Buy Microsoft Visual Studio License Keys
Microsoft Visual Studio is the integrated development environment (IDE) for building .NET, C++, web, desktop, cloud and mobile applications on Windows. It combines a code editor, debugger, compilers, testing tools and Git integration in one application.
Every Visual Studio key on this page is a genuine, standalone product key and a one-time purchase. Keys are delivered digitally by email and allow commercial development.
Which Visual Studio Key Should You Buy?
| Product | Best for | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Professional 2022 | Commercial .NET, web, desktop and C++ development | Best choice for most developers and teams |
| Visual Studio Enterprise 2022 | Large codebases, advanced debugging and testing | When the team will use IntelliTrace, Live Unit Testing or Fakes |
| Visual Studio Professional 2019 | Maintaining .NET Framework, .NET Core 3.1 and .NET 5 projects | Matching existing 2019 environments |
For most developers, Visual Studio Professional 2022 is the key to buy. It is a 64-bit IDE with support for current .NET and C++ standards.
Visual Studio Community vs Professional vs Enterprise
All editions share the same core IDE. The differences are licensing and advanced tools:
| Capability | Community | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full IDE, debugger and workloads | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial use in larger organizations | No | Yes | Yes |
| IntelliTrace and Snapshot Debugger | No | No | Yes |
| Live Unit Testing and Microsoft Fakes | No | No | Yes |
| Architecture and dependency validation | No | No | Yes |
Microsoft restricts the free Community edition in organizations with more than 250 PCs or more than one million US dollars in annual revenue, so most businesses need Professional or Enterprise.
Visual Studio 2022 or Visual Studio 2019?
- Choose 2022 for new projects, .NET 6 and later, and large solutions that benefit from a 64-bit IDE
- Choose 2019 to maintain older projects or match a team that has not moved yet
Both versions can be installed side by side, which makes gradual migration straightforward. Microsoft has also released Visual Studio 2026, but a newer IDE is not automatically the better purchase if your projects and extensions are standardized on 2022.
Product Key vs Visual Studio Subscription
A product key licenses the IDE only. It does not include Visual Studio subscription benefits such as Azure credits, training offers or dev/test software access. For developers who simply need the IDE, a one-time key is the simpler and more predictable choice.
How to Activate Visual Studio
- Download the installer for the edition you bought from Microsoft's official Visual Studio website.
- Install the workloads you need.
- Open Visual Studio and go to Help > Register Visual Studio.
- Select Unlock with a Product Key and enter the key from your Bcdkey email.
A key cannot upgrade Community to Professional or Enterprise, so install the matching edition first.
Why Buy Visual Studio from Bcdkey?
- Genuine Microsoft product keys for Visual Studio 2022 and 2019
- One-time purchase, with no subscription to renew
- Instant delivery by email, with keys saved in My Account
- Help from our team if activation does not complete
- Volume orders for development teams through the Bcdkey B2B wholesale program
Building database applications too? See our SQL Server range.
Visual Studio FAQ
Are these Visual Studio keys a one-time purchase?
Yes. Every Visual Studio key in this category is a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Which Visual Studio edition should I buy?
Professional 2022 suits most developers. Choose Enterprise only if you need its advanced testing and diagnostics tools.
Does a Visual Studio key include Azure credits?
No. Azure credits come only with Visual Studio subscriptions.
Does Visual Studio run on Mac?
No. Visual Studio for Windows runs on Windows only.
Need help with activation?
Open a support ticket and our team will help.