Which Flight Simulator Should I Choose? - Flight Simulation Showcase

If you’re getting into flight simulation — or thinking about switching platforms — one of the first questions you’ll face is:

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Should I choose Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, or something else?

The honest answer?

It depends on what kind of pilot you want to be.

Let’s break it down into simple terms.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS 2024)

Best for: Visual realism, accessibility, and a broad add-on ecosystem

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is currently the most visually impressive simulator available. With satellite scenery, photogrammetry cities, and detailed weather systems, it offers an unmatched sense of immersion. If you want to optimise the experience on your system, see my MSFS 2024 Graphics & Performance Guide.

If you decide to start with Microsoft Flight Simulator, you may want to read my MSFS 2024 Beginner Guide.

It’s also beginner-friendly and has a huge community, which means:

Plenty of tutorials
Massive add-on support
Active developer updates
Strong third-party ecosystem

If you want stunning global scenery and wide support from developers, MSFS is hard to beat.

Ideal for:

Beginners
Casual simmers
Real-world pilots wanting visual realism
Add-on enthusiasts

If you decide to start with Microsoft Flight Simulator, you may want to read my Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Beginner Guide, which walks through everything you need to get started.

X-Plane 12

Best for: Flight physics and procedural depth

X-Plane has long been respected for its aerodynamic modeling. Many users praise its flight physics and systems modeling.

It may not match MSFS visually out of the box, but it appeals strongly to simmers who prioritize aircraft behavior and procedural flying.

Ideal for:

System-focused simmers
Users who enjoy tweaking and realism
Pilots who care deeply about flight modeling

Prepar3D (P3D)

Best for: Legacy users and specific training environments

Prepar3D evolved from Microsoft Flight Simulator X and is now developed by Lockheed Martin.

While it still has a loyal user base, development momentum has slowed compared to MSFS and X-Plane.

It’s typically used by:

Long-time sim enthusiasts
Some training environments
Users with legacy add-ons

For most new users today, it’s not the first recommendation.

Other Options

Aerofly FS

Smooth performance and good VR support, but a smaller ecosystem.

FlightGear

Open-source and free, but less polished and with a smaller user base.

So… Which Should You Choose?

Here’s a simple decision guide:

Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator if:

You want the most immersive scenery
You want broad community support
You’re new to flight simulation
You want the largest add-on ecosystem

Choose X-Plane if:

You prioritize flight physics above visuals
You enjoy deeper system modeling
You prefer a slightly more technical platform

Choose Prepar3D if:

You already own legacy add-ons
You’re invested in that ecosystem
You have specific training requirements

My Perspective

For most people starting today, Microsoft Flight Simulator offers the best balance of realism, visuals, accessibility and community support.

However, there is no “wrong” simulator — only different priorities.

The best simulator is the one that keeps you flying.

If you’re exploring flight simulation for the first time, you may also find my Recommended Resources for Flight Simulation useful. It lists trusted websites, tools and communities used by flight sim enthusiasts.