Windows 10 Pro vs. Home: which you should buy?
When choosing between Windows 10 Pro or Home, they are both the same advanced and secure operating system. However, the choice will come down to the features you need and the price you are willing to pay. The best edition for you will be based on what you need to do on your computer. Usually, if you need to use Office and similar applications or want to build a gaming PC, Windows 10 Home is the best choice for you.
On the other hand, if you need to connect the device to a corporate network, change advanced system settings, and access features like Remote Desktop or Hyper-V for virtualization, then Windows 10 Pro is the better choice.
Whether you choose Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, you will be getting the same operating system, which Microsoft supports with the same monthly and feature updates. The only difference is the features available in each edition, and the information below will help you understand the differences between the two editions and which one to pick.
Windows 10 Home
The “Windows 10 Home” is for everyday users and gamers. This edition includes all the features you need to browse the internet, check emails, stream media, and play games even in 4K.
The operating system also comes with robust built-in security, including Windows Security, which protects your device and data against virtually any kind of malware and hacker attacks using the Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Microsoft Defender Firewall.
Windows Hello is another feature that allows you to sign in to the device using biometric authentications, including fingerprint, facial recognition, or passcode, making your machine more secure. Many devices come with Windows Hello built-in, but you can also get accessories to manually add this security method to your device. For instance, you can get a keyboard with a built-in fingerprint, a standalone USB fingerprint reader, or a webcam with facial recognition camera built-in.
If you have young members in the family, Windows 10 Home connected with a Microsoft account can also offer robust parental controls to set screen time and restrict access to apps and content online.
This edition of Windows 10 also includes a collection of built-in apps that connect with your Microsoft account for a cross-device experience and make you more productive. Some examples include Microsoft Edge, Mail, Calendar, Photos, Calculator, etc.
Of course, you can always install any app you need from the Microsoft Store or other sources, including your popular apps, such as Netflix, iTunes, Photoshop, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Steam, and more.
If you are a gamer, Windows 10 Home includes the latest technologies and capabilities to play any game with the newest version of DirectX and support for 4K.
Although this version doesn’t come with BitLocker, if the device includes a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2 chip, you can enable the “Device Encryption” feature to add an extra layer of security to protect your data. (Usually, devices like Surface laptops and tablets include this feature.
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The Windows 10 Home license costs $139, and you can purchase it from the Microsoft Store.
If you use the device at home, Windows 10 Home is for you. Windows 10 Pro primarily targets are businesses that aren’t using the enterprise volume license. It does unlock more features, but they are unnecessary for home users. However, if you are an advanced user, you may still benefit from the Pro edition.
Windows 10 Pro
“Windows 10 Pro” includes everything available for the Home edition and many other features to connect the workstation to a corporate network, enterprise-level data protection, enhanced security, virtualization capabilities, the ability to work remotely, and more.
Similar to the Home edition, Windows 10 Pro includes built-in security, including the Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Microsoft Defender Firewall, to protect the device against malware and hackers. Windows Hello is also available to add biometric authentication to login into Windows 10.
Connected with a Microsoft account, the Pro edition of Windows 10 offers parental control and a cross-device experience using the built-in apps. You can also install any app you need from the Microsoft Store or any other source, and you can use the operating system for gaming as it comes with support for DirectX and 4K gameplay.
Unlike the Home edition, Windows 10 Pro also includes the ability to connect to a corporate or school network using Active Directory or Azure Active Directory, and there are options to manage devices over the internet. If you need to set up a kiosk device, this edition has a feature to lock the device to use it with a single application. You can also access the Group Policy Editor to manage advanced system settings. Also, if you need to access apps and files remotely, Windows 10 Pro comes with Remote Desktop to connect remotely within the network or across the internet.
Windows 10 Pro comes with BitLocker, which also offers full device encryption to protect your data from unauthorized access, but with extra management tools.
Hyper-V is a hypervisor that allows users to run virtual machines with any version of Windows or Linux alongside Windows 10. And Trusted Boot is another feature included with Windows 10 Pro that works with Secure Boot to protect the boot process from malware.
If you need to test untrusted applications without affecting your current installation, you can use Windows Sandbox. It works just like a virtual machine, but it’s a tiny installation of Windows 10 enough to install and run untrusted classic applications isolated from the main installation.
Microsoft Defender Application Guard is another security feature with the same idea as Windows Sandbox. However, it’s intended to create an isolated (virtualized) instance of Microsoft Edge to navigate untrusted websites.
Another difference between Windows 10 Pro and Home is the memory limit. Windows 10 Home supports a maximum of 128GB of RAM, while Windows 10 Pro supports up to 2TB of RAM.
The Windows 10 Pro license costs $199, and you can purchase it from the Microsoft Store.
Windows 10 Pro for Workstation
Also, Microsoft offers another variant known as Windows 10 Pro for Workstation, which is technically Windows 10 Pro, but with some extra server-grade features. For instance, the ReFS (Resilient File System) is the default file system in this edition instead of NTFS, adding fault-tolerance, optimization for large data volumes, and automatic error correction.
Microsoft also includes support for non-volatile memory modules (NVDIMM-N) for persistent memory, which means that writing and reading speeds will always be the fastest possible. In addition, your files will still be there even after switching the computer off.
Using SMB Direct, Windows 10 supports Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), which enables compatible network adapters to run at low latency without impacting the processor performance.
Finally, Windows 10 Pro for Workstation includes support for server processors (Intel Xeon and AMD Opteron), with up to four physical processors per device and up to 6TB of memory.
Windows 10 Pro is limited to two processors and up to 2TB of memory.
The Windows 10 Pro for Workstation license costs $309, and it’s available through the Microsoft Store.
- Windows 10 Pro for Workstation | See at Microsoft
Windows 10 Pro vs. Home features comparison
Here’s a complete list of features comparing Windows 10 Home vs. Windows 10 Pro and vs. Windows 10 Pro for Workstation:
| Features | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Pro for Workstation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Hello | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Device Encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parental controls | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure boot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital pen & touch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Edge | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery saver mode | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gaming support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accessibility | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Information Protection | No | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker encryption | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile device management | No | Yes | Yes |
| Group Policy | No | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise State Roaming with Azure | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Store for Business | No | Yes | Yes |
| Assigned Access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Provisioning | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes | Yes |
| Kiosk mode setup | No | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Azure Active Directory support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyper-V for virtual machines | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Desktop | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Hello for Business | No | Yes | Yes |
| Resilient File System (ReFS) | No | No | Yes |
| Persistent memory | No | No | Yes |
| Faster file sharing with SMB Direct | No | No | Yes |
| Server-grade Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron processors | No | No | Yes |
| Four CPU support | No | No | Yes |
| RAM up to 6TB support | No | No | Yes |
| Quality monthly updates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Autopilot | No | Yes | Yes |
Windows 10 Pro vs.
Home answers
Can I upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro? Yes, you can always install Windows 10 Home, and then if you need the advanced features, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
How much does it cost to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro? If you’re already running Windows 10 Home, you’ll need to pay $99 for the license to upgrade.
Do I need Windows 10 Pro if I only need virtualization? No, you can always use third-party virtualization tools, such as VirtualBox (free) or Vmware Workstation (paid), to use virtual machines. However, if you must use Hyper-V, you will need to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
Which is faster, Windows 10 Home or Pro? They both offer the same level of performance because they are the same operating system. The only difference between them is their set of features.
Do I need Windows 10 Pro? No, if you are a home user, Windows 10 Home includes all the features you need.
Windows 10 Pro offers more features, but they are meant for business and security. Also, many times, you overcome the limitations using third-party tools.
Do I need Windows 10 Pro for gaming? No, if you plan to build a gaming PC, you don’t need Windows 10 Pro. Windows 10 Home includes all the technologies to play any game, even in 4K resolution.
Windows 10 Pro vs. Home which one to buy
Usually, Windows 10 Home is the right choice for most users, even when you are planning to build a gaming PC. However, if you are an advanced user and you need the extra features, such as Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, BitLocker, Windows Sandbox, etc., and you want to have the ability to manage advanced settings through Group Policy. Windows 10 Pro may be the edition you should buy if this is the case.
If you work in a business environment, then Windows 10 Pro is the right choice, hands down, even if you think you won’t need the extra features because you will need them in the future.
- Windows 10 Home | See at Microsoft
- Windows 10 Pro | See at Microsoft
We’re focusing this guide on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 10. However, Microsoft includes other variants of its desktop operating system, such as Windows 10 Enterprise, Education, IoT, Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), etc. However, these editions are organizations, you won’t get any additional benefits, and you won’t be able to get them through retail channels.
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Windows 10 Pro vs Home: What’s the difference?
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What’s the difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro? When you’re building a PC, you’re looking at a lot of expenses, particularly if you hope to game at higher settings and resolutions. Our build guides include all the hardware you’ll need, but there’s still the choice of operating system. Unless you plan on using Linux or upgrading to Windows 11 on compatible hardware , you’ll need either Home or Pro versions of Microsoft’s OS.
Retail versions cost $119 for a Windows 10 Home license or $199 if you go with the Pro version—OEM keys that are bought with a hardware purchase cost $109 and $149 . That’s a $40-$80 difference that could be put towards a better video card or more memory, but only if you don’t need the additional features Windows 10 Pro offers.
It’s worth noting that Windows 11 is a free upgrade from Windows 10 but if you own neither right now you’re still going to need to pick up a key.
Microsoft has offered a Pro version of Windows since the XP days, bringing with it additional features for power users that Home doesn’t offer.
While many of the extra features of Windows 10 Pro are clearly designed for business use, like group policy management and domain binding, there are other features that an enthusiast might not be able to live without. Here’s a breakdown of the most useful features that you get with Windows 10 Pro, as well as free alternatives, when applicable.
Remote Desktop
With Windows 10 Home, you’re still able to start Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions, but you can’t remotely control your PC from another device on your network natively. Fortunately, there are many free options like TigerVNC and TeamViewer that offer the same functionality and even some additional features that RDP doesn’t offer. You could also try RDP Wrapper as a free alternative.
Bitlocker
If you’re concerned about security and want to protect your data from intruders, or you’re coming from MacOS and want something comparable to Apple’s Filevault, you’ll want to spend the extra money on Pro.
Bitlocker provides full disk encryption so you can keep your data safe from hackers. The latest iteration of Bitlocker also allows for the encryption of individual files for more flexibility than the all-or-nothing approach of previous versions. Again, other software can accomplish similar encryption, but it’s not built into the OS. Be sure to get an SSD (or HDD even) that supports the necessary hardware acceleration for Bitlocker if you don’t want to lose performance.
Trusted Boot
Trusted Boot protects your PC from rootkits and works in conjunction with Secure Boot to help keep your system malware free and in your control by checking every component of the startup process before loading it. While it may provide peace of mind to any user, it’s another feature aimed at businesses where security is a top priority.
Secure Boot is available on both Pro and Home versions of Windows.
Windows Sandbox
Normally, we’d just say don’t run any suspicious files, but some people are curious.
Does that anonymous download that claims to fix performance actually work? Or is it malware masquerading as a useful program? You could install a virtualization solution and run the program in a sandbox so it won’t actually cause harm, or if you have Windows Pro you get that feature as part of the OS.
Hyper-V
Hyper-V is a Windows-only hypervisor used for running virtual machines on CPUs that support virtualization. If you plan on running VMs, this feature might be worth the cost of Pro, but if virtualization is all you need, there are free products like Virtualbox that offer more features and work with multiple operating systems. While Hyper-V is included with your Windows 10 Pro license, it needs to be downloaded and installed separately.
Memory Limits and Business Features
Aside from the above features, there are some other differences between the two versions of Windows. Windows 10 Home supports a maximum of 128GB of RAM, while Pro supports a whopping 2TB.
However, unless you’re running dozens of virtual machines, you’re not going to exceed the memory limits of Home any time soon.
Other features like group policy management, Assigned Access, and the ability to join a domain are unlikely to be very useful outside of the workplace. Assigned Access allows an admin to lock down Windows and allow access to only one app under a specified user account. Group Policy meanwhile allows you to restrict access to any number of Windows features and configure any setting within the operating system. While this is great from an admin perspective and a good way to set a co-worker’s wallpaper to something fun remotely, it’s not very useful in a home environment.
Windows Update for Business allows an admin to control when a system is updated and defer updates that may cause incompatibilities with legacy software or impact the business in some other way. But unless this is absolutely necessary, it’s best to keep Windows up to date.
Windows 10 Pro vs Home, which should I go for?
For the majority of users, Windows 10 Home edition will suffice.
If you use your PC strictly for gaming, there is no benefit to stepping up to Pro. The additional functionality of the Pro version is heavily focused on business and security, even for power users.
With free alternatives available for many of these features, Home edition is very likely to provide everything you need.
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Difference between Windows 10 Pro and Home
Difference between Windows 10 Pro and Home
Before buying licensed software, you need to figure out what is the difference between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, which edition suits your requirements, and what are the advantages of working with each of them.
Both options are popular, the price is not much different from each other, however, there are those who prefer the “Home” version, and those who prefer the “Professional”. SoftMonster offers a general guide to the most popular Top Ten versions so that you can decide for yourself which version is right for you.
Key features of Windows 10 Home
If you use your PC exclusively for «domestic» needs (surfing the Internet, working with documentation, etc.), then the «Home» version is your option. Outwardly, for normal use, it is no different from the «Professional», but it gives a great advantage — free space. There is no point in overpaying for functionality that you are not going to use.
Another thing is if you use a PC as a source of income. But even in this case, Windows 10 Home will cope with the tasks of small and medium businesses. Even the built-in standard tools are enough to keep records, communicate with clients, engage in simple processing of visual content, and even administer several computers connected via a local network.
In addition, the «Home» version contains the following innovations:
- Windows Hello is a tool that helps you protect your device from intruders. If the computer supports this function, then you can configure the system to start by fingerprint, iris, or face parameters.
- Hiberboot and InstaGo are functions that allow you to quickly wake up from sleep mode and boot the system. This is important for those who are actively working and do not want to waste time on typical processes.
- Microsoft Edge browser — Installed on the system by default. It is an excellent analogue of everyone’s favorite Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera, but its main advantage is that it does not need to be installed. Microsoft Edge runs on the same engine as Chrome, thanks to which it has been able to develop in parallel with competitors. One of the nice innovations, after switching to the Chromium engine, was the ability to install extensions developed for other browsers running on the same engine.
Edge is conveniently synchronized between various devices, as, in fact, all the components of the “dozens”.
- Virtual desktops — you can divide tasks by type, relevance and other criteria and place them on several desktops at once. Their number is not limited.
When installing an operating system, remember that the listed advantages work in full force and optimize the user experience only if you are using the official version of the OS. In pirate builds, features are cut down, work with bugs, or provide secret «loopholes» for attackers. We recommend buying a Windows 10 dongle, which guarantees that the system will work as stated on the manufacturer’s website and will not jeopardize your data.
Disadvantages of Windows 10 Home
The manufacturer has deprived the user of the opportunity to select the type of update. The system is now updated using one branch, the Current Branch under the Windows Update node. The bad thing about this is that all corrections in the branch are accepted automatically and immediately.
It does not give any time delay, which is why a large part of the updates come with bugs. Using Windows 10 Home, your system will be forced to update without the ability to choose how to update.
Windows 10 Pro Features
Windows 10 Professional refers to the highest versions of the operating system. It means:
- it has the standard functionality of lower versions;
- System enhanced with unique tools.
The latter are useful for medium and large businesses. The «professional» edition is used in enterprises, but it is no worse for home use. Here is a list of features explaining the difference between Windows 10 Pro and Home:
- The Pro edition has no functional restrictions for installing additional equipment. The «professional» version interfaces with most peripheral devices (which is useful for organizing office work), video editing equipment, external sound cards, home-type data storage.
- Using cloud storage.
This feature allows you to save hard disk space and offload the system for internal tasks. It is worth noting that Windows 10 cloud storage is protected only by standard tools. When using it, it is better to take care of the availability of a good antivirus with a cloud data protection function.
- Improved protection of information during transmission over a local network. Plus, it supports pairing a PC with various types of locales. Again, a great plus for running multiple computers in the office.
- Remote management support. You can expand/reduce user rights, set restrictions, control their access.
If the enterprise has succeeded and grown into a large organization using Windows 10 Professional, then for a small fee, the “Professional” version is upgraded to the “Corporate” version.
The flaw with updates in Windows 10 Professional has been resolved. The system uses not only the Current Branch, but also a flexible option — Current Branch for Business.
CBB is distributed through a more advanced service — Windows Update for Business. It is intended for corporate clients.
All functionality supplied by CBB is tested, so it causes system failures much less often.
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How is Windows 10 Home different from Pro?
Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system provides users with a wide range of tasks. At the same time, the OS takes into account the peculiarities of the requests of professional and home users, and therefore provides two modifications at once — with simplified and extended functionality. Both versions have a huge number of standard settings, but the Pro series boasts an increased number of elements. Before you upgrade your current Windows system, we highly recommend understanding the difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro.
Windows 10 Home: what you need to know?
The basic version of Windows 10 Home will suffice for anyone who uses the capabilities of the computer solely for everyday «domestic» needs:
- work with documentation;
- conducting correspondence on the Internet;
- surfing social networks and search engines.
The interface of this modification of the operating system is no different from the professional version, but at the same time allows users to enjoy free space. In addition, you do not need to overpay for redundant functionality that will not be used for its intended purpose.
The difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro will not be noticeable for those who use the computer as a work tool. Medium and small businesses will be able to fully meet their needs through the basic tools of the home version of the OS. Home allows:
- to keep records;
- communicate with partners and clients;
- generate simple visual content;
- to administer a small local network.
The creators of the system took care of the comfort of users and equipped Home 10 with many useful tools:
- Hello is a system that guarantees account security from unauthorized access.
- InstaGo and Hinerboot — speed up system boot and allow it to quickly «turn on» to work after waking up from «sleep».
- Edge is a new browser with a fantastic page load speed that takes classic web surfing to a whole new level.
- Multi-window, allowing you to work on multiple virtual desktops at the same time.
- Continuum — turns any mobile device on Windows 10 into a full-fledged personal computer, in which peripheral hardware can be connected.
Windows 10 Pro: an overview of the professional version of the OS
Finding out what is the difference between Windows 10 Home and Professional, you should pay attention to the features of the «advanced» modification of the system:
- is equipped with a standard set of functions from the basic versions;
- is supplemented with unique tools for solving specific narrow-profile tasks.
Professional version is a win-win solution for large enterprises and individual professionals whose work requires the use of specific software solutions:
- Cloud storage.
To save space on your PC hard drive and facilitate the system of internal tasks, Windows 10 Pro provides its own «cloud». It is protected by standard security tools. - Boundless compatibility with the absolute majority of auxiliary devices and equipment for processing audio and video content.
- Enhanced data protection when transmitted over a local network. This solution is indispensable for users who perform tasks on various work computers (home and office).
It is important to buy the original Windows 10 Pro to enjoy all the features of the system. You can do this at a certified partner of Microsoft Corporation — SoftMagazin online store.
How is Windows 10 Home different from Pro: a quick comparison?
By and large, Windows 10 Home is a simplified version of the Pro modification. These versions differ:
- Price. The professional OS costs $289, while the home OS costs only $199.
