If you have bought a computer that does not have any operating system or the one that comes with it is not to your liking then you may be thinking of installing Windows 10 on it. However, we may have a question when choosing the version of the system that best suits our needs. Although the latest version of the operating system is available in different versions, the truth is that the Home and Pro editions are the most used in a particular way. So we are going to show the differences between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.
At first, many users may think that one version does not matter, but the truth is that later, with day to day, each one may have certain needs and realize that the chosen version is not adequate. Both editions have all the basic functions of the Microsoft operating system, but as we will show below, there are some differences between the two, especially at the level of administration and security functions.
How to know which edition I have of Windows 10
If you already have Windows 10 because you have bought a computer with the operating system, it has given you one or you have inherited it, then the first thing you have to know is the exact edition that we have installed in order to know the features or functions to which I have access .
Knowing the system edition is very simple, we can open the configuration page and navigate to the System> About option . Automatically, in the right panel we will see a section with the system specifications and where we can see the edition we have.
We also have another alternative, we open a window run, Win + R, type winver and press OK or Enter. This will open a window in which we can see the version and edition that we have installed of the system.
Windows 10 versions
The normal thing is that we find that we have the Windows 10 Home edition installed, although we can also have Windows 10 Pro. In addition, Microsoft has another edition under the name of Education, the N versions of each one and other variations.
Windows 10 Home is the most basic and cheapest version if we have to buy a license. As we are going to show below, it is a version that has all the basic characteristics of the system, the only thing that we must take into account is that it offers some limitations when buying OEM or Retail licenses and that the maximum RAM memory is 4G in 32 bits and 128 GB in 64 bits.
For its part, the Pro edition is designed for users looking for something else. It includes everything from the Home edition, but it allows you to buy licenses by volume and the maximum memory RAM for 64 bits is 512 GB. It goes without saying that the Education version is the edition of the system focused on schools and its license is distributed by volume, so it cannot be purchased individually. All these editions have their particular version “N” , which means that they do not have any multimedia player installed by default.
Differences between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro
When analyzing the differences between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro we are going to do it in parts. At first we will review some of the basic characteristics and later we will look at administrative functions and security options offered by the different editions of the system.
We could say that one of the main differences that we find between both editions in the amount of RAM memory supported by each edition. In this sense, it must be said that the Home edition supports up to 128 GB of RAM while the Pro edition is capable of supporting up to 2 TB of RAM.
Now, if we review some of the basic functions and features of the Microsoft operating system, we will see that all of them are available in Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.
| functions and features | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge | Yes | Yes |
| Cortana | Yes | Yes |
| Digital pen and touch | Yes | Yes |
| Battery saving mode | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Ink | Yes | Yes |
| Tablet mode | Yes | Yes |
| RAM supported | Yes | Yes |
| Start menu and dynamic icons | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual desktops | Yes | Yes |
| Quick start | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update | Yes | Yes |
| Voice | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | Yes | Yes |
As we can see, the main basic functions of the Microsoft operating system are present in both editions. Therefore, it is possible to use the Cortana wizard or the Edge browser in Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, use virtual desktops, activate the system startup or quick start function, use tablet mode, use Windows Update to keep our system always correctly updated, activate the energy saving or battery mode, the digital pen and touch function, Windows Ink, the support for voice or the continuum function for the mobile, among others.
As far as security is concerned, the Pro version begins to be unmarked from the Home edition. Remember that this edition of the operating system includes certain features and functions that were designed with companies in mind, therefore, it has some additional security options as we can see in the following table.
| Functions and features | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Hello | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Information Protection | No | Yes |
| Encryption devices | Yes | Yes |
| Bitlocker | No | Yes |
| Secure boot | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Defender | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall and network protection | Yes | Yes |
| Internet protection | Yes | Yes |
| Parental control | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, the main differences between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro in security aspects are BitLocker device encryption and Windows Information Protection . The first of them allows us to protect the system and all our data so that nobody can access them, very useful in the event of loss or that our computer, laptop or tablet falls into strange hands.
For its part, Windows Information Protection, also known by its acronym WIP, is a function that helps us protect ourselves from possible data leaks, as well as the applications and company data that may be accidentally filtered by any user. . Two very interesting options, designed especially for the business environment but that in the case of Bitlocker it is worth having this option even if we are going to make personal use of the Microsoft operating system.
Finally we are going to focus on the integrated functions of productivity and administration , which is also where there is the greatest difference between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. As can be seen in the following table, the Home edition does not have any of the functions or features that the Pro edition has.
Making a quick review of all these functions available in Windows 10 Pro, it must be said that Mobile Device Management offers an alternative to traditional PC management processes, being able to transition to cloud-based management. Group policies allow you to define security and network policies for different users, while the Enterprise State feature is only available to those organizations with an Azure AD Premium or Enterprise Mobility + Security license, providing a unified experience across all Windows devices and reducing the time necessary to configure a new position or computer. Microsoft Store for Business is where Pro users can find, manage, and distribute applications for the system.
| Functions and features | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile device management | No | Yes |
| Group policy | No | Yes |
| Enterprise State Roaming with Azure | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Store for business | No | Yes |
| Assigned access | No | Yes |
| Dynamic provisioning | No | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes |
| Full screen settings | No | Yes |
| Active Directory support | No | Yes |
| Azure Active Directory support | No | Yes |
On the other hand, Assigned Access is the function that allows you to run different applications depending on the user and thus keep individual identities separate and protected. Dynamic Provisioning offers the ability to take a new PC out of the box, power it up, and transform it into a fully productive organization team with the least amount of time and effort, while Windows Update for Business is designed to reduce administration costs, deliver control over the implementation of system update.
Another difference between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro is the full screen setting . A function that in the Pro version, allows you to configure a device in full screen mode easily, both locally and remotely through the management of mobile devices.
Support for Active Directory is another characteristic of Windows 10 Pro and that we do not find in Windows 10 Home, as is the case with support for Azure Active Directory, which facilitates the administration of logins and passwords. Shared login works on PCs, tablets, and phones.
Prices and conclusion
As we have seen, the differences between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro focus on functions that have to do with security, administration and productivity. Therefore, if we are going to make a personal use of the system, the most recommended is to go for the Home version.
Now, if we need to have some of the security or productivity functions that the Pro edition offers exclusively, we will have no choice but to choose that version for our PC.
Now, we have to assess whether this function is absolutely essential and justifies the price difference between a license for the Home edition and one for the Pro. Currently, a Windows 10 Home license is priced at 145 euros in the Microsoft Store, while the Pro edition amounts to 259 euros.
