Buying Guides
Posts in the Buying Guides category from the LionScripts team.
Windows 10 End-of-Life: Should You Switch to Linux or macOS?
Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025, leaving PCs without free security updates. Explore whether switching to Linux or macOS is the right move for you.
Perpetual License vs Subscription Software: Which Saves You More?
Should you buy software once or pay forever? We break down perpetual license vs subscription software with real numbers, honest trade-offs, and which option actually saves you money.
How to Spot Fake Software License Keys Before You Buy
That $200 design suite for $12 is almost certainly a fake. Learn the warning signs of deactivated, stolen, and counterfeit software license keys before you buy.
How to Buy Software Online Safely: A Practical Guide
Counterfeit license keys, fake "free" versions, sketchy resellers — the software market has more scams than people realize. Here's how to spot them.
The Best Cross-Platform Software for Windows, macOS, and Linux in 2026
A practical roundup of the most useful software for power users across Windows, macOS, and Linux — clipboard managers, file utilities, security tools and more.
Essential Windows Software in 2026
After a fresh Windows install, what do you actually need? A short, opinionated list — disk space management, security, productivity.
How Software Licensing Actually Works in 2026
Lifetime, perpetual, subscription, OEM, BYOL — what each license type really means, and which is right for your situation.
Best Mobile Apps for Productivity, Security, and Daily Use in 2026
A short list of mobile apps worth keeping on your home screen — calculators that respect your time, encrypted vaults for sensitive data, and offline games for when there's no signal.
Essential macOS Software in 2026
Apple ships a lot for free. Here's the small list of third-party Mac software that earns its place anyway — clipboard, calculator, vault, and the macOS settings worth changing on day one.
Free vs Paid Software: When It's Worth Paying
Free software has gotten very good. So has paid. Here's a rule of thumb for when to spend, when to save, and when "free" actually costs more.
Self-Hosted vs SaaS in 2026: A Practical Buyer's Guide
When does paying a monthly fee make sense, and when should you run software you own? A clear-eyed look at the real costs of both approaches.
Essential Linux Software for Desktops and Servers in 2026
A pragmatic Linux software guide — what to install on a desktop, what to install on a server, and what most online lists get wrong.