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Company details

  1. Media House
  2. News Service

Information provided by various external sources

PC World is your trusted source for tech product reviews, tech news, how-to's and free downloads


Contact info

2.2

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

19 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Hasn’t replied to negative reviews

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

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Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The staff are good and very helpful and…

The staff are good and very helpful and generally I dont have a problem with them except to say there is literally no aftercare for items bought. Yet when I bought a TV from them they seem to be the only ones on the Island that understand smart TVs. But I did get caught out with a useless wire I bought for my iPhone that works now and again.

October 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bought a mac version of Ccleaner today…

Bought a mac version of Ccleaner today and they knowingly sent me a PC license. Then when I went to live chat support they told me get back to them after the weekend if I kept putting in the license and got the same error, knowing I was going to get the same error. Never buy from this company. Saving a few bucks matters not when you can't even get the correct license.

September 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bought a Bitdefender Total Security…

Bought a Bitdefender Total Security 2025 license key from PCWorld website. The sales page automatically adjusts to your country currency. The sales page never said anywhere about the license key was for Europe or restricted, even in terms of sales. So it can't be activated in Netherlands. They mention in there terms that European buyers have a 14 day period in which the goods can be returned. I wrote four emails, but they won't reply. Also fastspring, the payment company wrote a mail for me, but also no reply. Lost 50 euro's. Dont buy software if you life in Europe.

August 31, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

licenses scams

Compare stacksocial with pcworld.

Both shops are identically, and they both sell unauthorized and useless licenses or licenses that are advertised as lifetime but are only for one month. Don't fall for it. pcworld has very bad ratings. stacksocial has not that much. That's why I guess they are paying for good reviews.

Don't waste your money to buy illegal licenses.

June 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Misleading Sales Page

Bought a Bitdefender Total Security 2025 license key from PCWorld website. The sales page automatically adjusts to your country currency. The sales page never said anywhere about the license key was for Europe or restricted, even in terms of sales. So it can't be activated in Australian. I can't get a refund, because you only get a refund if you're located in the European Union.

May 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scam virus checker PC World

Just purchased a virus checker from PC World Software Store. When I clicked the download button it failed. No confirmation email sent either. I guess I've been scammed.

April 10, 2025
Unprompted review
PCWorld logo

Reply from PCWorld

Hi. We are sorry to hear you are experiencing this problem.
You can get access to live customer service at https://software.pcworld.com/
Look for the Customer Support box in the lower right of the page. Or scroll to the bottom and click the Customer Support query box to chat to us, and we will solve the problem that you are encountering.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Lots of unrealistic deals with wrong…

Lots of unrealistic deals with wrong description about the deal. Once purchased, don’t except to get what they say under item’s description. They May Day “Lifetime access”, but in reality it is ONLY one month’s access (same fee the original company charges) And they NEVER respond your message. Be aware where you are putting your money.

February 14, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Microsoft Office 2021 Professional is a ripoff…

Good News. Refund was posted to my Credit Card today. Thank You, Trustpilot.

Since I was left with no Office programs (because I'd cancelled Office 365 so I could load this), I found a One-time Purchase (no monthly or annual subscription), legitimately from Microsoft.

Microsoft Home & Business 2024, with Classic 2024 desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. Compatible with Windows 10 and 11, or macOS. This is exactly what I was needing. Didn’t know it existed.

Now, I can use my old version of Outlook (365 took that option away from me) and I don't have to hassle with 365 junk that I don't need and was paying lots of money for every year.

This was not inexpensive: $249.99, but I received a Product Code at time of purchase, and everything in this package is much better than the 2021 package I'd struggled to make work.

If you don't need Outlook, the Home Office 2024 costs $149.99.

The questionable download cost me $56.96, several very long days and sleepless nights. I guess I got what I paid for. I had total lack of confidence for the product. It was never going to feel right.
I’m at peace now. No more sleepless nights.
********************************
Just purchased Microsoft Office 2021 Professional and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro. The code provided for Office 2021 was invalid when I tried to install. Unfortunately, I'd cancelled my Microsoft Office 365 subscription, so I have No Office Programs. This 2021 Professional has to be a pirate. The download link is Named Office 2021, but the download and activation says it's Microsoft Office 365. Told to disregard 365. It's a mess to attempt to download and activate. License numbers are invalid. It's marketed via stackcommerce.com.

Received this from Stack Commerce Support:

"I am sorry to hear that you have a problem activating your Office 2021 license.
Unfortunately, we ran out of replacement keys for Office 2021.
We have been authorized to issue you a refund for the amount of the purchase price.

Please allow 2-3 business days for your refund to show on your original form of payment.

If you have any additional questions, we are always here to help."

I'm stuck, now, with NO OFFICE PROGRAMS!

January 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Just purchased Microsoft Office 2021…

Just purchased Microsoft Office 2021 Professional and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro. The codes provided for Office 2021 were invalid when I tried to install online and the separate codes were invalid when I tried to install via phone. Now my previously installed Office will be invalid after 30 days. Waiting for response from PCWORLD.

January 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scammer

Scammer, deal with piracy, fake activation codes, illegal software etc.

October 25, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Utterly rude

Utterly rude, delusional, and gaslighting customer service.

Chris W apparently runs the whole store and runs it like a basement incel. He's so smart that he's a customer service rep for an online software retailer owned by a magazine. Congratulations, Chris!

October 7, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fake website, not pcworld

This is a fake website and not the real pcworld because this is now owned by curry's. They sell fake Microsoft licences. They replied to my comment but not to any of the other customers who been scammed

May 24, 2024
Unprompted review
PCWorld logo

Reply from PCWorld

Hi. PCWorld.com is a reviews website that has been going since 1982. We would appreciate it if you would delete your review as it is damaging to our business and we are not a fake website! Thanks!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bought an MS Office license

Bought an MS Office license. It did not work, they sent me a new one it did not work. Then I asked for a credit note, and they said that I had used the key they sent me. Customer service is a joke. Fraudulent license keys are a joke. It is not worth your time, Stay Away.

November 1, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fake unauthorised licence sold

Customer service communicates via @icloud email, not responding to uncomfortable questions to confirm the origins of licenses, unable to answer simple questions, rude. Payment processing engine in the US, no invoices issued under PCWorld, typos on the website, etc.
Stay away!

November 8, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

dodgy unauthorised licence sold via shop.pcworld

Assumed a respected business such as PCWorld would ONLY affiliate with legitimate Microsoft resellers when redirected to shop.pcworld. WRONG. I was sold a counterfeit Microsoft 11 Pro license and it has now stuffed up my ability to revert to the Home version.

So disappointed I didn't carry out due diligence on this company.

December 19, 2023
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

BEWARE SELLS COUNTERFEIT SOFTWARE

DO NOT SHOP HERE,
Purchased Windows 10 from the PC World Store, Was given a COUNTERFEIT CDKEY that Microsoft reported was invalid. Customer support would not respond to multiple contact attempts over a 2 week period. Compete scam, DO NOT BUY FROM THEM.

June 6, 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Mostly ads and clickbait

Most of the articles are ads or clickbait. There are occasionally a few useful articles, but you'll have to sift through lots of garbage to find them.

May 24, 2021
Unprompted review
PCWorld logo

Reply from PCWorld

Hi. We think this is unfair. We have a team of respected journalists who are committed to helping readers, and refute that the articles are "ads" or clickbait. We'd be delighted to correspond with you directly to hear your thoughts.

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