Buying guide
What software does a new home PC actually need?
Updated 9 October 2026 · 7 min read · By the Ebenezer Digital team
The short answer
Most new laptops already include Windows and the free Microsoft Defender antivirus, so you may only need an office suite. Buy Microsoft 365 if you use Word or Excel regularly or want cloud backup. Add a paid security suite like Quick Heal, K7 or Norton if children use the PC, if you want parental controls, or if several family devices need one plan. Avoid very cheap “lifetime” keys.
Check what came with the PC first
Open Settings, then System, then About. If it shows Windows 11 Home and says Windows is activated, you do not need to buy Windows. Almost every laptop sold in India comes this way.
Many laptops also include a one-time Office Home & Student licence. Look for an Office or Microsoft 365 tile in the Start menu before you buy one.
Windows: only when building or reinstalling
You need a Windows licence if you assemble your own PC, replace a failed drive in an old machine, or move from an unlicensed copy. Buy a retail licence from Microsoft or a listing clearly sold as Microsoft’s full packaged product.
Retail licence, 1 PC
Microsoft Windows 11 Home (64-bit, USB)
Boxed retail licence on a USB drive, sold as Microsoft’s full packaged product (FPP).
See price on Amazon.inOffice apps: Microsoft 365 or free alternatives
Microsoft 365 Personal gives one person the desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook apps, plus 1 TB of OneDrive storage. That storage is the part people underrate: photos and documents are backed up automatically, so a stolen or broken laptop does not take your files with it.
If you only open the odd document, the free Word and Excel on the web, Google Docs or LibreOffice will be enough.
Subscription, 1 person
Microsoft 365 Personal (12-month subscription)
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook plus 1 TB OneDrive storage for one person.
See price on Amazon.inAntivirus: when the free one is not enough
Microsoft Defender is built into Windows and is good enough for careful adults. A paid suite earns its price in a few situations:
- Children use the PC and you want web filtering and screen-time limits.
- Several family members need one plan that also covers phones and Macs.
- You want extras in one place, such as a VPN, a password manager or dark-web alerts.
- The PC is older and you want a lighter suite with local Indian support.
Licence key by email
Quick Heal Total Security (1 PC, 1 year)
An Indian antivirus suite with parental controls. Delivered by email, no CD.
See price on Amazon.inLicence key by email
K7 Total Security (1 user, 1 year)
A light Indian antivirus from Chennai that suits older PCs.
See price on Amazon.inLicence key by email
Norton 360 Deluxe (3 users, 1 year)
One plan for a family’s PCs, Macs and phones, with a VPN and password manager included.
See price on Amazon.inHow to avoid fake licence keys
- Be wary of “lifetime” Windows or Office keys at a fraction of the normal price. They are often volume or resold keys that can be switched off later.
- Read the seller name on the listing. Prefer the brand itself or a listing fulfilled by Amazon.
- Check that the device count and duration (for example 1 PC, 1 year) match what you need. Renewal and new-user packs are different products.
- Redeem the key on the brand’s own website, such as microsoft.com/redeem, and keep the order email.
Tip: One paid suite is enough. Running two antivirus programs at once slows the PC down and can make them block each other.