Software licensing is full of small print, and a lot of shops hide it. This page explains exactly what you are buying from AegisKeys and what each licence type means.
What we state on every product page
- Licence type — retail, OEM, subscription or perpetual
- Term — how long the licence lasts
- Coverage — how many devices, users or seats are included
- Platforms — which operating systems the software runs on
- Commercial use — whether the licence permits business use
If a listing does not answer your question, ask us before you buy rather than after.
Licence types explained
Retail (FPP / ESD)
A full retail licence. It is transferable: if you replace the computer, you can move the licence to the new machine. This is what most home and small business customers want.
OEM
An OEM licence is tied permanently to the first computer it is activated on and cannot be transferred. It is cheaper for that reason. We label OEM products clearly and we do not sell OEM keys as retail.
Subscription
A licence that runs for a fixed term, normally twelve months, and then needs renewing. Microsoft 365 and Adobe plans work this way. When the term ends the software stops working or drops to a limited mode.
Perpetual
A one-time purchase with no recurring fee. Office Home 2024 and Windows 11 are perpetual. You keep the version you bought; you do not get free upgrades to the next major version.
Commercial use
Some consumer editions — Office Home, for example — are licensed for non-commercial use only. If you need to use the software for business, choose a product labelled for commercial use. We flag this on the listings where it matters.
Trademarks
All product names, logos and brands are the property of their respective owners. AegisKeys is an independent reseller. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Microsoft, Adobe, Bitdefender, ESET, F-Secure or any other vendor whose products we sell. Use of these names is for identification only.