MSFS 2020 vs X-Plane 12: which is better?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is better for spectacular global scenery, easy exploration and Xbox access; X-Plane 12 is better for desktop simmers who prioritise flight-model transparency, aircraft configuration, local scenery control and macOS or Linux support. Most casual pilots will prefer MSFS 2020, while focused procedural flyers often favour X-Plane 12.
How do MSFS 2020 and X-Plane 12 compare?
The biggest split is scenery and accessibility versus desktop flexibility and aerodynamic-development tools.
| Area | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | X-Plane 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | VFR exploration, sightseeing, integrated multiplayer and console flying | Procedural flying, aircraft development and configurable desktop setups |
| World scenery | Streamed satellite imagery, photogrammetry and detailed global coverage | Locally installed scenery with autogen, regional assets and extensive customisation |
| Flight modelling | Capable modern flight model, with results depending heavily on each aircraft | Geometry-driven blade-element approach with accessible development tools |
| Platforms | Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S | Windows, macOS and Linux desktops |
| Internet dependence | Best with reliable internet; streamed world detail is reduced offline | Core scenery is stored locally, although downloads and updates need internet access |
| Typical choice | Better visual experience out of the box | Better control over the underlying simulation environment |
Which simulator looks better out of the box?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has the stronger out-of-the-box scenery. Its streamed imagery can reproduce recognisable coastlines, roads, cities and landmarks across most of the planet without requiring the user to build a scenery installation manually.
That advantage has limits. Photogrammetry quality varies by location, bandwidth problems can produce blurred ground textures, and an airport is not guaranteed to be accurate merely because the surrounding city looks convincing. Offline flying also loses much of the streamed detail.
X-Plane 12 presents a more consistent but less geographically exact world. Its lighting, weather and seasonal rendering are effective, yet many towns depend on plausible autogen rather than a close visual copy of the real place. Custom mesh, orthophoto scenery and regional packages can narrow the gap, at the cost of storage space and setup time. Our focused comparison of flight-simulator scenery explains where each platform gains and loses detail.
Which has the more realistic flight dynamics?
X-Plane 12 provides the clearer aerodynamic-development model, but the aircraft package determines which simulator flies more realistically. X-Plane calculates forces over sections of the modelled aircraft and gives developers direct access to geometry, airfoils, engines and stability systems through its associated tools.
That does not make every X-Plane aircraft accurate. Incorrect dimensions, control deflections, engine data or artificial stability settings still produce unrealistic handling. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 also models forces across many aerodynamic surfaces, and aircraft configured to use its modern flight-model features can be highly convincing.
For airliners, avionics and system logic often matter more than small differences between the base aerodynamic engines. A sophisticated MSFS aircraft can provide better procedural realism than a basic X-Plane model, and the reverse is equally true. Before choosing around one aeroplane, compare the available MSFS aircraft and utility add-ons with the X-Plane aircraft, scenery and utility library.
A common comparison mistake is flying a default light aircraft in one simulator and a complex add-on airliner in the other. Use similar aircraft, weight, weather, control calibration and assistance settings. Duplicate pitch, roll, rudder or trim assignments can also make either simulator feel unstable; remove bindings left on unused gamepads and throttles before judging the flight model.
Which performs better and supports more platforms?
X-Plane 12 is the practical choice for macOS or Linux, while MSFS 2020 is the only one of the pair available on Xbox; neither has a universal performance advantage on PC. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, not 2020, is the Microsoft edition available on PS5.
Performance depends on the aircraft, airport, weather, traffic, resolution and graphics settings. MSFS 2020 can become limited by CPU-heavy world detail, traffic or a complex glass cockpit, while its streamed scenery can expose network or cache problems. X-Plane 12 can place substantial demands on the GPU and video memory through clouds, anti-aliasing, textures and detailed custom scenery.
Compare both under equivalent conditions rather than relying on an unrelated frame-rate result. The same resolution, weather, aircraft class and dense airport are essential. If one test uses a quiet rural strip and the other uses a detailed hub with live traffic, the numbers say little about the simulators themselves.
Which simulator should you choose?
Choose MSFS 2020 for scenery and accessibility; choose X-Plane 12 for platform flexibility and deeper control over the simulation environment.
- Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 if you mainly fly VFR, want recognisable places without installing scenery, use an Xbox, or value integrated online weather, traffic and multiplayer.
- Choose X-Plane 12 if you use macOS or Linux, prefer locally stored scenery, build or modify aircraft, or want detailed access to aerodynamic and simulation parameters.
- Choose by aircraft rather than platform if your priority is one specific airliner, helicopter or business jet. The quality and completeness of that model can outweigh the differences between the two base simulators.
- Keep both if you already own them and have enough storage. Many simmers use MSFS for visual touring and X-Plane for aircraft or procedures that are better represented there.
Our broader feature-by-feature comparison of X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator covers weather, systems, multiplayer and ecosystem differences in more depth. Check which Microsoft generation is being discussed, because settings, aircraft and features from MSFS 2024 do not automatically apply to MSFS 2020.
Checks to make before changing simulators
- Add-ons do not transfer. Aircraft, scenery, plug-ins and installers are platform-specific even when they depict the same product or location.
- Control profiles need rebuilding. Start with one assignment per axis, calibrate the hardware, then add sensitivities or response curves only when the aircraft requires them.
- Navigation data can differ. Mismatched data cycles may cause missing waypoints, airway errors or flight plans that the FMC refuses to load.
- MSFS 2020 is not Microsoft's newest simulator. If purchasing rather than choosing between installations you already own, verify that reviews, included aircraft and platform information refer specifically to the 2020 edition.