Windows 11 Home vs Pro: which should you buy?
By the MasterKeys support team · Last reviewed
Short answer: Buy Home for personal use and gaming, since performance is identical. Buy Pro if you need BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop into the PC, Hyper-V or Windows Sandbox, Group Policy, or joining a company domain.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Games, apps, performance | Same | Same |
| Device encryption | Basic (on supported hardware) | Full BitLocker + BitLocker To Go |
| Remote Desktop host | No (client only) | Yes |
| Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox | No | Yes |
| Group Policy, domain / Entra ID join | No | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes |
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. Enter a Pro key in Settings › System › Activation and Windows upgrades in place, keeping your files and apps.
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