If your institution is part of a consortium and if other consortium members are buying the same software at the same time, check if you can arrange the purchase through the consortium. Combining orders from different institutions would allow for greater quantities and, therefore, greater discounts. If the software runs from the disk, check if the license allows for circulation from the library collection or other loan system. Some organizations sell software to their member institutions at discounted prices, some have agreements with software vendors or can negotiate discounts on behalf of their members. Annual license or subscription With a lower initial fee, an annual license or subscription gives access to the software for one year at a time.
Annual renewal is required to continue using the software.
Software subscriptions are also available from some vendors. Maintenance and upgrade plans Consider your future needs, and ask about availability of maintenance and upgrade plans. Educational volume licensing programs Vendors who sell large quantities of software to the educational market usually offer special discount programs that combine different features of the discount opportunities mentioned above. Ask the vendor for a quote for the best price. Demonstration or trial copies Ask for a free demonstration or a trial copy before buying new software.