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Comparison

Windows 10 vs Windows 11

Windows 10 vs Windows 11 — features, hardware requirements, performance, support timeline. Free upgrade path and when to stay on 10.

Windows 10 vs Windows 11 — Full Comparison & Upgrade Guide

Windows 10 reached end of mainstream support on October 14, 2025. Security updates continue under Extended Security Updates (ESU) but only for paying customers. Windows 11 is the supported path forward — if your hardware qualifies.

Here's a precise comparison of features, hardware requirements, and the upgrade path.

How do Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro compare side by side?

FeatureWindows 10 ProWindows 11 Pro
Mainstream supportEnded Oct 14, 2025 (ESU available)Through Oct 2031+
Minimum RAM1 GB (32-bit) / 2 GB (64-bit)4 GB
Minimum storage16 / 32 GB64 GB
TPM 2.0 required No Yes
Secure Boot required No Yes
CPU generationMost x86-64 CPUs8th-gen Intel / Zen 2 AMD or newer
Start menuLive tiles, left-alignedCentered, app pinning + recommended
Snap LayoutsBasic snapSnap Layouts + Snap Groups
Android apps —Subsystem for Android (discontinued 2025)
Direct​Storage / Auto HDRLimited Yes
Free upgrade from genuine license —Yes (10 Pro → 11 Pro)

Which one should you buy?

Buy Windows 11 Pro if your hardware meets the requirements — you get longer support, modern UI, better gaming features, and free continued upgrades.

Buy Windows 10 Pro only when your hardware can't meet TPM 2.0 / Secure Boot or your software vendor explicitly requires Windows 10 (medical, industrial, legacy CAD).

Before choosing a licence

  1. 1. Check the exact edition, Windows or macOS compatibility and number of devices covered. A Windows-only key does not install Office for Mac.

  2. 2. Distinguish personal, commercial and server use. Virtual machines, shared devices and remote access can require additional licences.

  3. 3. Keep the invoice and licence terms. Check transfer rights and support dates: a perpetual licence does not mean perpetual security updates.

Successful activation alone does not prove permission for every use. The applicable Microsoft licence terms take precedence.

−87%
Windows 10 Pro Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime — genuine Microsoft license

Windows 10 Pro

Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime

Mature, stable platform for legacy hardware.

$20$150
Lifetime guarantee
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−90%
Windows 11 Pro Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime — genuine Microsoft license
Best seller

Windows 11 Pro

Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime

Professional edition with BitLocker, Hyper-V and Remote Desktop.

$25$259
Lifetime guarantee
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Frequently asked questions

My PC isn't supported by Windows 11 — what now?

Stay on Windows 10 (consider ESU for security patches), upgrade hardware, or use Microsoft's official media tool — but Microsoft will not ship feature updates to unsupported hardware.

Is the Win 10 → Win 11 upgrade really free?

Yes. If your Windows 10 license is genuine, the in-place upgrade via Windows Update keeps your activation. No new key needed.

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