Buy Microsoft RDS CALs for Windows Server.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services CALs — formerly Terminal Services — for Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016. Every user or device connecting to your deployment needs one, and we help you choose the right version, CAL type and quantity.

15 min Delivery, 24/7
1, 5, 10, 20, 50 CAL Pack Sizes

Every purchase includes

Standard on every CAL.

Email delivery in 15 minutes

Delivery email contains the license document (PDF), invoice, setup guidance, and link to an installation video. Sent 24/7.

100% money-back guarantee

You get a full refund if we cannot resolve an issue related to your purchased CALs. Valid for 60 days from purchase.

Free User ↔ Device swap

Ordered wrong CAL type? Swap it yourself from your account within 60 days of purchase, or contact us and we’ll handle it.

Packs of 1 to 50
Standard packs: 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CALs
User / Device CALs
User for people, Device for shared machines
Microsoft downgrade rights
Newer CALs support older Windows Server versions

For standard Windows Server environments

If it runs a supported Windows Server OS with the Remote Desktop Services role, these CALs apply — wherever the server lives.

Supported versions
2025 2022 2019 2016
Physical or virtual hosts

Bare metal or Hyper-V, in an Active Directory domain or a workgroup. The most common RDS deployment.

Most common
Hosting providers

A dedicated server, VPS or collocated host with a supported Windows Server OS.

Dedicated / VPS
Azure and other clouds

Azure, Google Cloud, AWS or any other platform running a supported Windows Server OS.

Any cloud

What is RDS, and why are CALs required?

What RDS does

RDS provides remote access to Windows Server desktops, applications and shared work environments. In older releases the same role was called Terminal Services.

Why CALs are needed

Every user or device that connects to Remote Desktop Services needs an RDS CAL matching that Windows Server version.

How CALs are managed

CALs are installed and tracked through the Remote Desktop Licensing role in Windows Server.

What a CAL is not

An RDS CAL does not include the Windows Server operating system, application licenses, hosting or server setup.

User CALs or Device CALs

Same price, different licensing model — pick by how your people connect.

RDS User CALs Licensed to people. Follows them across every device they sign in from.
Licensed per
One named user, on any number of devices
Active Directory
Required
Best when
Employees connect from a laptop, a desktop and a phone
Access belongs to
The person
RDS Device CALs Licensed to hardware. Covers everyone who sits down at that machine.
Licensed per
One device, used by any number of people
Active Directory
Not required — works in a Workgroup too
Best when
Several people share a fixed terminal or shop-floor PC
Access belongs to
The machine

Not sure which fits? The calculator sizes an order in about a minute.

Get remote users online now.

Delivery Within 15 minutes
Refund 60 days, 100% money-back
Swap User ↔ Device, free