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Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro

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Oct 16, 2024
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Faced with the choice of a new version of Windows and don't know which to opt for? Microsoft doesn't make it easy, offering two editions of its flagship system. Is it worth paying extra for the Pro version, when Home seems to have everything the average user needs? Let's find out what you really gain by choosing the more expensive version.

Windows 11 Pro vs Home - differences in everyday use

The interface of both versions of Windows 11 is basically identical - you'll see the same centered Start and a refreshed Windows 11 design. At first glance, it's hard to see the differences between the versions, but the devil is in the details.

The Home edition provides all the necessary features for everyday work, Internet browsing or gaming. Microsoft has made sure that every user can use the basic version without any problems. The system provides support for popular peripherals, organization of the desktop into groups and plenty of personalization options.

Business features in Windows 11 Pro

The Pro version introduces enhanced tools, especially useful in a business environment. These include:

Group Policy Editor - centrally manage the settings of all computers on the corporate network;
Kiosk mode - the ability to attach a computer to a corporate network managed by Windows Server or Microsoft Entra ID, allowing you to use shared resources and central authentication;
Kiosk Mode - restricts access to a single application, useful for news outlets;
Mobile Device Management - remote management of a fleet of corporate devices;
Dynamic Provisioning - rapid deployment of the same configuration on multiple devices;
Assigned Access - control access to specific applications for different users;
Microsoft Store for Business - the organization's own app store;
Enterprise State Roaming - synchronization of settings and applications between enterprise devices;
Windows Autopilot - automatic deployment and configuration of new devices.

The average user rarely uses these features, but they are essential if only for corporate network administrators.

The big difference already appears during installation. Home requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft account, while on the Pro version you can create a local profile without logging into cloud services.

Data protection and security

Both versions feature Microsoft Defender and a firewall . Home also offers basic Device Encryption on computers that meet certain hardware requirements. But Pro extends these capabilities with a full version of BitLocker for advanced disk encryption.

Available exclusively with Pro Windows Information Protection , it prevents accidental leakage of corporate data. It's especially useful if you store private and business information on the same computer. Windows Defender Application Guard , on the other hand, isolates your web browser in a virtual environment. This allows you to use the Web safely without risk to your system.

Hardware limitations and performance

Home supports a single processor with up to 64 cores and up to 128 GB of RAM. Pro lifts some of these limits - allowing the use of two processors (up to 128 cores total) and as much as 2 TB of RAM.

The ordinary computer user is unlikely to have such equipment. Therefore, these parameters only matter for specialized applications. Advanced games or video editing programs rarely use more than 32 GB of RAM.

On standard home hardware , you won't feel any difference in speed between the two versions. The system runs equally smoothly regardless of the edition you choose.

Windows 11 Home a Pro - tools for professionals

Pro provides Windows Sandbox, an isolated environment for secure application testing. This feature is especially appreciated by developers and software testers. Administrators benefit from Windows Update for Business, which allows them to fully control the update process on company computers. In the Home version, updates install automatically.

Available on the Pro version, Hyper-V gives you the ability to create virtual machines. For that Home also offers support for Windows Subsystem for Linux, which is enough for some developers.

Windows 11 Home or Pro - which version should I choose?

Home will work well for most home applications. It will handle games, multimedia, office work and study software. It has all the features needed by the average user.

Pro is worth thinking about when running a business or working with confidential data. Enhanced security and management features streamline work in a business environment.

In the Microsoft store, you'll pay about 630 PLN for the basic version, while Pro costs about 1,100 PLN. With us you will buy a license much cheaper - check out our Windows 11 offer!