RDS CAL licenses for Windows Server

Buying Windows Server CALs keys

Looking to buy an RDS CAL license for your terminal server? You need one for every person or device that connects through Remote Desktop. We sell genuine Microsoft Windows Server Remote Desktop Services CALs for Server 2025, 2022 and 2019, as user and device licenses, with instant delivery to your email.
Everything we sell is a genuine Microsoft license. We have been selling Microsoft licenses since 2020 and have delivered more than 30,000. If a CAL key does not activate, we fix it or send a replacement.
RDS CALs in stock

Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services 50 User CAL
Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services 50 Device CAL
Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop Services 50 User CAL
Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop Services 50 Device CAL
Windows Server 2019 Remote Desktop Services 50 Device CAL
Windows Server 2019 Standard 5 Remote Desktop User CALs and Windows Server 2019 Datacenter 5 Remote Desktop User CALs for smaller teams

What is an RDS CAL and why do you need one?
Short version: an RDS CAL is the license for a Remote Desktop connection. You need one for each user or device that opens a Remote Desktop session on your server.
RDS stands for Remote Desktop Services. It lets several people log into one server, and each of them sees their own Windows desktop. It is common in offices where everyone runs the same applications from a central machine.
Here is the part that catches people out. A regular Windows Server CAL only covers basic access, such as file shares, printers and authentication. The moment someone opens a Remote Desktop session and works on a desktop, a different license applies. That is the RDS CAL.
So every remote desktop user needs two licenses: one Windows Server CAL and one RDS CAL. Microsoft sells them separately.
User RDS CAL vs Device RDS CAL
Quick answer: a User RDS CAL is one person on any device. A Device RDS CAL is one machine used by any person.
It works the same way as regular Server CALs.
User RDS CAL
You assign it to a person. They can connect from a work laptop, a home PC, a phone or a tablet. The license stays with them, not with the hardware. It makes sense when your people work from home or carry laptops around.
Device RDS CAL
You assign it to a machine. Anyone who sits at that machine can connect. Day shift, night shift, a temp worker, whoever. Think warehouse terminals, reception PCs and thin clients.
Side-by-side comparison

FeatureUser RDS CALDevice RDS CAL

License assigned toOne personOne machine
Devices allowedAny number for that userOne specific device
Users allowedOne specific userAny number on that device
Best forLaptop users, people working from homeThin clients, kiosks, shared PCs
Per-license costUsually higherUsually lower
ReassignmentPermanently to another user (for example, when an employee leaves), or temporarily to cover an absent userPermanently to replacement hardware, or temporarily to a loaner device

Which one costs less?
Device CALs are usually cheaper per license, but do the math. If your people each have a work PC and a home laptop, User CALs end up cheaper because you buy one per person instead of two.
You can mix both types on the same deployment. Many companies use User CALs for office staff and Device CALs for shared workstations.
RDS CAL version compatibility
Rule: a newer CAL covers older servers. An older CAL does not cover newer servers.
A Windows Server 2025 RDS CAL works with Remote Desktop session hosts running 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016. A Windows Server 2019 RDS CAL stops at 2019, so you cannot use it with a 2022 or 2025 session host.
One more detail: the RD license server must run the same Windows Server version as the CALs or a newer one. You cannot install 2025 RDS CALs on a 2019 license server.
Planning to upgrade your servers soon? Buy the newer CAL now. It works with your current setup and you avoid buying licenses twice. We have seen companies upgrade their session hosts and suddenly need a full new set of 50 licenses.
Running several RDS servers on different versions? Your CAL count stays the same. One User RDS CAL covers that person on all your RDS hosts, as long as the CAL version is at least as new as the newest host, as Microsoft’s licensing documentation explains.
The 120-day RDS grace period
You get 120 days to install RDS CALs. After that, users without a license cannot connect.
When you set up Remote Desktop Services for the first time, Windows gives you roughly four months to sort out licensing. During that time, people can connect even without proper CALs.
When the grace period ends, the session host starts checking. No valid CAL, no connection. This often happens at companies where someone set up RDS as a quick test, forgot about licensing, and found out when users suddenly could not log in.
The 120-day clock does not pause or reset. Once it runs out, it is gone, so install your licenses in good time.
Setting up your RDS license server
Your RDS CALs live on a license server. It is a Windows Server role that keeps track of which users or devices have been issued licenses.
Setup is straightforward:

Add the Remote Desktop Licensing role (it can run on your RDS host or on a different server)
Activate the license server with Microsoft (over the internet, or by phone if the server is offline)
Install your RDS CAL keys
Point your RD Session Hosts to the license server and set the licensing mode (per user or per device) to match your CALs

Once it is running, open RD Licensing Manager at any time to see how many CALs are in use. That tells you when you are running low.
Calculating how many RDS CALs you need
Count: one RDS CAL per user or device that connects through Remote Desktop, plus a Windows Server CAL for each of them.
Anyone who connects through Remote Desktop needs a license, whether they log in every day or once a month.
User RDS CAL: one per person. It covers all their devices and all your RDS servers.
Device RDS CAL: one per machine. Ten thin clients mean ten Device RDS CALs, no matter how many people rotate through them.
Contractors and temporary staff count too. If they connect, they need a license.
Our packs cover 50 users or 50 devices, which suits most small and mid-sized offices. For a small team on Windows Server 2019, the 5 user bundles are often enough.
Why buy RDS CALs from HypestKey
We started out selling to small businesses that could not get volume deals from Microsoft directly, and that is still who we work for. All our Remote Desktop Services licenses are genuine Microsoft licenses.
Every pack comes with instant delivery to your email. If a license does not activate, we fix it or send a replacement.
Questions? Write to support@hypestkey.com or use the live chat. For the server licenses themselves, see Windows Server.
Common questions
What is a Windows Server RDS CAL?
The license for Remote Desktop access. It lets a user or device open a Remote Desktop session on your Windows Server, and it is separate from the regular Windows Server CAL.
Do I need an RDS CAL if I already have a Windows Server CAL?
Yes, you need both. The Server CAL covers file shares and basic access. The RDS CAL covers the Remote Desktop session. One remote desktop user means two licenses.
User RDS CAL or Device RDS CAL?
A User CAL follows the person to any device. A Device CAL stays with one machine for any person. Remote workers usually need User CALs; shared terminals usually need Device CALs.
Are RDS CALs tied to a version?
Yes. Newer covers older, not the other way round. A 2025 CAL works with 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016 session hosts. A 2019 CAL only goes up to 2019.
How many RDS CALs do I need?
One per user or device that connects through Remote Desktop. Fifty people connecting means fifty User RDS CALs, and each of them also needs a regular Server CAL.
What is the RDS license server?
A Windows Server role that stores and manages your RDS CALs. You install your license keys there and it hands them out to connecting users or devices.
What happens after the 120-day grace period?
Users without a license cannot connect. There is no extension and no reset, so install your CALs before it runs out.
Can RDS CALs be transferred?
User CALs can be reassigned permanently to a new person, for example when an employee leaves, or temporarily to cover someone who is absent. Device CALs move permanently to replacement hardware or temporarily to a loaner device.