Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Which Windows Edition is Right for You?

Microsoft offers Windows 11 in multiple editions. However, the choice you’ve to make when buying a new laptop or purchasing a Windows 11 copy is between two editions: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro.

Although both these Windows 11 editions are largely similar, there are some notable differences, including the price, separating the two. Knowing these differences can help you pick the right Windows 11 edition for your device.

Keep reading as we break down what’s different between the two editions in this Windows 11 Home vs. Pro comparison.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: Features Comparison

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Minimum System Requirements

Both Windows 11 Home and Pro share the same minimum system requirements. For those unaware, here are the bare minimum specs you need on your computer to run Windows 11:

• Processor: 1GHz or faster processor with two or more cores
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB
• TPM: TPM version 2.0
• Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 driver
• System Firmware: UEFI and Secure Boot capable

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: CPU and RAM Support

When it comes to CPU and RAM support, there are some differences between the two Windows 11 editions. Although these differences wouldn’t affect average Windows users, knowing them can be valuable for power users, especially those into custom PCs.

Windows 11 Home supports one CPU, so your PC build can have just one CPU. Meanwhile, Windows 11 Pro supports two CPUs. Similarly, the maximum number of CPU cores Windows 11 Home supports is 64, half of what Windows 11 Pro does.

Talking about RAM, with Windows 11 Home, you get support of up to 128GB of RAM. Although this should suffice the needs of most individuals, those who feel the need for more will have to look toward Windows 11 Pro, which supports up to 2TB of RAM.

Windows 11 Home vs 11 Pro: Gaming

On the gaming front, there isn’t anything separating Windows 11 Home and Pro. Microsoft offers the same gaming features on Windows 11, irrespective of the edition, so you can expect good performance irrespective of which edition you choose.

Both editions support DirectX 12 Ultimate, the latest version of Microsoft’s DirectX Graphics API as of the time of writing. DirectX 12 Ultimate promises to offer the best gaming performance thanks to features like DirectX Raytracing, variable rate shading, mesh shaders, and the like.

Similarly, you get a built-in game optimizer, Game Mode, on both Windows 11 editions. This tool optimizes the system to take full advantage of the hardware and minimizes distractions to help you focus better.

Another gaming feature common in both editions is DirectStorage. On computers and games that support it, DirectStorage enables faster loading speeds, so you don’t have to sit idle watching the game load on your device.

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Virtualization Features

One of the major differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro editions lies in the availability of virtualization features. And it’s one area where the Windows 11 Pro truly outshines Home.

With Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft gives you access to features like Hyper-V, a built-in hypervisor that you can use to set up and manage virtual machines for various operating systems, and Windows Sandbox, which lets you test and run risky/unverified programs in isolation without affecting your system. Add to this the fact Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2TB of RAM, and you realize how effective it is for someone who needs to run multiple virtual machines on their computer.

All of these features aren’t available on Windows 11 Home. The only support it gets is for the Windows Subsystem Linux (WSL), which enables you to run Linux on your computer without using a virtual machine or dual booting. Besides, you can also install third-party virtualization programs like VirtualBox or VMWare to create and run virtual machines on a Windows 11 Home computer.

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Admin Tools

Besides virtualization, another area where Windows 11 Home and Pro differ significantly is admin tools.

Microsoft bundles a bunch of admin tools on Windows 11 Pro, otherwise missing on the Home edition. To begin with, you get Group Policy Editor, which is a built-in utility that lets administrators configure Group Policy settings for a single or a group of computers at an organization. It also enables them to configure how someone uses a system by restricting or allowing features, among other things.

Then, there’s Mobile Device Management (MDM), a tool that simplifies managing devices in an enterprise setting by allowing the administrator to remotely enroll, configure, monitor, optimize devices, and more. Lastly, there’s Kiosk Mode, which lets IT administrators configure devices for each user separately. That way, users have access to just the apps and functionalities that they actually need. Not only does this help reduce distractions but it also prevents users from accessing apps and features not meant for them.

Lastly, because many businesses use Windows 11 Pro, it also comes equipped with Windows Update for Business. Windows Update for Business is a service that lets organizations connect their systems directly with Windows Update service to keep them up to date with the latest security updates and features.

Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro: Security

Security is an important aspect you need to consider when choosing an operating system for your computer. Although both Windows 11 Home and Pro offer good security, the Pro edition tops things off with a few extras.

BitLocker Device Encryption is one of them. The feature encrypts the internal drive on your Windows 11 Pro PC to protect it and its data from unauthorized access in case of loss or theft. It’s most effective on devices that come with a Trusted Platform Module (TDM), a chip aimed at improving your system’s security, as it allows it to ensure that the device isn’t tampered with even when it’s offline. You can also use BitLocker Device Encryption to lock and protect folders on your system.

Likewise, the Windows 11 Pro edition also comes with Microsoft Defender Application Guard. It works differently based on which device it’s installed on but has the same aim: tackle old and newly emerging attacks to protect your system. For example, organizations can use it to disable access to specific sites on Microsoft Edge when a user is using it to protect the company data. In the case of Microsoft Office, it can be used to prevent untrusted Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files from accessing company resources.

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Price

Microsoft has priced Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro editions differently, owing to the differences in their feature set.

A copy of the Home edition of Windows 11, featuring all the essential features, costs $139 (Rs 10,379 in India). On the other hand, you can pay $99 more and get a Windows 11 Pro copy for $199 (Rs 16,515 in India) instead, which gives you access to a few additional features and better security.

Alternatively, if you’re already running Windows 11 Home on your computer but want to upgrade to the Pro edition, you can simply purchase an upgrade license. A Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade costs $99 (Rs 6,799 in India).

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Which One Should You Pick?

With the feature sets of Windows 11 Home and Pro stacked next to each other, Windows 11 Pro clearly seems the more loaded offering. However, these extra features cost $60 more. Plus, most of these advanced features make the most sense only for systems used in a business setting or where security is paramount.

If you’re an average user, there isn’t much for you in Windows 11 Pro; not to mention. You can get Windows 11 Home instead, and you’ll still get the best Windows 11 experience without compromising much.

Of course, if you ever need BitLocker Device Encryption, Windows Sandbox, Hyper-V, or some other Windows 11 Pro exclusive feature on your computer, you can upgrade it from Home to Pro by paying the upgrade fee of $99.