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 datasheetMove Windows Server licenses to Azure for less with the Azure Hybrid Use BenefitOffers 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.
Add an additional six years of support
Minimize risk and create a more secured environment for an extra six years with Windows Server Premium Assurance.
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 for | Licensing model | CAL requirements* | Pricing Open NL ERP (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Datacenter** | Highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments | Core-based | Windows Server CAL | $6,155 |
Standard** | Low density or non-virtualized environments | Core-based | Windows Server CAL | $882 |
Essentials | Small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices | Processor-based | No 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$) |
Windows Server 2016 edition
| Ideal for | Licensing model | CAL requirements* | Pricing Open NL ERP (US$) |
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
| Feature | Datacenter | Standard |
|---|---|---|
Core functionality of Windows Server |  | |
OSEs / Hyper-V containers | Unlimited | 2 |
Windows Server containers | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Host Guardian Service | | |
Nano Server* | | |
Storage features including Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica | | |
Shielded Virtual Machines | | |
Networking stack | | |
Feature Core functionality of Windows Server | Datacenter | Standard |
Feature OSEs / Hyper-V containers | Datacenter Unlimited | Standard 2 |
Feature Windows Server containers | Datacenter Unlimited | Standard Unlimited |
Feature Host Guardian Service | Datacenter | Standard |
Feature Nano Server* | Datacenter | Standard |
Feature Storage features including Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica | Datacenter | Standard |
Feature Shielded Virtual Machines | Datacenter | Standard |
Feature Networking stack | 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 |
Feature | Datacenter | Standard |
*Software Assurance is required to deploy and operate Nano Server in production.
