# Windows Server Licensing Calculator Interactive tool: https://www.cloud2networks.com/tools/windows-server-calculator/ Every physical core is licensed, with minimums. Enter your hosts and VMs: the calculator applies the 8-core-per-processor and 16-core-per-server floors, stacks Standard to cover your VMs, compares it with Datacenter, and adds the CALs you need. ## Inputs Every input is a URL parameter, so a link with your numbers opens the tool pre-filled. ### Your hosts - `hosts`: Physical hosts. Default `2`. - `cpus`: Processors per host. Default `2`. - `cores`: Cores per processor. Default `16`. - `vms`: VMs per host. Default `8`. Peak, including failover. ### How you buy - `term`: Purchase. Options: `p` = Perpetual, `y` = 1-year subscription. Default `p`. ### Who connects - `caltype`: CAL type. Options: `u` = User CALs, `d` = Device CALs. Default `u`. - `users`: Users or devices. Default `60`. - `covered`: Covered by Microsoft 365. Default `0`. - `rds`: Remote Desktop users. Default `0`. RDS CALs are separate; no cloud plan includes them. Example link with the defaults: https://www.cloud2networks.com/tools/windows-server-calculator/?hosts=2&cpus=2&cores=16&vms=8&term=p&caltype=u&users=60&covered=0&rds=0 ## Microsoft list prices used (November 2026, USD per license) | Product | Segment | Purchase | Price | |---|---|---|---| | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 2 Core | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $147.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 2 Core | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $58.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 16 Core License Pack | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $470.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 16 Core License Pack | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $1,176.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 2 Core | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $338.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 2 Core | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $846.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 16 Core | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $6,770.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 16 Core | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $2,708.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 2 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $68.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 2 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $71.40 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 8 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $275.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Standard - 8 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $288.72 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 2 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $478.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 2 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $501.84 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 8 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $1,913.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Datacenter - 8 Core License Pack 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $2,008.68 | | Windows Server 2025 - 1 User CAL | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $20.00 | | Windows Server 2025 - 1 User CAL | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $50.00 | | Windows Server 2025 - 1 Device CAL | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $39.00 | | Windows Server 2025 - 1 Device CAL | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $15.00 | | Windows Server 2025 CAL - 1 User CAL - 1 year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $14.64 | | Windows Server 2025 CAL - 1 User CAL - 1 year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $14.00 | | Windows Server 2025 CAL - 1 Device CAL - 1 year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $12.00 | | Windows Server 2025 CAL - 1 Device CAL - 1 year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $12.60 | | Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services - 1 User CAL | Nonprofit | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $34.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services - 1 User CAL | Commercial | One-time purchase (perpetual) | $174.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services - 1 User CAL 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed annually | $90.00 | | Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services - 1 User CAL 1 Year | Commercial | 1-year subscription, billed monthly | $94.44 | ## The rules this calculator applies ### Every physical core is licensed, with minimums Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter are licensed per physical core. Each processor counts as at least 8 cores and each server as at least 16, even if it has fewer. Licenses are sold in 2-core and 16-core packs. ### Standard covers two VMs; stack it for more Licensing every core of a host with Standard lets you run two Windows Server virtual machines on it. To run two more, license all the cores again. Ten VMs on one host means five full sets of Standard licenses. ### Datacenter covers unlimited VMs License every core with Datacenter once and you can run as many Windows Server VMs on that host as it can hold. At list price the break-even is around 11 VMs per host for 16 to 32 cores; the calculator shows the exact point for your core count and purchase type. ### CALs are still needed Every user or device that accesses the server needs a Windows Server CAL, unless their Microsoft 365 E3, E5 or F3 license already includes the right. Remote Desktop Services needs its own RDS CAL on top. ## Get a quote Send products, quantities and term through https://www.cloud2networks.com/tools/forms/?f=quote or email sales@cloud2networks.com. A person confirms every price before it is final.