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Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 Pricing

Windows 10 Home will set you back an estimated $119, while Windows 10 Pro will be $199.

By Chloe Albanesius
June 2, 2015
Windows 10 PC / Phone Synnergy

If you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, the new operating system will be free. But what if you want to buy a standalone copy of the new OS?

Microsoft today confirmed the pricing for Windows 10, which arrives on July 29. Windows 10 Home will set you back $119, while Windows 10 Pro will be $199.

Windows 10 Bug Art Windows 10 Pro Pack, meanwhile, which lets you upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, will cost $99.

All three options will be sold in stores and online, a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed.

The pricing structure is similar to what Microsoft charged for Windows 8 software.

For Windows 8, however, updates were not free. Those who purchased a Windows 7 PC in a specific timeframe in 2012 could upgrade to Windows 8 for $14.99 upon launch, but they were otherwise $39.99. With Windows 10, those on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 have one year to upgrade for free.

Who would need the paid version of Windows 10? Probably those with an older XP or Vista machine, anyone who doesn't take advantage of the one-year upgrade window, or hobbyists who like to build their own PCs. Check to make sure your machine is compatible with Windows 10 here.

The initial release of Windows 10 will be limited to PCs and tablets. A Windows 10 upgrade for Windows Phone 8.1 devices will vary by phone makers and carriers.

Those on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 can reserve an upgrade via a prompt that should appear in the PC's taskbar. Click "Reserve your free upgrade" when it appears, add an email for confirmation, and you're all set. When it's ready, the upgrade will require 3GB of space.

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About Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor for News

I started out covering tech policy in Washington, D.C. for The National Journal's Technology Daily, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. After a move to New York City, I covered Wall Street trading tech at Incisive Media before switching gears to consumer tech and PCMag. I now lead PCMag's news coverage and manage our how-to content.

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