Windows 10, the latest version of the Windows operating system, is available in seven editions: Home, Pro, Enterprise, Mobile, Education, Mobile Enterprise Core, and IoT Core. Of these seven editions, only Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise are desktop editions.
Since Windows 10 Enterprise edition is for business, we home users need to choose an edition between Home and Pro.
If you want to know the difference between Windows Home Home and Pro edition or if you wish all the features you will get when upgrading from Home to Pro edition, go through Microsoft’s following chart.
Differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro editions
Features, characteristics |
Home |
Pro |
Customization Start |
Have |
Have |
Windows Defender and Windows Firewall |
Have |
Have |
Quick start with Hiberboot and InstantGo |
Have |
Have |
TPM support |
Have |
Have |
Save energy |
Have |
Have |
Windows Update |
Have |
Have |
Cortana |
||
Speak or type naturally |
Have |
Have |
Personal and proactive recommendations |
Have |
Have |
Remind |
Have |
Have |
Search the web, device, and cloud |
Have |
Have |
activate “Hey Cortana” |
Have |
Have |
Windows Hello |
||
Fingerprint recognition |
Have |
Have |
Face detection and iris |
Have |
Have |
Enterprise level security |
Have |
Have |
Lots of work |
||
Virtual desktops |
Have |
Have |
Snap support (up to four apps on one screen) |
Have |
Have |
Snap apps on screens on different screens |
Have |
Have |
Continuum |
||
Switch from PC to tablet mode |
Have |
Have |
Read the text |
Have |
Have |
Integrated ink support |
Have |
Have |
Cortana integration |
Have |
Have |
Protect |
||
Device encryption |
Have |
Have |
Microsoft Passport |
Have |
Have |
Protecting enterprise data |
Have |
Have |
Windows as a service |
||
Windows Update |
Have |
Have |
Update Windows for business |
Is not |
Have |
The existing branch for business |
Is not |
Have |
Management and deployment |
||
Side-loading of business applications |
Have |
Have |
Mobile device management |
Have |
Have |
Ability to join Azure directory, gain a one-time sign-in for applications hosted in the cloud |
Is not |
Have |
Business Store for Windows 10 |
Is not |
Have |
Easily upgrade from Pro to Enterprise edition. |
Is not |
Have |
Easy to upgrade from the Home to Education Edition |
Have |
Is not |
Current fundamentals |
||
Device encryption |
Have |
Have |
Login to your domain name |
Is not |
Have |
BitLocker |
Is not |
Have |
Group Policy |
Is not |
Have |
Internet Explorer Enterprise Mode |
Is not |
Have |
Assigned Access 8.1 |
Is not |
Have |
Remote Desktop |
Is not |
Have |
As you can see, even though the Home edition is the most basic version of Windows 10, most of the newly introduced features are available in the Home edition. The only elements missing in the Home edition compared to the Pro edition are Domain Join, Group Policy, BitLocker, Remote Desktop, Assigned Access, Enterprise Mode Internet Browser, Business Store Enterprise, Enterprise Data Protection, Windows Update for Business, and Existing Affiliate for Business.
If you’re a home user, the Home edition is perfect for you because features like Domain Registration, Windows Update for Business, and Existing Affiliate for Business aren’t necessary for home users. That said, it’s nice to have BitLocker, Remote Desktop, and Group Policy features in the Home edition.
Surprisingly, some advanced features like Windows To Go Creator, AppLocker, Credential Guard, and Device Guard are not an Enterprise edition as they are also included in the Education edition.