Is the upgrade to Windows 10 free for everyone or not?

This question concerns everyone and no one can wait. Even those who have read Microsoft’s statements cannot fully understand what Microsoft means by Windows 10 being free for the first year. Will Windows be free for upgrading within the first year or will it be a trial version for a year? Also, there have been leaks suggesting that upgrading from pirated versions will also be free. Let’s analyze all the data so we can come to a conclusion and provide confirmed information about the free availability of Windows 10 for users, along with presenting information from reliable sources close to Microsoft.

Is the upgrade to Windows 10 really free?

As previously mentioned in the article about Microsoft’s Windows 10 conference regarding the free upgrade during the first year, it is clear that users who own Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 for free during the first year. Those with Windows 8 will need to first upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free, and then upgrade to Windows 10 for free as well.

Once you upgrade to Windows 10 for free within the first year, Microsoft will not ask you to pay anything afterwards, and Windows will remain free for you for life.

Will users of pirated versions get Windows 10 for free?

If we look back at our previous articles about Windows 8, then Windows 8.1, and now Windows 10, you will see that this is likely to happen. Microsoft is changing its profit strategy completely, not relying on selling copies but rather on post-sale transactions. Let’s go back to the topic of Microsoft allowing users of pirated Windows versions to upgrade to Windows 8, which we indeed tried at the time and upgraded a pirated Windows 7 version to a genuine Windows 8 for only $15! So, if you tell me now that Microsoft is offering Windows 10 for free to owners of pirated versions, it wouldn’t be surprising to me!

However, the process has not been announced yet, and I don’t think Microsoft has specified it. Will the upgrade from pirated versions be symbolic for a dollar, for example, or completely free, or will the upgrade to genuine Windows 10 be for a limited period? We don’t know and Microsoft has not announced this yet.

Analysis of why the upgrade to Windows 10 is free for everyone

The reason is clear, Windows 10 works on all devices from Microsoft phones to computers. If Microsoft can make the majority of electronic devices run on Windows 10, these users will also buy phones and electronic devices running on Windows 10, as it would be great to have the same program on your device and phone as well.

On the other hand, eliminating pirated versions of Windows does not benefit Microsoft at all. Also, having a Microsoft store and millions of users will attract more developers, users, and downloads, making the Microsoft store the largest electronic app store within less than a year (predictions). Additionally, having a genuine Windows on your device will increase the likelihood of you purchasing the Office suite, space on OneDrive, or other Microsoft products.