Is X-Plane 12 better than Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

X-Plane 12 is usually the stronger choice for flight-model tuning, systems experimentation, hardware cockpits and offline use; Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is stronger for out-of-the-box world scenery, visual sightseeing and console access. Neither is universally more realistic: aircraft quality, add-ons, settings and the type of flying matter more than the platform.

X-Plane 12 vs MSFS 2020 at a glance

The practical difference is that X-Plane 12 prioritises an open desktop simulation platform, while MSFS 2020 delivers a more visually convincing representation of the world without requiring scenery add-ons.

Our fuller category-by-category comparison of X-Plane 12 and Microsoft Flight Simulator examines the wider differences in aircraft, weather, pricing and add-on use.

Which simulator has more realistic flight physics?

X-Plane 12 has an edge for aerodynamic experimentation, but the simulator name alone does not determine how realistically an aircraft flies.

X-Plane derives forces across sections of the aircraft's aerodynamic surfaces, commonly described as its blade-element approach. This makes it particularly useful for unusual designs, helicopters, changing airframes and developers who want to test how geometry affects behaviour.

MSFS 2020 also uses a modern surface-based flight model, so the old claim that it relies only on simple lookup tables is misleading. A well-authored MSFS aircraft can be more convincing than a poorly tuned X-Plane model. Control geometry, engine data, stability augmentation, mass distribution and developer testing all affect the result.

The same caveat applies to airliner systems. Neither core simulator automatically makes an aircraft “study level”; accurate FMS logic, electrical buses, hydraulic failures and autopilot modes must be implemented by the aircraft developer.

Which has better graphics, scenery and weather?

MSFS 2020 has the clear advantage in stock world scenery, especially for low-level VFR flying and recognising real places from the air.

It streams aerial imagery and photogrammetry where coverage is available. The result can be striking, although quality varies by region and depends on bandwidth, server access and the underlying imagery. Its offline scenery is much less representative of the feature-rich online world. Our detailed appraisal of MSFS 2020's scenery and simulation explains those strengths and compromises in more depth.

X-Plane 12 installs its global scenery locally and builds the world from terrain, roads, land use and placed objects. It is generally more consistent offline but less photographic out of the box. You can close that gap using the available satellite and photoreal scenery options for X-Plane 12, at the cost of substantial storage and setup work.

Orthophotos also introduce failure points that MSFS users may not expect. Incorrect ordering in Custom Scenery/scenery_packs.ini can hide overlays or conflict with airport scenery, while mismatched mesh can produce terrain problems around runways.

Both simulators provide live weather, volumetric clouds and changing surface conditions. MSFS 2020 generally presents the broader world more dramatically; X-Plane 12 integrates weather closely with its aerodynamic and runway-surface simulation. Neither reproduces every reported cloud layer, wind or local transition perfectly.

Which simulator performs better and works offline?

Neither simulator is consistently faster on every computer, because the limiting component changes with the aircraft, location, weather, traffic and graphics settings.

X-Plane 12 can become CPU-limited around complex airports and GPU-limited by clouds, shadows, anti-aliasing or high resolution. MSFS 2020 can also encounter main-thread limits in dense areas, while resolution, glass cockpits, traffic and terrain detail place different loads on the system.

For a meaningful comparison, use the same output resolution, a comparable aircraft, identical weather and a similarly busy airport. Comparing a default light aircraft over open countryside with a complex airliner at a major hub says little about the underlying simulators.

X-Plane is the safer choice where internet service is slow, capped or unreliable. Its installed scenery remains available without streaming, although activation, downloads, live weather and online flying still require connectivity. MSFS 2020 can use installed offline data, but streamed imagery and online world services are central to its visual advantage.

Can X-Plane and MSFS use the same add-ons?

X-Plane and MSFS add-ons are not interchangeable, even when they depict the same aircraft or airport.

X-Plane exposes folders, datarefs, plugins and Plane Maker resources directly, which suits users who modify files or build specialised cockpit installations. The distinction between X-Plane 11 and 12 also matters: older aircraft, plugins and scenery may load, but compatibility is not guaranteed because the flight model, weather, lighting and rendering systems changed.

MSFS 2020 PC add-ons commonly use its Community package system or built-in Marketplace. Xbox users cannot install ordinary PC Community-folder packages and are limited to content distributed through the console-compatible Marketplace. Before choosing either platform for one particular aircraft, check that its exact simulator version and required features are supported.

There is plenty of no-cost expansion for X-Plane; these examples from the X-Plane freeware ecosystem show the range of aircraft, scenery and utilities available.

What makes simulator comparisons misleading?

Most misleading comparisons fail to control for aircraft quality, add-ons, connectivity and graphics settings.

• Equating graphics with realism: realistic terrain does not prove that stalls, propeller effects or autopilot logic are accurate.
• Comparing unlike aircraft: a sophisticated paid airliner should not be judged against a simplified default model.
• Ignoring scenery modifications: an orthophoto-enhanced X-Plane installation is not the same product as stock X-Plane 12.
• Using one frame-rate result: performance can reverse when the aircraft, airport, weather or resolution changes.
• Assuming every peripheral behaves identically: axis assignment, force feedback, multiple monitors and cockpit interfaces may require different tools or configuration.

Which one should you choose?

Choose according to the flying you actually intend to do rather than treating either simulator as the universal winner.

• Choose X-Plane 12 for macOS or Linux support, predictable offline use, aircraft design, aerodynamic experimentation, extensive control assignments, multi-display cockpits or direct file-level customisation.
• Choose MSFS 2020 for satellite-derived world scenery, sightseeing, low-level VFR, accessible built-in multiplayer or flying on an Xbox.
• Choose by aircraft rather than platform when accurate airliner operations are the priority. The quality and feature set of the specific aircraft will matter more than the core simulator.
• Check your connection and storage before deciding. MSFS favours broadband streaming; an orthophoto-heavy X-Plane installation can consume very large amounts of local disk space.

For pure out-of-the-box visual flying, MSFS 2020 is the better fit. For an open desktop simulator centred on flight modelling, modification and offline control, X-Plane 12 is usually the better foundation.