Pricing and licensing for Windows Server 2016

Choose from three primary editions of Windows Server, based on the size of your organization as well as virtualization and datacenter requirements. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter includes unlimited virtualization rights plus new features to build a software-defined datacenter. Windows Server 2016 Standard offers enterprise-class features with limited virtualization rights. Windows Server 2016 Essentials is an ideal cloud-connected first server.

Download the Windows Server 2016 licensing datasheet

Offers for Windows Server

Discount on Step up to Datacenter Edition

Customers with Standard edition licenses with Software Assurance can “step-up” to the Datacenter edition at a special discount. Contact your Microsoft account executive or partner for more details.

Migrate from VMware now and save

Make your Hyper-V vs. VMware decision an even easier one. Migrate today and get Windows Server Datacenter licenses for free when you buy Windows Server Datacenter with Software Assurance.

Extend your Windows Server licenses to the cloud

Benefit from your existing Windows Server license and move to the cloud for less with Azure Hybrid Use Benefit.

Pricing and licensing overview

To give you a more consistent licensing experience across multi-cloud environments, we’re transitioning from processor-based licensing to core-based licensing with Windows Server 2016 Datacenter and Standard editions. For specific pricing, contact your Microsoft reseller.

Windows Server 2016 edition Ideal forLicensing modelCAL requirements*Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)

Datacenter**

Highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environmentsCore-basedWindows Server CAL$6,155

Standard**

Low density or non-virtualized environmentsCore-basedWindows Server CAL$882

Essentials

Small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devicesProcessor-basedNo CAL required$501
Windows Server 2016 edition

Datacenter**

Ideal for
Highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments
Licensing model
Core-based
CAL requirements*
Windows Server CAL
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
$6,155
Windows Server 2016 edition

Standard**

Ideal for
Low density or non-virtualized environments
Licensing model
Core-based
CAL requirements*
Windows Server CAL
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
$882
Windows Server 2016 edition

Essentials

Ideal for
Small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices
Licensing model
Processor-based
CAL requirements*
No CAL required
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
$501
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)
Windows Server 2016 edition
Ideal for
Licensing model
CAL requirements*
Pricing Open NL ERP (US$)

*CALs are required for every user or device accessing a server. See the Product Use Rights for details.

**Datacenter and Standard edition pricing is for 16 core licenses.

Windows Server 2016 feature differentiation

FeatureDatacenterStandard

Core functionality of Windows Server

dot-icondot-icon

OSEs / Hyper-V containers

Unlimited2

Windows Server containers

UnlimitedUnlimited

Host Guardian Service

dot-icondot-icon

Nano Server*

dot-icondot-icon

Storage features including Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica

dot-icon

Shielded Virtual Machines

dot-icon

Networking stack

dot-icon
Feature

Core functionality of Windows Server

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
dot-icon
Feature

OSEs / Hyper-V containers

Datacenter
Unlimited
Standard
2
Feature

Windows Server containers

Datacenter
Unlimited
Standard
Unlimited
Feature

Host Guardian Service

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
dot-icon
Feature

Nano Server*

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
dot-icon
Feature

Storage features including Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
Feature

Shielded Virtual Machines

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
Feature

Networking stack

Datacenter
dot-icon
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard
Feature
Datacenter
Standard

*Software Assurance is required to deploy and operate Nano Server in production.

Additional Windows Server purchasing resources