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Which software should you buy? Buying guide Not sure which version to pick? Here are the essentials – and for every option the cheapest key at today’s prices from the stores we compare.
Updated 12 Nov 2026, 15:16
Windows Microsoft Office Antivirus VPN Windows: Home or Pro? Windows 11 Home is enough for gaming, school and everyday work.Windows 11 Pro adds BitLocker disk encryption, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V and Group Policy management – useful for work and business.An OEM licence is tied to the first PC (motherboard); a Retail licence can later be moved to another PC. Windows 10 stopped getting regular security updates in October 2025 – for a new PC get Windows 11. Cheapest options today Windows →
Office: lifetime or subscription? Office 2021 / 2024 (lifetime licence) is paid once and used forever on one PC, but you don’t get new versions.Microsoft 365 is a subscription: always the latest apps plus OneDrive cloud storage; Personal is for one person, Family for up to 6 people.Home editions include Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Professional Plus adds Outlook and Access.For a lifetime licence, check whether it is for Windows or Mac. Cheapest options today Microsoft Office →
Antivirus: how many devices and how long? Licences are sold by number of devices and length (usually 1–3 years) – pick by how many computers and phones you have. Windows has built-in Microsoft Defender; paid antivirus mainly adds extra protection (e.g. firewall, payment protection, VPN or password manager depending on the bundle). Longer licences are usually cheaper per year. Cheapest options today ESET ESET Internet Security $9.46 Kinguin · 1 year · 1 device Bitdefender Bitdefender Antivirus Plus $8.67 Kinguin · 1 year · 1 device Kaspersky Kaspersky Internet Security $5.99 Kinguin · 1 year · 1 device Norton Norton Antivirus Plus $3.36 Kinguin · 1 year · 1 device Avast Avast Premium Security $3.09 Gameseal · 1 year · 1 device McAfee McAfee Total Protection $3.29 Kinguin · 1 year · 1 device AVG AVG Internet Security $2.89 Gameseal · 1 year · 1 device
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VPN: for how long? A VPN is a subscription – a longer plan costs much less per month. One licence usually covers several devices at once (the number depends on the service). Below is the lowest price per month for each service at today’s offers. Cheapest options today NordVPN NordVPN $49.49 = $2.06 / mo GAMIVO · 2 years · 10 devices Surfshark Surfshark VPN $47.05 = $1.96 / mo Gameseal · 2 years · unlimited ExpressVPN ExpressVPN $7.59 = $0.63 / mo Kinguin · 1 year CyberGhost CyberGhost VPN $42.22 = $1.76 / mo Kinguin · 2 years · 5 devices
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