Updated: May 31, 2023 (September 23, 2021)

Choosing Windows for Clients

Rob Horwitz analyzes and writes about Microsoft licensing programs and product licensing rules. He also trains organizations on best Microsoft... more

Key Windows virtualization and management rights require Enterprise edition with Software Assurance or by subscription.
Version support policy is a major difference between Windows Pro and Windows Enterprise for traditional PCs.

Windows 10 offerings are packaged in a Russian-doll fashion, with a higher-level offering’s features being a superset of lower levels. The accompanying diagram shows features of Windows 10 offerings that target organizations. Pictured, moving from bottom to top of the diagram, are the following:

Windows 10 Pro, which is licensed Per-Device only
Windows 10 Enterprise licensed Per-Device, which can be purchased without or with SA
Windows 10 Enterprise E3 (Per-User subscription)
Windows 10 Enterprise E5 (Per-User subscription).

Windows 10 Home, the consumer-focused edition, is not pictured as it is generally unsuitable for use by organizations because of technical limitations and licensing constraints. (Home edition is not a qualifying operating system.)

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