Compare MSFS 2020 vs 2024 for features, performance, internet use and add-ons, then pick the right simulator for your PC, Xbox or PS5.
For most new buyers, choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: it adds Career Mode, better low-level scenery and ground detail, broader aviation activities, and continued development. Choose MSFS 2020 instead if your PC is marginal, your internet is limited, or essential add-ons have not been confirmed compatible with 2024.
Quick decision table
The release date alone should not decide this comparison; your hardware, connection, add-ons and preferred type of flying matter more.
| Decision factor | Choose MSFS 2020 when | Choose MSFS 2024 when |
|---|---|---|
| Starting from scratch | You have a specific hardware, internet or compatibility constraint | You want the best long-term starting point |
| Activities | You mainly want free flight, landing challenges and an established sandbox | You want Career Mode, missions and a wider range of aviation work |
| Scenery | You mostly fly airliners or at higher altitudes | You value improved vegetation, terrain and low-level VFR detail |
| PC and internet | Your existing system runs 2020 well or your connection is capped or unreliable | Your PC meets the newer requirements and you have dependable broadband |
| Add-ons | Your established aircraft and scenery library is essential | Your key products are confirmed compatible or you are building a new library |
| Platform | You use PC or Xbox Series X|S | You use PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 or PS5 Pro |
If one feature will decide the purchase, our side-by-side breakdown of Career Mode, physics, scenery and streaming explains the main differences in more depth.
Which version is better for a new buyer?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the better default for a new buyer. Its Career Mode gives flights a sense of progression, while the improved ground detail matters to helicopter, bush, glider and low-level VFR pilots. Someone flying an airliner at cruise altitude will notice fewer visual gains, but still benefits from the newer platform.
MSFS 2024 has also moved beyond its troubled launch build. Sim Update 5 arrived in April 2026, so launch-day reports no longer describe the complete experience, although service outages, add-ons and local configurations can still cause faults.
On PlayStation there is no version choice: MSFS 2024 runs on PS5 and PS5 Pro, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation.
Should existing MSFS 2020 owners move to 2024?
Existing MSFS 2020 owners should upgrade only when 2024 offers something they will actually use; 2020 remains a capable simulator with a mature add-on ecosystem.
- Stay with 2020 if it runs reliably, you mainly fly established complex aircraft, or replacing and retesting your add-on setup would disrupt your flying.
- Move to 2024 for Career Mode, improved low-level scenery, expanded aviation activities and the platform receiving the newest feature development.
- Keep both if storage permits and you want to preserve a dependable 2020 installation while testing 2024 compatibility.
MSFS 2024 is a separate product rather than a free patch, and installing it does not overwrite MSFS 2020. Our explanation of licensing, coexistence and add-on transfer between the two simulators covers the practical upgrade details.
Will MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024?
Many MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024, but compatibility is not universal and should never be assumed for a complex aircraft, utility or heavily scripted scenery package.
A common mistake is copying an entire 2020 Community folder into 2024. An older add-on may load yet still produce broken cockpit displays, incorrect flight behaviour, long loading times or crashes. A product appearing in an in-simulator library also does not guarantee that every function has been updated for 2024.
Safe add-on migration
- Establish a clean baseline. Run MSFS 2024 without third-party content and confirm that a normal flight loads and operates correctly.
- Use the 2024-specific package. If an updated installer or native version exists, use it instead of copying the old files.
- Add one product at a time. Start with the aircraft or scenery you consider essential, then test it before installing another.
- Remove suspect content first. If a fault appears after adding a package, retest without that package before resetting or reinstalling the simulator.
Console users cannot migrate a PC Community folder; their usable content is limited to compatible products made available through the simulator’s managed content system.
Which simulator performs better on PC?
MSFS 2020 is usually the safer choice for a PC that only just handles the older simulator, although MSFS 2024 is not guaranteed to perform worse on every configuration.
MSFS 2024 has a smaller core installation because more content is streamed, but a smaller download does not mean a lighter simulator. CPU, GPU, memory and network demands still matter, so compare your system against the hardware and connection requirements for both versions rather than judging by storage alone.
Both simulators use online world data for their best scenery, but 2024 depends more heavily on streaming. A slow, capped or unstable connection can cause delayed ground textures, inconsistent world detail and excessive bandwidth use. In that situation, a proven MSFS 2020 installation may be the more practical choice.
Our recommendation: new simmers with suitable hardware and broadband should buy MSFS 2024. Keep or choose MSFS 2020 when reliability on an existing PC, lower streaming dependence or guaranteed access to a carefully built add-on collection matters more than Career Mode and newer world detail.