In short: all three licences activate exactly the same Windows or the same Office, with the same features and the same updates. What changes is what you can do with the licence: an OEM licence stays on a single PC, a Retail licence can move from one PC to another, and a volume licence activates several PCs with a single key.
The comparison
| OEM | Retail | Volume (MAK) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of PCs | 1 | 1 at a time | 5 to 100 depending on the pack |
| Transfer to another PC | No | Yes | Remaining activations can be used on other PCs |
| After a motherboard change | New key needed | Can be reactivated | One extra activation is used |
| Who it's for | A PC that won't change | People who replace their hardware | Businesses, schools, technicians |
| Price | The lowest | A little higher | The lowest per PC |
The OEM licence: the best price for a PC that won't change
Originally, “OEM” refers to licences supplied to computer manufacturers. An OEM key can also be bought on its own: it activates once and binds to the PC's motherboard. Replacing the drive, memory or graphics card is no problem; changing the motherboard or the computer requires a new key. It's the right choice for an office desktop, a PC you have just built or a clean reinstall.
The Retail licence: the one that follows you
Retail corresponds to the boxed version. It can be used on only one PC at a time, but you can move it: you remove it from the old computer and activate it on the new one. If you change PCs every two or three years, or often upgrade your machine, the small price difference quickly pays for itself.
The volume licence (MAK): one key, several PCs
A MAK (Multiple Activation Key) volume licence activates a set number of PCs with the same key, over the internet, with no server to install. It's the solution for small businesses, practices, schools and technicians who equip several computers: just one key to manage and a price per PC that falls as the pack gets bigger. Not to be confused with KMS, which requires an internal activation server and is aimed at large organisations.
Choose in three questions
- How many PCs? From five upwards, a volume licence costs less per PC.
- Will you change your PC or motherboard? Yes: Retail. No: OEM.
- Which edition? Home for the home, Pro for work. See Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Is an OEM licence less official than a Retail licence?
No. Both activate the same Windows, updated in the same way through Windows Update. The only difference is transferring it to another PC.
Can you buy an OEM licence on its own in Europe?
Yes. In the European Union, the resale of perpetual software licences has been permitted since the UsedSoft ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU (2012).
How do I transfer a Retail licence to a new PC?
On the old PC, remove the key with the slmgr /upk command in an administrator terminal. Then enter it on the new PC in Settings > System > Activation.
Do Office licences follow the same logic?
Yes, as far as one PC versus several PCs is concerned: Office 2024 Professional Plus is available as a key for 1 PC and as a volume licence for 5 to 100 PCs.
To find out more: is it legal to buy a used licence in Europe? And to choose: Windows 11 Pro OEM, Windows 11 Pro Retail, Windows 11 Pro volume licence or Office 2024 volume licence.