Windows 10 is by far the most popular desktop operating system in the world. In February of 2020, Windows 10 managed to cross over a billion users. However, we also know that Windows is the most pirated OS in the world. The reason behind its piracy is that users think that owning Windows OS is expensive. So to clear up the misconception, we have come up with this article where we share some easy ways to use Windows 10 without pirating it. In fact, you can use Windows 10 for free without buying a Windows 10 key. There are also many other ways to get a Windows 10 key at a much cheaper price. So, abstain from piracy as we show you how to get Windows 10 Key for free or cheap in 2022.
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Get Windows 10 Key for Free or Cheap in 2022
There are many ways to legally obtain a Windows 10 key and we will discuss all of the methods in this section. You can jump to any section you find desirable. So without taking much time, let’s begin with the recommended method.
1. Get Free Windows 10 from Microsoft
Two years back, Microsoft quietly made Windows 10 free to download, install, and use. However, the sad part is that users are still unaware of it. If you are looking for a Windows 10 key, the better alternative will be to use the free version of Windows 10 instead of buying a new license key. It comes with all Windows functionalities and you will get feature and security updates too. Basically, everything works similar to the activated Pro version.
Let me make it clear, there is no difference between the free and paid version of Windows 10 other than visual customization and “Activate Windows” watermark. You are absolutely free to use it, any way you want. Using the free Windows 10 seems a much better option than pirating Windows 10 Key which is most probably infected with spyware and malware.To download the free version of Windows 10, head over to Microsoft’s official website and download the Media Creation Tool. After that, you can download the ISO file and create a bootable USB. If you want a step by step guide, follow our tutorial here.
2. Get Windows 10 Free or Cheap Through OnTheHub (For School, Colleges and Universities)
To bring more students and researchers under the Microsoft ecosystem, the company has partnered with schools, colleges, and universities from many countries. Under this partnership, students can avail many Microsoft products at a discounted price or even free of cost.If you are a student at any educational institute, you can get a Windows 10 key, Microsoft Office 365, Oracle software and access to many other Microsoft goodies. Microsoft has a dedicated OnTheHub website for students where you can find all the details about the offerings.Just head over to OnTheHub page and scroll down to the bottom. Here, select your Country, State, and School. After that, it will provide you a WebStore link of your institute.
3. Upgrade from Windows 7/8/8.1
If you missed the Windows 10 upgrade period in 2016 and want to update your PC now then let me tell you the upgrade period has not ended. Also, you don’t need to buy a separate Windows 10 key to upgrade your PC. You can still upgrade your PC with your older Windows license and the activation works without any issue. Here is how you can do it.Download the Media Creation Tool from here and run it. Just choose “Upgrade this PC” option and click on “Next”. That’s it. The tool will download and upgrade your older Windows PC to Windows 10 without requiring a Windows 10 Key.
4. Get Windows 10 Key from Authentic Sources at a Cheaper Price
If the free version of Windows 10 doesn’t cut for you or you are not a student anymore or you no longer have an old PC to upgrade then you can buy a new Windows 10 key at a cheaper price. Here I will share some authentic sources from where you can get a genuine Windows 10 key at a much cheaper price.But before that, let me explain briefly the reason behind the low cost. You can get a Windows 10 key from Microsoft at around $200 which is generally called a retail license. A retail license can be used to activate Windows on one system to another as you upgrade your hardware over time. It basically follows you and remains with you.
Deals for Windows 10 Keys
There are many shady portals that offer Windows 10 keys for as low as $5 (₹500). However, most of them don’t work and are a complete scam. I suggest you to stay away from those shady deals. To make sure, you are buying from an authentic seller, follow these tips.Always look for the highest-rated seller and go through the reviews. Also, look for older sellers which have been on the platform for some time. Now having said all of that, here are the deals to go for.Xem thêm: Kiều Anh Hera Là Ai - Kiều Anh Hera: Góc Ngày Ấy
5. Buy Windows 10 Key from Microsoft
If you want a clean copy of Windows 10 without any question of legitimacy, you should buy a retail Windows 10 key directly from Microsoft. Just head over to Microsoft’s page and buy it without any hesitation. If you are a student, you can avail some discounts. As for the price for general users, the Windows 10 Home Edition costs $139 and Windows 10 Pro Edition costs $199.99. Similarly, Windows 10 Home is priced at ₹9,299 and Windows 10 Pro costs ₹14,799 in India.
6. Windows 10 Volume Licensing
If you run a business and need Windows 10 on multiple machines then it would be better to go through Volume Licensing to procure Windows 10 keys in bulk. It will be much affordable and easier to manage all your Windows 10 machines. Having said that, there is no fixed price to get volume licenses and you will have to negotiate with Microsoft to get a better deal. But generally, the cost gets reduced to more than half (~$80) of what you pay for retail keys. You can learn more about Windows 10 Volume Licensing from here.
7. Download Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation
If you want to try out Windows 10 before going for volume licensing, you can download the Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation for free. Keep in mind, this is not for individual users but targeted to mid to large size organizations. On top of that, it’s designed for IT professionals who want to evaluate if Windows 10 can help the organization manage businesses, networks, and devices. You can try out Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation for 90 days and can get started from here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why Buy Windows 10?
Under the free version, you can’t customize your PC’s appearance, access tools like Group Policy Editor, and other organizational software. For individuals, buying Windows 10 is not necessary, but if you are a professional and need all the tools then buying Windows 10 is highly recommended.Q. Are Cheap Windows 10 Keys Legal?
So far, Microsoft has not taken a staunch position on the legality of cheap Windows keys. However, what I can say is cheap Windows 10 keys are not entirely illegitimate. The keys are procured by organizations and later sold to third-party sellers for a much lower cost. Apart from that, in some countries, the keys are quite cheaper so you get it at an affordable price.
Q. How Much Does a Windows 10 License Cost?
As I mentioned above, the Windows 10 Home Edition costs $139 and Windows 10 Pro Edition costs $199.99. However, you can find a better deal on Amazon or other online stores. Just make sure to check the authenticity of the seller before placing an order.Q. What About OEM Copies of Windows?
OEM copies of Windows are entirely legitimate and you can use it without any issue. Just that when you switch to a new machine, you can’t transfer the license key.Q. How Can I Get a Windows 10 Key for Cheap?
We have mentioned 7 different ways to get Windows keys for cheap so go through all the points. You can find some sweet deal from section #4.Q. Can I Just Buy a Windows 10 Product Key?
Yes, you can get it from Microsoft Store. Go through section 5 for more details.Q. Is Windows 10 Illegal Without Activation?
No. Microsoft now allows users to use Windows 10 for free and without the need to activate your PC. Just that, there will be a watermark and some customization features will be disabled under the free version. You can use an inactivated Windows 10 for as long as you want.
