How much is Windows 10?
Do not buy Windows 10 directly from Microsoft. You pay the most!
Where to buy Windows 10: the best offers online
If you are interested in Windows 10 Pro, here are the best offers we could find for you: NOTE: If you make purchases using the links we shared, we get a small commission to fund the work we do on Digital Citizen. We appreciate your support!
What’s the difference between a Download, a USB Flash Drive, or an OEM license for Windows 10?
Here’s how the three different Windows 10 licenses work:
When you buy the download version, you get a product key for Windows 10. Then, you have to download an ISO image yourself and use the key you purchased to install Windows 10 Home or Pro. The product key gets linked to your Microsoft account and can be migrated from one computer to another. However, only one PC can use that product key at one time. This is one of the reasons why you should use a Microsoft account instead of a local account. The USB Flash Drive version comes on a USB memory stick with the Windows 10 setup program and the activation key. This activation key also gets linked to your Microsoft account and can be migrated from one PC to the next. You get a product key and the installation disc for OEM systems when you buy the OEM version. OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer, and it refers to companies that produce computers. An OEM license is intended to be used only on the PC where Windows 10 is first installed. Therefore, it is not transferable to another computer. The other license keys are transferable to another computer, as long as the old computer is no longer used after the license transfer. If you purchase the OEM version, here is a guide on installing Windows 10 on your PC: How to install Windows 10 from DVD, ISO, or USB.
Which version of Windows 10 should you buy: 64 bit or 32 bit? Windows 10 Home or Pro?
First of all, we recommend that you go for the 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and not for the 32-bit versions. This is because you get improved security and the ability to work with more RAM. Couple this with the fact that apps and games work better when using 64-bit, and the choice is clear.
The retailed packaging for Windows 10 Pro What about Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro? Windows 10 Home should be good enough for your needs if you are a home user. However, you may sometimes find Windows 10 Pro at a similar price due to special offers. If that is the case, do not hesitate to buy Windows 10 Pro. The extras included are the following: BitLocker encryption, Hyper-V for using virtual machines, Windows Sandbox, Remote Desktop, the ability to join Active Directories, and more. For a more detailed comparison of the features included in Windows 10 Home vs. Windows 10 Pro, read this chart from Wikipedia. Windows 10 Pro is an excellent choice when you are a technical person who uses many of the additional features.
Beware of offers that are too good to be true
We found offers that were too good to be true when doing this research. For example, we found a Windows 10 Pro license sold for Windows 10 Home prices. When you see such offers, resist the temptation to buy and do some research. If you look through the comments left by other people, you see that those offers are bogus, and you get pirated product keys for your money, which cannot be activated. Other licenses cost just a couple of dollars. If you do not read the fine print, you might learn that you just bought a recovery disc for Windows 10 Home, not a disc with the Windows 10 Home installation and the activation key. You can create a recovery disc yourself, for free, if you follow this tutorial: What is a system repair disc and how to create one in Windows.
What did you buy? Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home? How much did you pay?
As you can see, you have many options for buying Windows 10. The prices vary depending on the active offers at the time you’re reading this article. Do not hesitate to start your search for the best offer using the links we provided. Also, after you’ve made your purchase, don’t hesitate to comment below and share which version you bought and at what price.