Use cases
Windows 11 Pro for developers
WSL2, Docker Desktop, Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox all need Pro or Enterprise. Home edition blocks Sandbox, group policy and BitLocker.
Who it is for
Backend engineers, mobile devs, DevOps, AI/ML practitioners.
Why this works
- Hyper-V for local Linux VMs
- Windows Sandbox to test risky binaries
- BitLocker for encrypted laptop disks
- Domain-join to enterprise networks
Recommended licences
Alternatives worth considering
- Windows 11 Home — Skip if you only ship to WSL — Home supports WSL2 now too.
Things to know before you buy
- Pro upgrade from Home is one-way and re-keys activation — buy the right edition the first time.
Other use cases you might explore
windows
Windows 11 for gaming PCs
Windows 11 Home covers 100% of Steam, Epic, GOG and Xbox PC titles. You only need Pro if you also want Hyper-V, BitLocker or a static IP for game-streaming.
windows
Windows 11 Pro for business endpoints
Active Directory, Entra ID join, BitLocker, AppLocker and Group Policy are the bare minimum to manage company laptops. Home edition does none of these.
office
Office for students — best value in 2026
Word, Excel and PowerPoint cover 95% of coursework. Students don't need Outlook, Teams or Access on day one — buying the right edition saves €80+ vs Microsoft 365.
office
Office for small business (1–10 staff)
Owners under 10 employees usually overpay for Microsoft 365 Business when a perpetual Office Home & Business covers email and meetings without the per-user recurring cost.
Why these recommendations are safe to follow
We earn nothing extra by recommending a more expensive licence — our margin is identical across editions. Every recommendation has been re-validated against the current Microsoft EULA, the latest Office and Windows update, and our own returns data from the past 12 months.