For a startup, renting MacBooks costs more than buying them over three years. What it buys you is cash: ten MacBook Airs need ₹13.87 lakh to buy and ₹3.04 lakh to rent in month one. Whether that trade is worth it depends on your runway, your hiring plan and how much your capital costs.
What month one costs
The device is the MacBook Air 13-inch M5 with 16GB and 512GB, Apple India MRP ₹1,49,900. Buying is at our corporate price of 7.5% below MRP. Renting is ₹6,746 a month plus GST, with a refundable deposit of ₹22,485.
| Team | Buy, month one | Rent, month one | Rent each month after, with GST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 MacBook Airs | ₹6,93,288 | ₹1,52,225 | ₹39,801 |
| 10 MacBook Airs | ₹13,86,575 | ₹3,04,450 | ₹79,603 |
| 25 MacBook Airs | ₹34,66,438 | ₹7,61,125 | ₹1,99,007 |
Month one for renting is the first month's rent with GST plus the deposit. GST is recovered as input tax credit once you are registered.
What three years cost
Over 36 months, buying still costs less. With a 25% cost of capital, which is cheap for equity, and no taxable profit yet to set the depreciation or the rent against, one bought MacBook Air costs about ₹1,04,498 in today's money after resale, and one rented costs about ₹1,89,647. Renting costs more because the rent adds up to 162% of the Mac's MRP over the term.
So rent for cash and flexibility, not because it is cheaper. If a round has just closed and the team is settled, buying is the cheaper route.
When renting is worth it
- Runway is the constraint. On a 10-person team, renting keeps ₹10.8 lakh in the bank in month one, for salaries and everything else that cannot wait.
- The hiring plan will change. Add Macs as you hire. When someone leaves, the Mac is collected and goes to the next person.
- Nobody runs IT yet. Macs arrive enrolled in your Apple Business Manager, so a new hire signs in and the Mac sets itself up.
Spend less per seat
Not every role needs a MacBook Air. The MacBook Neo is ₹3,596 a month plus GST, for support and operations roles. Engineers usually need a MacBook Pro. A mixed fleet is usually cheaper than putting everyone on one model.
Before you sign
- Check that the rent quoted is for the term you want, and that GST is shown.
- Ask how a lost device is charged; AppleCare+ for Mac in India does not cover loss or theft.
- Ask what happens to the rental if you raise and move to your own office or entity.
Run your own numbers in the rent-or-buy calculator, or send the roles and start dates and we will price a starter fleet: rentals.adalwin.com/quote.
Questions
Should a startup rent or buy MacBooks?
Buying is cheaper over three years. Renting keeps cash in the bank: ten MacBook Airs need ₹13.87 lakh to buy and ₹3.04 lakh to rent in month one. Rent when runway and a changing headcount matter more than the three-year total.
How much does it cost to rent a MacBook for a startup in India?
At Adalwin Rentals, a MacBook Air 13-inch M5 with 16GB and 512GB is ₹6,746 a month plus GST on 36 months, with a ₹22,485 refundable deposit. A MacBook Neo is ₹3,596 a month plus GST.
Can a startup claim GST on MacBook rent?
A GST-registered startup claims the 18% GST on rent as input tax credit each month. An unregistered one cannot, so the GST becomes part of the cost.
12+ years in corporate procurement, gifting, and IT supply-chain in India. Leads an authorised Apple DPP Partner and Logitech Enterprise Partner serving 110+ enterprises. About Sameer K Singh →
