How to Buy a Software Licence: Windows, Office, Antivirus, CAD
First decide which licence you are buying
The same program is sold in different forms, and the price depends on that. Tell a perpetual licence from a monthly or yearly subscription: Microsoft 365, for example, is a subscription, while some Office versions can be perpetual. There is also a new licence and a renewal or upgrade of an existing one, and these are different products. Ask separately about the edition: Home, Pro and Business differ in features.
Licence types: retail, OEM, volume
A retail licence is usually tied to the user and can be moved to another device. An OEM licence is cheaper, but tied to a specific computer. Volume licences are bought for many seats with central management. For an electronic key, check whether it can be activated officially, and for a boxed version, what is in the box. If you are buying for a business, find out the licensing terms from the maker, and don't hesitate to ask the seller to explain.
Paperwork for a company
If the licence is for a company or sole proprietor, discuss the set of documents in advance: a tax invoice, an agreement, a receipt. Ask whether the seller is an official partner of the maker and whether you can pay by bank transfer. This matters for your accounts and for proving your software is legal if it is ever checked.
What to put in your request
- program: and edition, for example Windows 11 Pro;
- number of licences: devices, users or seats;
- licence term: perpetual or a monthly or yearly subscription;
- licence type: retail, OEM, volume; electronic key or box;
- new or renewal: for example, renewal of an ESET licence;
- documents: tax invoice, agreement, receipt for a company;
- installation: whether you need installation and activation;
- budget.
Example: “I need 10 Windows 11 Pro licences, OEM, electronic keys, for a company in Vancouver. I need a tax invoice, and installation and activation on 10 PCs. Budget up to $670.”
How to compare offers
Compare not only the price, but also the licence type, term, number of seats and support. A very low price for an expensive product can mean a limited or doubtful licence, so ask how exactly it is activated and what happens if the key stops working. Ask whether the key is replaced under warranty and what support you get after purchase.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You create a request on BlaBlaPrice, it is checked, and sellers of software reply in the chat with price, licence type and terms. They see their place among the others and adjust their offers. The best-value offer is shown first, with reviews of the seller next to it. Your contacts are hidden, and it is free for buyers. More on the “How it works” page.
For hardware to run your programs, see desktop computers and servers.
