Windows 11 editions explained: Versions, SKUs, and Home vs. Pro

Over the years, Microsoft has sliced and diced its Windows product line into multiple editions. That movement hit its low point in the Windows Vista era, when consumers had to choose from a half-dozen flavors of Windows, with an Ultimate edition that had a retail price tag of $400. 

Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

Thankfully, those days are long gone. Today, when you go to buy a new PC, you typically have a choice of two and only two editions: Home and Pro. But other specialized editions are available, and you might stumble across one of them if you look in just the right places.

Knowing the differences between Windows editions is most useful when purchasing a new PC and deciding whether to pay the system maker for an upgrade (from Home to Pro edition) or wait and do it yourself.

Microsoft doesn't help when it uses marketing-speak instead of plain English to explain those differences. So, just as I read license agreements so you don't have to, I've studied the lineup of Windows editions, removed the marketing gibberish and legalese, and translated the resulting details into terms that mere mortals can comprehend.

[Editor's note: The original version of this article was written and published in 2015, covering Windows 10. It has been completely updated and republished multiple times since then. The most recent update, covering Windows 11, was published in November 2024.]