Legal Software at Low Cost: Your Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Piracy Let’s be honest: the high cost of some software can be a major barrier. From the operating system to creative suites, prices can seem prohibitive, leading many down the path of piracy. But what if I told you there are completely legal and safe ways to get software at a fraction of the original cost—or even for free?

Today I’ll share my best recommendations to equip yourself with legitimate software without breaking the bank.

1. Operating Systems and Office: The World of OEM Keys If you need to activate Windows or Microsoft Office, one of the cheapest options is to buy license keys from reseller websites. These are often “OEM” (Original Equipment Manufacturer) licenses, which are legitimate keys sold at a reduced price. However, it’s crucial to navigate these waters with caution.

Safety recommendations:

• Research the Seller: Before buying, look for reviews and opinions about the site on external pages like Trustpilot. A seller with a solid reputation is your best bet.
• Use PayPal as an Intermediary: Whenever possible, pay through PayPal. Their buyer protection system gives you an extra layer of security. If the key doesn’t work or there’s a problem, it’s much easier to dispute the charge and get your money back.
• Be Wary of Ridiculously Low Prices: If an offer seems too good to be true (e.g., Windows 11 for one dollar), it probably is. Aim for low, but realistic, prices.

2. Creative and Specialized Software: The Superpower of Being a Student If you’re a student, you have access to a treasure trove of software at incredibly low prices or even completely free. Companies know that today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals and offer very generous educational programs.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Offers a massive discount for students, giving you access to Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and more for a much lower monthly cost.
• Canva Pro: For graphic design lovers, Canva is completely free for students and educators through its Canva for Education program. You just need to verify your academic status.
• AutoCAD: If you study architecture or engineering, there’s no excuse to pirate. Autodesk offers a free one-year educational license for AutoCAD and other powerful programs, renewable as long as you’re a student. You just need your student ID or institutional email!

3. Don’t Overlook Alternatives: The World of Free Software Sometimes, the best way to save is to spend nothing. There’s a robust ecosystem of free and open-source software (FOSS) that can compete head-to-head with paid options. To find the perfect alternative to any program, my top recommendation is the site AlternativeTo.net. Just search for the software you want to replace, and the community will give you a list of the best alternatives, both free and paid.

4. Video Games: Play More, Pay Less (or Nothing) For gamers, there are multiple ways to build a game library legitimately and affordably.

• Epic Games Store: Every week, without fail, gives away one or more PC games. You just need an account to claim them, and they’ll stay in your library forever.
• Prime Gaming: If you already have an Amazon Prime subscription, you automatically have access to Prime Gaming. They offer free games every month, plus exclusive content for popular titles.
• Steam: The king of deals. Throughout the year, Steam has massive sales (summer, winter, autumn, etc.) where you can find thousands of games with discounts of up to 90%.

A Crucial Warning About “Gray Market” Video Game Sites This is where we need to be careful. Sites like Eneba or G2A sell game keys at very low prices, and while technically the license gives you an original game, the origin of those keys is, at best, murky.

Personally, I have my reservations about these sites. Many of those keys are acquired fraudulently, often bought with stolen credit cards, which ends up directly hurting the game developers. In the worst cases, when a seller “gifts” the game directly to your account, they could be involved in complex money laundering schemes. For ethical and security reasons, it’s often better to stick to the options mentioned above.

Getting legal software at a good price is totally possible if you know where to look. Taking advantage of student discounts, exploring the world of open-source software, and being a smart deal hunter will allow you to have all the tools you need without compromising your security