Windows 11 Pro vs. Home: 6 Key Differences and Which Is the Better Value

Key Points

• Windows 11 Pro is more expensive than Windows 11 Home, with a price difference of around $200.
• Windows 11 Pro offers advanced security features such as Bitlocker Device Encryption and Windows Hello for Business.
• Windows 11 Pro has exclusive productivity features like Remote Desktop and access to Microsoft Teams and OneDrive for Business.
• Windows 11 Home has a gaming optimization feature called Game Mode, while Windows 11 Pro is more geared towards business users.
• Windows 11 Pro has additional connectivity options like DNS over HTTPS and the ability to change network profiles.
• Windows 11 Home receives updates more frequently, while Windows 11 Pro allows for more control over updates.

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, and it comes in two primary editions: Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home. Both versions offer a sleek and modern OS design with a revamped Start menu, improved multitasking features, and access to the Microsoft Store and Android apps. 

However, there are also some key differences between them that may affect your choice, depending on what you plan to use your system for. In this article, we will compare Windows 11 Pro vs. Home in six aspects: price, security, productivity, gaming, connectivity, and updating. Let’s get into it!

Windows 11 Pro vs. Home: What’s the Difference?

At first glance, Windows 11 Pro looks just like Windows 11 Home. To the untrained eye, they are the same. But digging a little deeper will reveal a few key differences.

1. Price

Right off the bat, Windows 11 Pro is more expensive than Windows 11 Home. The exact price may vary a bit, depending on the retailer and device you buy, but, generally speaking, Windows 11 Pro is around $200 more expensive than Windows 11 Home. 

If you already have a Windows 10 Pro license, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for free. Similarly, if you have a Windows 10 Home license, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Home for free. However, if you want to make the switch from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro, you will be required to pay an additional fee.

2. Security Features

Windows 11 Pro offers more advanced security features than Windows 11 Home. For example, Windows 11 Pro supports Bitlocker Device Encryption, which is able to encrypt your entire drive and allows you to set a password or PIN required to unlock the drive, protecting your data from unwanted eyes. 

Windows 11 Pro also features support for Windows Hello for Business, which allows you to use biometric authentication, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, to sign in to both your device and online accounts. 

Additionally, Windows 11 Pro supports Group Policy and Domain Join, which enable you to manage multiple devices and users in a network. There’s also the Windows Information Protection that comes with the Pro version of Windows 11. Windows Information Protection aims to help prevent accidental data leaks by separating personal and work data on your device. 

3. Productivity Features

While Windows 11 brought Snap layouts and Snap groups to both Windows 11 Pro and Home, Windows 11 Pro has some exclusive productivity features that are unavailable in Windows 11 Home. 

For instance, Windows 11 Pro supports Remote Desktop, which lets you access your PC from another device over the Internet. Additionally, Windows 11 Pro supports Hyper-V, letting you create and run virtual machines on your PC. 

Furthermore, Windows 11 Pro is a more business-oriented version of the Windows operating system than Windows 11 Home. With Pro, you also get access to Microsoft Teams and OneDrive for Business.

When it comes to Windows 11 Home, there aren’t any exclusives, but you do get the same access as Windows 11 Pro users to live captions and natural narrator, the enhanced accessibility and communication feature that comes with Windows 11.

This allows text to be transcribed into speech and vice versa. And you will find them in either edition of Windows 11. 

Widgets are also back for both Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home Edition, allowing you to create a personalized dashboard of information that you can access with a swipe or a click. It comes with the usual suite of news, weather, stocks, sports, and other information you choose.

4. Gaming

Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro have similar gaming capabilities. You will find that both support DirectX 12 Ultimate, which enhances the graphics and performance of games. Both versions also support Xbox Game Pass for PC, which gives you access to hundreds of games for a monthly subscription fee. 

Windows 11 Home actually takes a slight edge over Windows 11 Pro in terms of gaming optimization. Windows 11 Home has a feature called Game Mode, which automatically adjusts your system settings to prioritize gaming performance, which Windows 11 Pro does not have.

As Windows 11 Pro is more geared towards business users or IT departments, it is not necessary to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro if you plan on using your computer mostly for gaming. In fact, Windows 11 Home is more than enough to enjoy a good gaming experience on a Windows machine. 

5. Connectivity Options

Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home offer different connectivity options to suit different needs and preferences. Whether you have a laptop or desktop, both editions will support your built-in networking hardware.

Both editions support Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and cellular network adapters, but Windows 11 Pro has some additional that can enhance security and performance.

One of these features is DNS over HTTPS, which encrypts your DNS queries to prevent third parties from spying on your online activity. Windows 11 Home does not have this option.

Another feature that Windows 11 Pro has is the ability to change the network profile from public to private, or vice versa. This allows you to adjust the firewall settings and network discovery options, depending on whether you are connected to a trusted or untrusted network. 

Windows 11 Home, on the other hand, has a few connectivity and safety features that differ from Windows 11 Pro. For example, Windows 11 Home comes with Microsoft Family Safety, which lets you set screen time limits, content filters, and activity reports for your family members.

Another feature on Windows 11 Home is the S mode, which limits the apps that can be installed from the Microsoft Store. This allegedly helps improve security, performance, and battery life on laptops. But it might be frustrating if you want to install your own third-party apps. Fortunately, it can be easily disabled.

6. Update Schedules

The two versions of the Windows 11 operating system have different update schedules. Windows 11 Home typically receives updates more frequently than Windows 11 Pro. This means that you will get the latest features and security patches sooner with Windows 11 Home.

However, this also means that you will have less control over when and how the updates are installed. With Windows 11 Pro, you can easily defer or pause updates for up to a year, giving you more flexibility and stability.

Windows 11 Pro vs. Home: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. Windows 11 Home costs $140, while Windows 11 Pro costs $200. You can upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro for a fee of $100. 
2. Windows 11 Pro has more advanced security features than Windows 11 Home, such as Bitlocker device encryption, Windows Information Protection, and Group Policy.
3. Windows 11 Pro offers more tools and features for business management, such as Mobile Device Management, Remote Desktop, and Windows Update for Business.
4. Both Windows 11 Home and Pro have the same interface.
5. Both Windows 11 Home and Pro feature widgets, which are new for Windows 11. They are a way to stay updated with things such as schedules, weather, sports, stocks, and more.
6. Both Windows 11 Home and Pro have gaming features such as Auto HDR, DirectStorage, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Windows 11 Pro vs. Home: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

While Windows 11 Pro and Home are very similar, as we’ve discussed in this article, there are some key differences that separate them from each other. Windows 11 Pro is the more expensive of the two, but only by about $100 additional dollars.

If you’re on a tight budget, Windows 11 Home is definitely going to be the better choice for you unless you need the security features of Windows 11 Pro for a business or enterprise setting. 

Ultimately, this is what comes down between the operating systems. The biggest difference between the two simply comes down to price, with some added security features that, for the most part, seem overkill for most everyday users.

Windows 11 Pro has great features related to IT, such as Hyper-V and Bitlocker, and it makes the most sense to purchase if you are an IT manager or someone looking for a professional security solution in a business setting. 

Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home are both great options for different use cases. If you are looking for a simple and affordable OS that can handle your everyday tasks, gaming, and productivity tasks, then Windows 11 Home might be the best choice for you.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a powerful and secure OS that can support a professional endeavor, Windows 11 Pro is probably the best option for you.

Summary Table

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