Looking to install Microsoft’s Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system on a computer and want a real, genuine, authentic license key? Trying to upgrade to Windows 10 because your computer is still on Windows 7 and they officially ended security upgrades and support? We’ve found the cheapest stores that sell real Windows OS license keys.
Should you buy Windows 10 or Windows 11?
It doesn’t actually matter! All Windows 10 licenses will get to upgrade to Windows 11 for free; as long as your computer hardware meets Windows 11 specs.
Windows 11 hardware requirement specifications can be found here.
Our recommendation is to stick with Windows 10 for now. Microsoft has spent years getting the bugs out of Windows 10 already. So we don’t suggest signing up to deal with all the headaches early Windows 11 bugs are sure to bring.
Microsoft has stated they will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025. We wouldn’t hang our hat on that date, if a lot of people haven’t upgraded by then, Microsoft wont want to face the public backlash of abandoning millions of users. They also do not have a strong track record of keeping their promises, let’s not forget that in 2015 Microsoft stated Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows and they would just keep doing updates. Yet, here we are with Windows 11 rolling out.
There are super cheap Windows licenses for sale on places like Ebay and Amazon for as little as $10, these are NOT REAL, do not risk it. These are pirated or fake Windows installs and are going to be a hassle and likely a security concern.
You can get a genuine copy of Windows 10 in the USA and Canada from a few different sources. Below are our picks for the best options in America. For the Canadian options click here to jump down the page.
Where to buy genuine Windows 10 or 11 in America
Directly from Microsoft, just download and install. It’s not the cheapest but it is the most straight forward. The prices are as of time of writing, check the link for current prices.
- Windows 10 Home. About $140 USD
- Windows 10 Pro. About $200 USD
The cheapest way to get a real copy of Windows 10 in the USA is through one of the following computer stores, either online or in store. These offer a legitimate license, they buy them in bulk and pass on savings to you.
The prices fluctuate at each store and occasionally there are sales of around $10 off if you’re lucky. In general, you can find:
- Windows 10 Home for around $110 to $140 USD plus tax.
- Windows 10 Pro will run you about $145 to $190 USD plus tax.
Great savings over the Microsoft website option. These come as physical packages with a license key and a DVD but you can just download the software from Microsoft for free directly, and install it using the license key you bought. No need for a DVD reader on your computer.
Stores that sell real Windows 10 operating system licenses in America:
B&H
Adorama
Microcenter
Where to buy genuine Windows 10 or 11 in Canada
Directly from Microsoft, just download and install. It’s not the cheapest but it is the most straight forward. As of writing, the cost from Microsoft for:
The cheapest way to get a real copy of Windows 10 in Canada is through one of the following computer stores, either online or in store. These ones offer a legitimate license, they buy them in bulk and pass on savings to you.
The prices fluctuate at each store and occasionally there are sales of around $10 off if you’re lucky. In general, you can find:
- Windows 10 Home for around $135 to $150 Canadian plus tax.
- Windows 10 Pro will run you about $180 to $190 Canadian plus tax.
Great savings over the Microsoft website option. These come as physical packages with a license key and a DVD but you can just download the software from Microsoft for free directly, and install it using the license key you bought. No need for a DVD reader on your computer.
Stores that sell real Windows 10 operating system licences in Canada:
Memory Express
Canada Computers
Mikes Computer Shop
Vuugo
ShopRBC
NewEgg has them as well, but it also has a lot of 3rd party sellers in its marketplace. These are non-genuine versions so we’re not recommending NewEgg due to the confusing options.
BestBuy has legitimate licenses, but they are the same price as getting it directly from Microsoft so there’s no advantage. They also have a confusing marketplace on the BestBuy website that makes it seem like there are cheaper options, but those are actually all non-genuine 3rd party sellers.
Amazon and Ebay have a lot of options for Windows 10, but they are all (or almost all) non-genuine 3rd party sellers and we don’t recommend taking that risk.
Happy installing!