Can I buy Windows 10 from the US Microsoft Store if I live in Israel?

[Ransome]

...in order to get the cheaper price?
Looking to buy a new Windows 10 Product Key in the near future, when I'll build a new PC.

In the online US Microsoft Store the price for Windows 10 is 120$ for Home and 200$ for Pro.
However, in the online Israeli Microsoft Store it costs about 191 $ for Home and 314 $ for Pro.

1) Can I sign-in with my Microsoft account and buy from the US store, or is it region locked?
Alternatively, can I sign in as Guest and buy from the US store?

Will it be possible to successfully (lawfully) validate the product key - once I install it on my PC here in Israel?
Or will I have any trouble validating it?

2) Does the key count as OEM or Retail when bought digitally form MS Store?

3) When you buy Windows 10 from MS store - do you get a product key that you can save/copy somewhere - and use later on any system; or does it install&validate automatically directly on the PC on which you bought the key from?


EDIT: I know that with Retail hardcopy versions of Windows, I was able to validate a UK Windows 8 in Israel. My current Windows 10 uses that UK key. Don't know if there's a difference between retail keys and ones bought digitally.

 

[CountMike]

1. Yes you can, they don't care where you are as long as you can pay for it. You can download ISO of same kind you pay for.
2. It's retail key. OEM can't be bought like that.
3. Retail version key can be transferred to other computer. It doesn't matter where in the world you are.
Only difference between retail keys on hard copy (DVD/USB) and ones bought digitally is where it can be found, on hard copy it's in the file and on the bill.

 

[Ransome]

1. Yes you can, they don't care where you are as long as you can pay for it. You can download ISO of same kind you pay for.
2. It's retail key. OEM can't be bought like that.
3. Retail version key can be transferred to other computer. It doesn't matter where in the world you are.
Only difference between retail keys on hard copy (DVD/USB) and ones bought digitally is where it can be found, on hard copy it's in the file and on the bill.

Thank you very much for your reply CountMike!
This is a huge relief.
There's no justified reason for this huge price gap in countries like Israel, outside the US, and there's clearly no reason anyone should pay a massive "premium" for the exact same product.

One more thing though: would you suggest buying the HOME version or the PRO version, from a Gamer's standpoint?
I am using Pro at my current gaming PC; however, we are talking about the different between 120$ to 200$. What's your opinion and what are you using today?

 

[CountMike]

Well, you know how it works when an item goes thru many hands while being resold, at every step somebody has to make profit. Than there are differences in taxes many countries levy on products. When you by directly from MS and specially from other country taxes are not included because it's actually export.
Home edition should be just fine for you and any single computer. Pro is exactly same as Home with some advanced networking features disabled which you would not be using in all probability.

 

[Ransome]

Well, you know how it works when an item goes thru many hands while being resold, at every step somebody has to make profit. Than there are differences in taxes many countries levy on products. When you by directly from MS and specially from other country taxes are not included because it's actually export.
Home edition should be just fine for you and any single computer. Pro is exactly same as Home with some advanced networking features disabled which you would not be using in all probability.

You meant "Pro is exactly same as Home with some advanced networking features "ENABLED" which you would not be using in all probability", right?

Yeah, the only difference is- I am talking about the official Microsoft Store in Israel. Basically search "buy Windows 10" and it will show up, or log in into Microsoft Store website to buy Windows 10 and it will automatically transfer you to the Hebrew Israeli website with the steep price increase. It's not some 3rd party or a local seller or someone in Amazon marketplace or Ebay. It's the official MS site.

The same goes for Sony Playstation's Store. If you log in with your IL account prices are not only in ILS (Israeli shekels) but also much more expensive. Sometimes double and triple the price for games and dlcs.
Now with DLCs - turns out they are region-locked, that's why I was afraid Windows 10 Key will also be region-locked like so many things nowadays. Which sucks really. Region-locked should be a thing of the distant past. (I actually bought Bloodborne's DLC from Amazon US and had to ask for a refund from Amazon since it won't work with my European version of Bloodborne).

 

[CountMike]

Yes, home edition has some advanced networking options disabled which are enabled in Pro.
Are you trying to buy a Hebrew language edition ? Maybe that's the reason it sens you to local sales.

 

[Ransome]

Yes, home edition has some advanced networking options disabled which are enabled in Pro.
Are you trying to buy a Hebrew language edition ? Maybe that's the reason it sens you to local sales.

Thanks. Think I will buy the Home edition next time I build a PC and save some money.

And.. no it's not the case. I am always buy and install an English edition. Although it doesn't really matter which version you buy, I can buy an Hebrew Windows and download Language Packs and make it a Chinese Windows or whatever I wanted.
It is just as I said: Microsoft are displaying different websites, with different stores and prices, for each and every country. I live in Israel so by default it redirects me to the IL Store.
It's basically the same store just "translated". The prices are displayed in local currency; however everything is significantly more expensive - for no particular reason. It's B.S, utter b.s my friend. Like I said Sony does that too. It's a region-specific content thing, hence while I was (and still am) afraid of Region-Lock in case I buy Windows 10 from the US store.
Which, by the way, isn't too simple to access - you have to search/Google and find MS US store and make sure it doesn't automatically re-directs you to some other country.

EDIT: It seems to *sometimes* transfer you to your local store. I think the best bet is to search "buy windows 10 us store" than make sure its "/en_US" in the address ( https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/home ).
Double EDIT: However, it seems you will need to provide some generic US address in order to complete the checkout. Not just any address. I hope it's not a problem with Validation later...

 

[CountMike]

Have you tried from this page: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-10-Home/productID.319937100?ICID=Windows_Win10Home_ModE

 

[Ransome]

Have you tried from this page: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-10-Home/productID.319937100?ICID=Windows_Win10Home_ModE

Yes, this link works perfectly, appreciated. I've actually edited my previous reply.
However, it seems that during checkout - you will have to enter a generic ("fake" yet probably existing) US address with valid ZIP code and all.
I just hope that doing this won't give you issues during Validation later.. MS might not see that in a very good eye..
But since I've bought ahard copy version of Windows 8 imported from the UK before - I can only hope this isn't the case, like you said in the beginning of the thread.

 

[CountMike]

I never went further than that because it will ask for some kind of international credit card I don't have. Don't need it anyway because here (Serbia) we have regional (for Balkan) office and they sell windows and other MS products for even cheaper than in US. Probably has to do something with monetary exchange course. US$ - RSD which is better than what banks sell dollars for.