Are there any affordable choices that are worthwhile? Or is purchasing from Microsoft required?
Avoid buying from Microsoft because their prices are too high. I’ve been purchasing these keys for friends and family for years, and I’m still using my original key from when I got Windows 7 on my current Windows 11 setup.
I got the free version of Windows from Microsoft. You can download any programs you need to make the changes that Microsoft doesn’t allow.
I get my keys from eBay at a low price. I am not certain if they are genuine, but they have always worked for me.
I just bought a Windows 11 Pro key for $13. It arrived in one minute and I activated it without any issues. It worked as expected, but I’ll need to see if it remains valid in the long run. I did get the key I paid for, though. Your experience might differ. Best regards and best wishes!