Buy Cheap from Key Shops
Key reseller shops are the most popular route for a steep discount. These sites sell OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) keys at a fraction of retail price, often between $5.00 and $20.00.
Sellers buy surplus keys in bulk from regions where licenses are cheaper, or from companies that never used their allotted stock.
These keys are often tied to your motherboard and are non-transferable. In rare cases, Microsoft can revoke them if they're part of a misused volume license. Stick to highly rated sellers on platforms like G2A or CDKeys to reduce that risk.
Earn Through GPT Apps
GPT (Get-Paid-To) apps let you complete micro-tasks and convert the rewards into software. Freecash is one of the leading platforms, with several ways to earn:
- Surveys and Feedback: Share your opinion on consumer products and advertisements.
- App Testing: Download and play new mobile games to hit specific milestones.
- Gaming: Play games and earn rewards for reaching levels and achievements.
A dedicated user can realistically earn enough for a license within a month of casual use. Pair this with a key shop: earn $20.00 through Freecash, put it toward a discounted key, and you've covered the cost without touching your bank account.
Buy Directly from Microsoft
Buying from the Microsoft Store gives you a genuine retail license with full technical support. If you build a new PC in a few years, you can transfer the license to the new machine.
Windows 11 Home is priced at $139.00 and Windows 11 Pro at $199.00. There are no activation errors, no risk, and the digital license links instantly to your Microsoft account.
Earn a License Through Microsoft Rewards
The Microsoft Rewards program lets you accumulate points through daily activities you may already be doing. You can then redeem those points for Microsoft Store gift cards and put them toward a Windows 11 license.
- Earning Points: Search on Bing via the Edge browser, complete daily quizzes on the Rewards dashboard, or play games on Xbox.
- Redeeming Points: Convert points into Microsoft Store gift cards. Windows 11 Home retails at around $139.00, so consistent daily use is required to hit that threshold.
If you already have an active Windows 10 license, 1,000 points can also unlock Extended Security Updates for older hardware.
