Windows License Key: Windows 11 or 10, Home or Pro

Which Windows license key should you buy?

A Windows license key is, above all, a license: 25 characters that allow a computer to run Windows permanently and to receive the updates Microsoft publishes for its version. Choosing the right one comes down to two questions: which version (Windows 11 or Windows 10) and which edition (Home or Pro)? The table below answers in a few seconds, based on your hardware and your actual use.

The two questions that decide

• Version: Windows 11 if your PC meets its requirements (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, recent processor), otherwise Windows 10.
• Edition: Home for personal use, Pro if you need BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V or a company domain.

Home or Pro: the differences that really matter

Interface, Microsoft Store, games, performance and software compatibility are strictly identical from one edition to the other. Only four features really separate Pro from Home:

• BitLocker: full drive encryption, valuable on a laptop that leaves the office.
• Remote Desktop host: taking control of this PC from another device.
• Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox: virtual machines and isolated testing of software.
• Domain, Microsoft Entra ID and group policies: integration into a managed IT environment.

If none of these four lines matches your daily use, the Home edition is more than enough. Each range is detailed on our Windows 11 key and Windows 10 key pages.

Starting with Home does not lock you in: you can move to Pro later with a simple change of key, without reinstalling (see the questions below). For several computers, order one key per PC, or choose a multi-PC option where the product page offers one.

Windows 11 or Windows 10: where things stand

Windows 10 left standard support on 14 October 2025. Microsoft still delivers security updates to personal devices through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, now extended until 12 October 2027. On a compatible machine, Windows 11 is therefore the default choice: it is the version that will keep receiving new features and updates for years.

Windows 10 still has a precise role: computers without TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot, processors missing from Microsoft’s compatibility lists, and professional devices (scanners, machine controllers, label printers) whose drivers were never updated. Before deciding, check the Windows 11 requirements: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a supported 64-bit processor. Microsoft’s PC Health Check app gives the answer in one click.

Choosing Windows 10 today does not close the door to Windows 11: if the same PC becomes compatible later, for example once TPM 2.0 is enabled in the BIOS, its Windows 10 Home or Pro license carries over to the same edition of Windows 11 through Microsoft’s free upgrade.

Why a genuine Windows key costs less than a boxed copy

There is no trick behind the price: it comes from the European second-hand software market. Since the UsedSoft judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (case C-128/11), a perpetual license put on the market in the EU can be resold, because the publisher’s distribution right is exhausted after the first sale. The original owner must stop using their copy.

In practice, you receive a key that activates directly on Microsoft’s servers, without any third-party software or improvised “activator”. On the other hand, beware of “generic keys” and “activators” shared for free on forums: generic keys never activate Windows, and activators can expose your machine to malware. Our guide how to buy a genuine Windows key at a low price lists what to check.

How buying a Windows key works at Euro Shop Key

1. Choose the version and edition that fit your PC, using the table above.
2. Pay securely by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Bancontact.
3. Receive your key by email within minutes (48 business hours at most), with the activation instructions and a VAT invoice.
4. Enter it in the Windows activation settings: Microsoft’s servers validate it within seconds.

If a key does not activate, our team answers by email 7 days a week within 2 hours on average, and a defective key is replaced free of charge for the lifetime of the license. Every order comes with a VAT invoice, useful for freelancers and companies. Delivery times and steps are detailed on our delivery and activation page.