How Much Does a Windows Server Cost to License? Editions Pricing Guide

What is Windows Server

Windows Server is a group of operating systems developed by Microsoft for servers. Windows server was first introduced in 1993 and since its release, it has been among the most popular server operating systems in the industry.

A windows server could be either hosted on cloud virtual machines or you can use on premises windows servers.

The most recent version of Windows Server as of 2023 is Windows Server 2022, which includes all the essential features and a few more features than the other older Microsoft server versions.

Some of the new features include: single storage replica volume, storage spaces direct and Windows admin center.

Windows Server Editions

Windows servers offer many editions, and the pricing of each edition is different. Each edition offers different things and you have to choose the one which is the best fit for your company.

Below, we explain to you the three editions of Windows Server version 2022.

1. Essentials Edition: Designed for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. This edition typically comes with a lower price compared to Standard and Datacenter editions due to its limited user/device support.
2. Standard Edition: Suitable for physical or minimally virtualized environments. Pricing for this edition can be based on the number of cores in the server or through the purchase of client access licenses (CALs) for users or devices.
3. Datacenter Edition: Ideal for highly virtualized and software-defined data center environments. Similar to the Standard Edition, pricing can be based on the number of cores or through CALs.

Windows Server Pricing

Windows Server is among the most expensive server operating systems in the industry. But it has its advantages over the other server operating systems, which is why a lot of companies are using it despite its pricing.

Over the years Windows Server pricing has changed but as a general rule, Windows Server pricing depends upon which edition you choose, which licensing model you have, and how many users you have.

Licensing Models

Microsoft offers two different types of licensing for Windows Server:

• Server-Based: This type of licensing model is based on the number of servers using a Windows Server license. Each server license can be used by only a single server. The Windows Server Essentials edition is a server-based licensing model.
• Core-Based: This type of licensing model is based on the number of cores a physical server has. This model is specifically designed for powerful servers having many cores. The Microsoft server data center and standard editions are a core-based licensing model.

Microsoft Server Edition’s Pricing

Now, we will explain the pricing structure of the three editions of Microsoft Server 2022.

• Essentials Edition: This edition is the easiest to understand since each license for a server costs $501. For each server, you need to buy an extra license.
• Standard Edition: Windows Server Standard Edition’s pricing starts at $1069 for 16 cores and each increment increases the cost per core.
• Datacenter Edition: This edition offers a starting price of $6,155, which includes 16 cores. Additional cores could be purchased separately.

Recommended Windows Servers

Here are a few sample configurations that we recommend for Windows Server. Each of these configurations includes Windows 2008, Windows 2012, Windows Server Standard Edition 2016, or Windows 2019 Standard Edition at no added cost:

Conclusion

Indeed, Windows Server is a really good operating system when it comes to server environments. But its pricing and features have advantages in one area and disadvantages in another field.

The pricing structure of a Windows server depends upon which edition you have, which licensing mode you choose, the number of users, and the requirements of your infrastructure.

To summarize this article here are a few points to remember when you are buying a Windows server.

1. Editions: Windows Server can be bought in editions. Each edition is aimed at the scale of the infrastructure. Here are the editions ordered by small-scale infrastructures to large-scale infrastructures.

• Essentials
• Standard
• Datacenter

2. Licensing Models: Microsoft offers two types of licensing models. Core-based and server-based. The core-based model is aimed at multicore and powerful servers while the server-based model is aimed at small companies with fewer number of servers.

3. Updates and Consultation: Microsoft frequently updates its licensing structures, so it’s important to seek advice from Microsoft or licensing experts for the latest pricing information. Also, consider volume licensing or subscription options for potential cost savings, particularly if you’re looking at cloud-based deployments through services like Microsoft Azure.

In summary, Windows Server offers a strong range of features for managing server environments but pricing may differ based on your specific needs and chosen licensing model. Thorough evaluation and input from experts you will be able to identify the most cost-effective option for your organization’s needs.

See also: What are the server requirements for Windows Server 2016?

Next Step

Now that you know a bit more about Windows Server and how much it costs, check out the dedicated Windows servers offered by ServerMania.

Additionally, if you are looking for more information regarding IT and cloud server hosting, check out our Knowledge Base.

See Also: (Live Webinar) Meet ServerMania: Transform Your Server Hosting Experience