What is Windows 10 Cost and Can You Get it For Free

Learn more about Windows 10 pricing and availability

Reading time icon 2 min. read


Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team. Read more

Key notes

  • Windows 10 comes in different versions, and the price varies greatly depending on the version.
  • While Microsoft isn't selling Windows 10 online, you can still get it from retailers.
windows 10 cost

Switching to the new operating system comes with a price, and many are wondering how much Windows 10 costs.

In today’s guide, we going to take a closer look at different editions of Windows and let you know the price of each one.

How much does a Windows 10 cost?

The cost of Windows 10 depends on the edition that you’re planning to install:

Windows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro
Download$129.99$199.00
USB$99.99$119.00
OEM Disc$89.00$99.00
Upgrade$99.00

What is the cheapest version of Windows 10?

The most affordable version of Windows 10 is the OEM edition of Windows.

Although it’s most affordable, it comes with limitations that all OEM versions have.

Can you get Windows 10 for free?

Yes, it’s possible to get Windows 10 for free, right from Microsoft’s website. However, even though you can use this version, it won’t be licensed and you’ll often get a message asking you to activate it.

If you want to use the full version, you can try upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free as a workaround.

How can I get Windows 10 forever for free?

You can’t get a licensed copy for free, but you can use an unactivated version almost without restrictions as long as you like.

If you already own a previous edition of Windows, you might be able to activate Windows 10 with Windows 7 or 8 key.

What is the difference between free Windows 10 and paid?

  1. The unactivated version has a watermark in the bottom right corner asking you to activate it.
  2. You will often get a nagging screen asking you to activate.
  3. Customization options aren’t available unless the system is activated.
  4. Unactivated Windows can only be used by personal users.

We hope that you now understand better how much different Windows 10 versions cost. Do keep in mind that Microsoft isn’t selling Windows 10 anymore, so you can only get it from retailers.

This is no surprise with the release of Windows 11, and if you’re thinking about upgrading, you might want to learn more about Windows 11 costs.

Are you still looking to buy Windows 10 or are you switching to Windows 11? Let us know in the comments below!

More about the topics: windows 10

User forum

0 messages