Surface Go and Surface Studio

Compare Windows 10 Home vs. Pro

Windows Security

WINDOWS SECURITY
FeatureWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro

Using facial recognition, a fingerprint, or PIN, Windows Hello is a fast, secure and password-free way to unlock your compatible Windows devices.

AvailableAvailable

Device encryption is available on a wide range of Windows devices and helps protect your data by encrypting it. If you turn on device encryption, only authorised individuals will be able to access your device and data.

AvailableAvailable

Your Windows device comes with comprehensive, built-in security features, including firewall and internet protections to help safeguard against viruses, malware and ransomware.

AvailableAvailable

App & browser control in Windows Security provides the settings for Windows Defender SmartScreen, which helps protect your device from potentially dangerous apps, files, websites and downloads.

AvailableAvailable

Manage screen time, limit access to mature content, control online purchases when you connect your family's Microsoft accounts, and check to make sure the family’s devices are secure and up to date.

AvailableAvailable

Secure Boot helps prevent malicious software applications and unauthorised operating systems from loading during the system start-up process.

AvailableAvailable

If your device is lost or stolen, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go put everything on lockdown, so no one else can access your systems or data.

Not availableAvailable

WIP helps to protect against potential data leakage without otherwise interfering with the employee experience. WIP also helps to protect enterprise apps and data against accidental data leaks on enterprise-owned devices and personal devices that employees bring to work, without requiring changes to your environment or other apps.

Not availableAvailable

Windows Defender Antivirus uses the power of the cloud, wide optics, machine learning and behaviour analysis to protect your devices from emerging, sophisticated threats.

AvailableAvailable

Windows Fundamentals

Windows Fundamentals
FeatureWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro

Take notes, navigate, draw, doodle, edit and create. Improve what you do with a digital pen.6

AvailableAvailable

Get faster browsing7 8 and better battery life8 9across your devices with Microsoft Edge, the browser built for Windows 10.

AvailableAvailable

All you have to do is ask Cortana. Your digital assistant on PCs and mobile devices can schedule a meeting, tell you when it’s time to leave for an appointment, or check the weather, news and traffic.

AvailableAvailable

Extend battery life by limiting background activity and push notifications.

AvailableAvailable

Get instant access to your Android phone’s texts and photos on your PC,11 or connect your iPhone for seamless browsing, calendar and app experiences.12

AvailableAvailable

Free up time and your hands by talking to your computer. Get information and reminders or listen to music and manage your emails and calendar.13

AvailableAvailable

Business Management and Deployment

Business–Management and Deployment
FeatureWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro

Windows 10 mobile device management (MDM) provides an alternative to traditional PC management processes: you can transition to cloud based management at your own pace.

Not availableAvailable

Manage PCs, user accounts and groups, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server.** You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices.

Not availableAvailable

Available to any organisation with an Azure AD Premium or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) licence, Enterprise State Roaming provides users with a unified experience across their Windows devices and reduces the time needed for configuring a new device.

Not availableAvailable

Your one place to find, manage and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices in volume.

Not availableAvailable

With Assigned Access, Windows 10 Pro devices run different applications depending on the user and keep individual identities separate and secured.

Not availableAvailable

With Dynamic Provisioning you can take a new PC out of the box, turn it on, and transform it into a productive organisation device, with minimal time and effort.

Not availableAvailable

Windows Update for Business can help businesses reduce management costs, provide control over update deployments, enable more efficient delivery of updates, and provide access to the latest innovations from Microsoft.

Not availableAvailable

Configure a device in kiosk mode in a very simple way. You can do this locally on the device or remotely using Mobile Device Management.

Not availableAvailable

Domain Join + Group Policy: IT staff can easily manage PCs, user accounts and groups, security policies, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server.** You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices.

Not availableAvailable

Employees can use a single login across Windows 10, Microsoft 365,*** and other Microsoft services, making log-ons and passwords easier to manage. The shared log-on works on PCs, tablets and phones with minimal IT involvement.

Not availableAvailable

Go ahead, get creative

Quickly capture your thoughts, tasks and reminders

Use Sticky Notes and type, ink or add a picture to save ideas, thoughts, lists, appointments and more—so you don't miss a thing!

Lightbulb illustration

More efficiencies, less energy

Timeline

Scroll through time to find documents and websites.17

Pen and touch

Interact with your Windows 10 computer in new ways.

Windows 10 computer with a digital pen
A Windows Hello sign in screen

Windows Hello

Log into your Windows devices three times faster by using your face or fingerprint.*

Gaming

Windows 10 is built for the games you love.

1 To use Windows Hello with biometrics specialised hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors is required. Hardware-based protection of the Windows Hello credential/keys requires TPM 1.2 or greater. If there is no existing or configured TPM, credentials/keys protection will be software-based.

2 Requires modern hardware (InstantGo/AOAC/HSTI-compliant). Review this doc for more details on Device Encryption.

3 Requires TPM 1.2 or greater for TPM based key protection.

4 Windows Information Protection requires either Mobile Device Management (MDM) or System Centre Configuration Manager to manage settings in Windows 10 Pro. Active Directory makes management easier but is not required.

5 Windows Information Protection supports Mobile Application Management (MAM) for use in Home edition only.

6 Pen capable tablet or PC required. Pen accessory may be sold separately.

7 Performance claims based on Jetstream 1.1 tests using Microsoft Edge 18 vs. Chrome 69 and Firefox 62. Go here for more details on this performance claim.

8 Availability and functionality may vary on non-Windows devices.

9 Based on average times; battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors. Go here for more details on this battery life claim.

11 Users must link their Android phone to their Windows PC in PC settings. Users will receive an app from Microsoft which they must download to their Android phone and follow the set-up prompts, including being signed into same Microsoft Account across mobile apps and Windows 10 PC.

12 Users must link their iPhone to their PC in PC settings. Users will receive an app from Microsoft which they must download to their iPhone and follow the set-up prompts.

14 Not all MDM capabilities are available in the Home SKU. MDM requires an MDM product such as Microsoft Intune or other 3rd-party solutions (sold separately).

15 Separate subscription for Azure Active Directory Premium required.

16 Available in selected markets. Functionality and apps may vary by market and device.

17 Timeline shows 3-5 days of past activities, including activities done on a tablet and mobile phone when users are signed into their Microsoft accounts. To see up to 30 days of activities, users must choose this option in settings. Available in selected markets. Functionality may vary by device.

* Based on average time comparison between typing a password and detecting a face or fingerprint in order to successfully authenticate. Requires specialised hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices.

+ Additional requirements may apply for ongoing updates.

** Sold separately.

*** Microsoft 365 subscription sold separately.