircraft or utilities central to your flying remain available only in 2020.

Should you keep MSFS 2020 and 2024 installed together?

Keeping both installed is sensible when storage permits because each simulator can serve a different purpose.

MSFS 2020 can remain the dependable home for established aircraft, scenery and utilities while 2024 is used for Career Mode, low-level work and compatible newer content. Separate drives are optional, but their package folders and caches should remain independent.

If storage is limited, keep 2020 until every aircraft and utility you consider essential has a stable 2024 version. Uninstalling it first does not improve 2024 compatibility and removes the easiest fallback when an older add-on fails.