Windows 10 Home Versus Windows 10 Pro

By Timothy Tibbetts

Windows 10 comes in two primary versions - Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. One would correctly assume that Home is for home users, and Pro is for business. But what are the real differences? Here are all the features available and what Windows 10 Pro has that Windows 10 Home lacks.

We'll start by looking at the features only available in Windows 10 Pro so you can decide if you need the Pro or Home editions. Windows 10 Home sells for $139, and Windows 10 Pro sells for $199. You might also be interested in Do Cheap Windows 10 Keys Really Work?.

The short version is that Home is designed for Home users, and Pro is intended for businesses, networks, etc. unless you need any of the Professional features:

Group Policy Editor - A powerful tool to manage Windows settings, users, and more. You can enable Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Home. This is the first thing we do with Windows 10 Home.

BitLocker device encryption - If your device is lost or stolen, you can put it on lockdown.

Windows Information Protection (WIP) - WIP helps to protect against potential data leakage and is most often used by companies who have employees who bring their devices home.

Mobile device management - allows you to transition to cloud-based management.

Enterprise State Roaming with Azure - Any organization with an Azure AD Premium or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) license can use this to configure new devices quickly.

Microsoft Store for Business - Find, manage, and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices in volume. It is designed for app developers.

Assigned Access - Windows 10 Pro devices run different applications depending on the user and keep individual identities separate and secured.

Dynamic Provisioning - Take a new PC out of the box, turn it on, and transform it into a productive organization device, with minimal time and effort.

Windows Update for Business - Windows updates are often delayed in a business environment. Windows 10 Pro allows much more control over Windows updates and deployment.

Kiosk mode setup - Allow a computer to start running only one application for computers that only need to do one thing. You can set up kiosk mode locally or remotely.

Support for Active Directory - Domain Join + Group Policy: IT staff can easily manage PCs, user accounts and groups, security policies and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server

Support for Azure Active Directory - Employees can use a single login across Windows 10, Office 365, and other Microsoft services, making logons and passwords easier to manage.

Here is a list of all the major features you get with both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro:

Windows Hello

Device encryption

Firewall and network protection

Internet protection

Parental controls / protection

Secure Boot

Windows Defender Antivirus

Digital pen & touch

Microsoft Edge

Cortana

Battery saver mode

Mobile

Voice

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