Does MSFS 2020/2024 include any default helicopters, or are third-party add-ons required?

Helicopters in MSFS 2020 vs “MSFS 2024”

MSFS 2020 does include helicopters now — you don’t strictly need third‑party add-ons just to fly helos.

MSFS 2020

1. Helicopters were added as part of the sim’s official helicopter support (so you can fly rotorcraft without installing a mod).
2. Whether you actually see default helicopters in your hangar depends on what edition you own and what you’ve installed/enabled in the Content Manager.

What I’d do to verify on your install (quick checklist)

1. From the main menu, go into Profile → Content Manager.
2. Use the search box and type helicopter (or just look for rotorcraft entries).
3. Make sure any helicopter packages that belong to your edition show as Installed (and not “Not Installed” / queued / stuck).
4. Then check your aircraft list in Free Flight and confirm you’re not filtering the aircraft list in a way that hides them.

MSFS 2024
I don’t want to steer you wrong on “2024” specifics without knowing exactly what build/edition you’re referring to (and there’s also a lot of confusion online between marketing info vs what’s actually in a given user’s library). But the key point for your question is: you can absolutely fly helicopters in the MSFS ecosystem without relying on freeware mods anymore.

A couple quick questions so I can answer precisely for your setup:

1. Which sim are you on right now: MSFS 2020, or MSFS 2024?
2. Which edition do you own (Standard / Deluxe / Premium Deluxe / Game Pass)?
3. Are you on PC (Steam / MS Store) or Xbox?
4. When you search Content Manager for “helicopter,” what shows up (if anything)?