Comparison
Windows 11 Home or Pro: which one to choose
Same operating system, same hardware requirements. The difference is in the work-oriented features Pro adds — useful only if you already know you need them.
Windows 11 Home
For personal use: browsing, study, streaming, gaming. No business features, same Windows 11 engine.
€ 61,00 — ESD licence See the Home listingWindows 11 Pro
For those who work from their PC: BitLocker encryption, remote access as host, management better suited to business contexts.
€ 99,00 — ESD licence See the Pro listing| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price on Eurolicenze | € 61,00 | € 99,00 |
| Licence type | Digital ESD, perpetual | Digital ESD, perpetual |
| BitLocker (drive encryption) | No | Yes |
| Remote Desktop as host | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V / Windows Sandbox | No | Yes |
| Access to business domains (Entra/Business) | No | Yes |
| Hardware requirements | Compatible CPU, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, 4 GB+ RAM | Same as Home |
In practice
When Pro really makes a difference
If you use your PC to browse, work with Office, watch streaming content or play games, Windows 11 Home covers everything: it's the same operating system, with the same graphics engine and the same apps.
Pro makes sense when you need at least one of these: encrypting your drive with BitLocker, connecting to your PC remotely using it as a host, running virtual machines with Hyper-V, or joining the device to a domain or Microsoft Entra business account.
There's no "faster" or "more stable" version: performance is identical, only the available feature set changes with the edition.
Frequently asked questions
Answers before you buy
What's the main difference between Home and Pro?
Pro adds work-oriented features not present in Home: BitLocker for drive encryption and Remote Desktop as host, according to Microsoft.
Can I upgrade from Home to Pro later?
Yes, Microsoft allows an in-place upgrade with a Pro key, without reinstalling Windows or losing your data.
Do I need Windows 11 Pro for gaming?
No: for most personal uses, gaming included, Windows 11 Home is enough.
Which should a business or professional choose?
Pro, for the security and device-management features (BitLocker, access to business domains) built for work contexts.
Are the hardware requirements different between Home and Pro?
No, they're the same: compatible CPU, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and at least 4 GB of RAM according to Microsoft's current requirements.
Is there also an OEM DVD or COA sticker version?
Yes for Pro: besides the ESD licence by email, the catalogue also has the OEM DVD variant and the one with a COA sticker — same operating system, different delivery format.
Microsoft, Windows and related marks are property of Microsoft Corporation. Informational content by Eurolicenze: features and requirements always follow current Microsoft documentation.