Native
Runs directly on Apple Silicon — no extra software.
Difficulty: EasyCost: $59.99Excellent
Native
How to play X-Plane 12 on Mac
Simulation · 2022
Runs natively on Apple Silicon, no extra software needed.
Overall rating: Not enough votes yet
Your setup
Detect your Mac to see whether X-Plane 12 will run.
Runs natively on Apple Silicon, no extra software needed.
How to run X-Plane 12 on your Mac in 2026
Best path: Native Mac build
X-Plane 12 has a native Apple Silicon build, so you get full Metal acceleration, the best battery life and zero faff.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NativePick | Excellent | Easy | Game price only | |
| Parallels | Estimate | Medium | $99/yr | Get it ↗ |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 /mo | Get it ↗ |
X-Plane 12
Ultra-Realistic Flight Simulation
X-Plane 12 is a premier native Mac title, built specifically to utilize Apple's Metal API and Silicon architecture for high-performance flight simulation.
What the world thinks
Performance
How X-Plane 12 runs on your Mac, from our performance model and player reports.
See exactly how X-Plane 12 will run on your Mac
Pick your chip and RAM for a personalised estimate.
Best way to play it on Mac
X-Plane 12 is a premier native Mac title, built specifically to utilize Apple's Metal API and Silicon architecture for high-performance flight simulation.
See if this is the right method for your setup
Ways to play X-Plane 12 on Mac
Here are all the options available, ranked by what we recommend first.
Parallels
Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
Difficulty: MediumCost: $99/year + Windows licenceEstimate
Boosteroid
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: $9.95 / monthEstimate
Compare methods at a glance
Lower = betterHow each supported method stacks up on setup effort, time and runtime overhead.
Method
Setup Difficulty
Time Investment
Performance Overhead
- NativeNativeTop pickSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
- BoosteroidCloudSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
- ParallelsVMSetupModerateTime30 minOverheadHigh
Where to buy X-Plane 12
Live prices compared across trusted PC key sellers — updates every few hours.
Platform-by-platform reliability
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Step-by-step setup guides
Idiot-proof walkthroughs for every method.
How to run X-Plane 12 on Mac with Native
Excellent· NativeX-Plane 12 has a native Apple Silicon build, which is the gold standard for playing on a Mac. You get full Metal acceleration, best battery life, and no compatibility weirdness. Just buy it from the Mac App Store or Steam for Mac and play.
Step-by-step
- Use the verified store link on this page, or open the store where you already own X-Plane 12.
- Confirm the product page lists macOS / Apple Silicon support.
- Install and launch — no extra tools needed.
Video proof
How to run X-Plane 12 on Mac with Parallels
Estimate· CompatibilityUsing Parallels to play X-Plane 12 means running a full copy of Windows 11 ARM inside macOS. This is the most "it just works" approach for games that don't behave under CrossOver, and DirectX 11 is hardware-accelerated. You'll need a Windows license and roughly 80 GB of disk space.
Step-by-step
- Buy / start a trial of Parallels Desktop.
- Install Windows 11 ARM via the one-click wizard.
- Inside Windows, install Steam / Xbox app and X-Plane 12.
- Enable DirectX 11 in Parallels settings for best 3D performance.
Video proof
Try Parallels Desktop free ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
How to run X-Plane 12 on Mac with Boosteroid
Estimate· StreamingStreaming X-Plane 12 through Boosteroid is the fastest way to start playing on a Mac — there's nothing to install, no Windows VM, no compatibility layer. The game runs on a remote GPU and your Mac just receives the video, which means even a base M1 MacBook Air can play the most demanding AAA titles at high settings. The tradeoff is that you need a stable internet connection (ideally wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi with 25+ Mbps down) and a subscription.
Step-by-step
- Create a Boosteroid account and pick a plan.
- Use the web client or download the macOS app.
- Add X-Plane 12 from their library (you'll need to own it on Steam/Epic).
Video proof
Get Boosteroid ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
Our recommendation
X-Plane 12 has a native Apple Silicon build, so installing it natively is the best way to play it on your Mac. Runs directly on Apple Silicon — no extra software.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NativePick | Excellent | Easy | Game price only |
| Parallels | Estimate | Medium | $99/year + Windows licence |
| Boosteroid | Estimate | Easy | $9.95 / month |
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