Purchasing Options for Minecraft: Education Edition Licenses

Any organization can purchase licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition, including eligible academic institutions, other organizations (like camps, clubs, and homeschools), and even individuals. This article provides information on how you can purchase licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition. 

Two types of licenses

Now that Minecraft: Education Edition is open to all, there are two different license types: academic and commercial. The difference between an academic license and a commercial license is in purchase eligibility, price, and the process to purchase and manage licenses. The Minecraft: Education Edition game itself has the same features and functions regardless of the license type.

Academic license eligibility

Academic licenses are only available to eligible academic institutions.  To see if your organization is eligible to purchase academic licenses, check your organizational email at the Office 365 Education page. For more information on what organizations are eligible academic institutions, check out the documents on the Licensing Terms and Definitions page.

Purchasing academic licenses

Eligible academic institutions can purchase individual licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition directly from Microsoft or can connect with a partner for volume licensing.

Note: Check with your IT admins before purchasing licenses as your school may already be licensed for Minecraft: Education Edition.

Commercial license eligibility

Any organization can purchase a commercial license. This is the license option available to any organization (like a camp, club, after-school program, etc.) that is not an eligible academic institution. It is also available to individuals and homeschoolers.

Purchasing commercial licenses

Individual licenses can be purchased for use by anyone. See Purchase Commercial Licenses for more information on purchasing commercial licenses.