Most new computers will come with Windows 10 Home, however Windows 10 Professional includes a couple of features that may interest you.
In this post we will explore the differences by three comparative tables being; 1)Basic features, 2) Administration functions and 3) Security tools that cover both versions. Below each table there is a summary which will explain the most notable differences.
Basic characteristics
| Basic characteristics | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Start menu and dynamic icons | Yes | Yes |
| Continuum | Yes | Yes |
| Cortana | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Ink | Yes | Yes |
| Tablet mode | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Edge | Yes | Yes |
| Support for voice, pencil, tactile functions and gestures | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual desks | Yes | Yes |
| Quick start | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum RAM | 128 GB | 2 TB |
| Price | $225.00 AUS | $339.00 AUS |
As you can see, the main basic functions of Windows 10 are present in both versions. You can use Cortana or the Microsoft Edge browser in the both Home and in the Pro, as well as your virtual desktop system, the start menu with customizable donámicos icons or the tablet mode.
A virtual desktop is about creating a new “desktop” instance where you can have other applications running. It’s like having a second instance of the operating system running on the same computer.
You can also use and share Continuum between phones with Windows 10 Phone and computers with Windows 10 Home or Pro.
Continuum is able to know which device you are using and switches the user interface to make it adapt for for Computers, Touchscreen’s, 2-in-1 devices, tablets, or turning your phone into a PC.
Windows 10 Home version supports up to 128 GB of RAM , more than enough considering that home computers have hardware that can only handle 16 or 32 GB at most. The Windows Pro version supports memory up to 2 TB of RAM.
Administration and implementation
| Administration and implementation | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Desktop | No | Yes |
| Group policy | No | Yes |
| Roaming business states with Azure Active Directory | No | Yes |
| Enterprise-class Internet Explorer (EMIE) | No | Yes |
| Windows Store specific for companies | No | Yes |
| Create and join domains | No | Yes |
| Access assigned | No | Yes |
| Dynamic provisioning | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V client for virtual machines | No | Yes |
| Windows Update for companies | No | Yes |
| PC shared configuration | No | Yes |
As you can see in this graph, most of the differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro are in the administrative and implementation options. Basically, Windows 10 Pro version is more focused on companies , so it adds a number of specific functions that the Home version does not include, mostly related to administration.
Windows 10 Pro includes functions such as; remote desktop, shared configuration of computers or assigned accesses to be able to work in networking groups. It also includes network options such as several Azure implementations or the possibility of creating and joining domains in a network, as well as the Hyper-V client for the management of virtual machines, something that any user perform with paid third party software packages.
Microsoft Hyper-V, formerly known as Windows Server Virtualization, is a native hypervisor. You also need a CPU which supports virtualization.
Finally, the Pro version has some variations of exclusive applications, such as a Enterprise Mode of Internet Explorer or a Windows Update policy for companies. This version of the update system includes options such as deciding when and which devices receive the updates, pausing updates for individual devices or creating different schedules for different device groups.
Windows 10 Pro allows you to pause updates for up to 35 days.
Enterprise Mode is a new feature in Internet Explorer that allows businesses to use old web applications in modern versions of IE. This feature is designed to help businesses who still need Internet Explorer 8 for some reason to upgrade to a more modern, secure browser.
Security
| Security | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Hello | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Information Protection | No | Yes |
| Encryption of devices | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker | No | Yes |
| Safe start | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Defender | Yes | Yes |
| Windows device status certification service | Yes | Yes |
In terms of computer security, we can see that the differences between both versions of Windows 10 are minimal. The Windows Hello biometric system is present in both versions, as well as the ability to encrypt the computer, the safe boot or the native “antivirus” Windows Defender. So basically choosing either version does NOT directly affect your security.
The exception is BitLocker and Windows Information Protection, presented by Microsoft in the Anniversary Update. BitLocker is a system that encrypts your entire hard drive so that a hacker can not steal data even if they have physical access to it.
With Windows Information Protection , IT administrators can determine which users and applications have access to what data, and what users can do with corporate data. Once again, this option is a more specific tool for business use.
Another basic comparison of the differences is shown below:
Microsoft also present a side-by-side comparison of Windows 10 Home vs Pro Editions.