Windows 11 Home vs Pro: What Is the Difference?

The short answer: Windows 11 Home is fine for most home users, while Windows 11 Pro adds features for work, security and management, such as BitLocker drive encryption, Remote Desktop and joining a company network. If you game, browse or use Office at home, Home is enough. If you need to encrypt sensitive data, access your PC remotely or manage it in a business setting, Pro is the better choice.

Below you will find exactly what the difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro is, which version you really need, and how to buy the right licence legally and cheaply.

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: the key differences

Feature	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro
BitLocker drive encryption	No	Yes
Remote Desktop (as host)	No	Yes
Join a company network / domain	No	Yes
Hyper-V (virtual machines)	No	Yes
Windows Sandbox	No	Yes
Group Policy (management)	No	Yes
Maximum RAM	128 GB	2 TB
Price at Licono	from €4.50	from €3.99

Important to know: Home and Pro are identical in speed and performance. Pro is not faster; it only adds business and security features. For gaming or everyday use you will not notice any difference.

Which one do you need?

Choose Windows 11 Home if you: work from home, game, browse and use Office or other everyday programs. For the vast majority of home users, Home is more than enough.

Choose Windows 11 Pro if you: work as a freelancer or business, want to encrypt sensitive files with BitLocker, need to control your PC remotely via Remote Desktop, or have to join a company network. It is also useful if you work with virtual machines (Hyper-V).

Can you upgrade from Home to Pro?

Yes. You do not have to reinstall Windows: you buy a Windows 11 Pro licence, enter the key in Settings, and your system switches to Pro while keeping your files and programs. You cannot upgrade from Home to Pro for free; you need a valid Pro licence.

Where to buy Windows 11 cheaply and legally

At Licono you buy a genuine, legally resold Windows licence for a fraction of the retail price, with an invoice and instant delivery by email. You simply activate the key on your own device.

Frequently asked questions

Is Windows 11 Pro faster than Home?

No. Performance is identical. Pro only adds extra features for security and management, not speed.

Is Windows 11 Pro worth it for home use?

Only if you actually use one of the Pro features, such as BitLocker or Remote Desktop. For pure home use, Home is the logical and cheaper choice.

What is the biggest difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro?

The business and security features: BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop, joining a company network and Group Policy. These are only in Pro.

Bought your licence and want to activate it? Read how to activate Windows 11.