Windows 10 Version Comparison Table
With the Windows 10 Version Comparison Table, you can clearly see the hardware and application-specific features that the different versions of the Windows 10 operating system support.
|
Windows 10 Home |
Windows 10 Pro |
Windows 10 Enterprise |
Windows 10 Education |
|
| Architecture |
32 bit & 64bit |
32 bit & 64bit |
32 bit & 64bit |
32 bit & 64bit |
| Licensing Model |
OEM & Retail |
OEM & Retail & Volume |
Volume Licensing |
Volume Licensing |
| N Edition? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maximum RAM |
4GB (32bit) 128GB (64bit) |
4GB (32bit) 512GB(64bit) |
4GB (32bit) 512GB (64bit) |
4GB (32bit) 512GB(64bit) |
| Continuum |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cortana |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hardware Device Encryption |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Microsoft Edge |
Yes |
Yes |
Except LTSB |
Yes |
| Microsoft Account Log in |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mobile Device Management |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Virtual Desktop |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Hello |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Assigned Access 8.1 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| BitLocker and EFS |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Business Storage |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Current Branch for Business (CBB) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Active Directory Member |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Enterprise Data Protection |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hyper-V |
No |
Only 64bit |
Only 64bit |
Only 64bit |
| Azure AD Member |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Private Catalog |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Remote Desktop Connection |
Only Client |
Client & Host |
Client & Host |
Client & Host |
| Windows Update for Business |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| AppLocker |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| BranchCache |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Credential Guard |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Device Guard |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| DirectAccess |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Start Screen Control (with GPO) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| User Experience Control |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows to Go |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| In-Place Upgrade from Pro to Enterprise |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| In-Place Upgrade from Home or Pro to Education |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Windows 10 Home |
Windows 10 Pro |
Windows 10 Enterprise |
Windows 10 Education |
How can I read this table?
I will summarize this table using simple words.
32-bit vs. 64-bit:
The two main categories of processors(CPU) are 32-bit and 64-bit. The type of a CPU changes the overall performance of a computer and it also determines what kind of software is used. For instance, a computer with a 32-bit CPU cannot have a 64-bit version of an installed operating system(OS). On the other hand, a computer with a 64-bit CPU can have the both versions of OS but with a 32-bit OS, it cannot reach the maximum performance. A CPU register stores memory addresses, which is how the CPU accesses data from RAM(physical memory). The main difference is; a 64-bit CPU can access 2^64 memory addresses (about 18 billion GB RAM), whereas a 32-bit CPU can access 2^32 memory addresses (4 GB RAM). Therefore a 64-bit-CPU can do more calculations per second, so it provides much more speed and efficiency.
Licensing:
- Retail: This license is called Full Packaged Product (FPP), commonly known as a “boxed copy” is purchased from technology stores or from Windows online stores. This license type has one license key (product key). You can use this key on another computer if you want to.
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): The type of license provided by the system manufacturer. This license type, which is already understood by its name, does not have a license key and you cannot use it on another computer. Also, if this Windows version is Windows 8 or Windows 10, the license key is embedded in UEFI firmware chip.
- Volume: This type of license is an institutional license type, such as schools and government offices. These non-resale licenses provide common use. This means that Windows is activated on multiple computers with a single license key.
N Edition:
The N editions of Windows allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. Windows Media Player can be downloaded from Microsoft’s official website at no charge.
Continuum:
A new application of Microsoft, that lets you
continue to use your phone normally, while you’re projecting it to another screen. Or you can use your phone like a PC.
Cortana:
A new voice application of Microsoft, that provides you a digital assistant.
Hardware Device Encryption: With the right hardware configurations, Windows 10 automatically encrypts a device, helping to keep customer data safe.
Microsoft Edge: The new more secure browser which also provides you to take notes on web sites.
Microsoft Account Log in: You log in with your Microsoft account.
Mobile Device Management: It provides people to work from anywhere with their mobile devices also protects the corporate data.
Virtual Desktop: It provides users to use separate desktops which can include different apps. It can be useful for people who wants to focus on a specific task and group the same categorized items in one desktop.
Windows Hello: Alternative way to log in to device with using biometrics.
Assigned Access 8.1: When users log in, the application we specified will run automatically, and users will not be able to use any other application other than this application. In addition, Windows will go into a locked down mode and users will not be able to use any of the operating system commands outside of this application.
BitLocker and EFS: They are encryption methods.
BitLocker offers the ability to encrypt the entire drive. You can encrypt the whole system or an external drive even if you want a part. If you want to encrypt the files, you can create a pool folder in the form of a virtual disk image and put your files in this folder. The EFS (Encrypting File System) method encrypts individual files or folders instead of encrypting the whole system.
Current Branch for Business: Current Branch, a new service model that enables Microsoft to quickly implement the latest features released for Windows 10 into the operating system. For example, if you are using Windows 10 and Microsoft announced that it will issue a new update for users of CB, it is ready to receive this update on your operating system once it is released. If you are using Current Branch for Business, you can postpone a feature that came with Current Brunch for up to 8 months, so you can test it and check if your company or applications are ready for the feature.
Active Directory Member: Active Directory is a directory service designed by Microsoft, especially for Windows Server and Client computer systems, which keeps information such as server, client computer, user and printer. With the Group Policy management tool included in this service, you can make various restrictions or distribute the desired application from a single point. It is a highly preferred service because it facilitates the centralization of the control and management of resources.
Enterprise Data Protection: It is a protection and security solution to IT departments due to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is becoming very common in companies.
Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer: It provides admins to create a list of corporate web sites.
Hyper-V: It is a virtual machine creator.
Azure Active Directory: It provides authentication and authorization to applications, file servers, printers etc. like Active Directory but it is cloud-based.
Private Catalog: When administrators add applications to private store, all employees in the organization can view and download the application.
Remote Desktop Connection: It provides to connect someone else’s computer remotely.
Windows Update for Business: Windows Update for Business enables IT administrators to keep the Windows 10 devices in their organization always up to date with the latest security defenses and Windows features by directly connecting these systems to Windows Update service.
AppLocker: AppLocker, provides user-based restriction of the applications and programs installed in the operating system while performing this operation according to the manufacturer, application name or version of the application. You can define and assign rules and create exceptions to these rules.
BranchCache: It is a band with improvement technology that provides to client computers in branch offices to access content locally, rather than over the WAN.
Credential Guard: It is a protection method against Pass-the-Hash style attack by isolate and harden key system.
Device Guard: This technology is a new technology created after the combination of hardware and software security solutions and is not available in previous versions of Windows. With Device Guard; any application that is not in Code Integrity Policies (which does not need to be harmful) will be treated as an untrusted application and will not run, load, or use it even if you have administrator rights on the computer.
DirectAccess: DirectAccess is a new feature that allows users to seamlessly connect to the corporate network when they have Internet access. With DirectAccess, mobile computers can be easily managed when they have an Internet connection, and the system status and policies can be updated. In addition, DirectAccess users can securely access company resources (e-mail server, intranet web sites, shared folders, etc.) without VPN connection.
Start Screen Control: It provides to customize the Start screen, if you apply it to all Start screen, users cannot pin, unpin or uninstall applications from the Start.
User Experience Control: This feature is for Kiosk devices and it provides to manage to access Microsoft Store, advertisements on Start menu, taskbar and Cortana.
Windows to Go: It is a Windows operating system which you can carry in your pocket and can be booted from a USB.
Long Term Servicing Branch: It is a version of Windows 10 that gets the updates rarely and therefore it does not have Windows Store and Microsoft Edge browser.
- Another version comparison table that i like:
From Older Versions to Windows 10
In the following tablature, you can see which version of Windows 10 will be upgraded when you upgrade your Windows 7/8 operating system.
