If you own a PC with Windows Home, you might wonder where some of the Windows features you read about are. Certain features are only available in the Pro version of Windows. To get the pro version preinstalled on a PC, manufacturers typically charge $200-300 more, which is a significant markup considering it’s only $100 to upgrade from Home to Pro. However, I run multiple systems in my home lab environment and started looking for replacements for Pro features that I can run on the Home edition. After using the alternatives, I found that the notable features included with the Pro version aren't as great as I thought. I also need similar functionality on the Home version.

But the good news is that I didn't need to pay anything extra to get the same functionality as Pro features. I replaced these on my Pro system, and can also use them on my Home systems. So, it's a twofer. These are the Windows Pro features that aren't on the Home version, which I replaced with third-party tools.

4 Remote Desktop

You have several choices, but RustDesk is leading the pack

Windows Pro has full Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) capability. However, to muddy the waters, Microsoft is killing Remote Desktop. According to a Microsoft blog post, the company is phasing out RDP on May 27th, 2025. You are advised to use the Windows App instead. But I haven't been concerned about that since there are plenty of good remote alternatives.

For something quick and easy, I use Chrome Remote Desktop, which works with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It even works with Raspberry Pi systems with Chrome installed. It's free and unlimited, but the file-sharing capability leaves a lot to be desired. I have also used TeamViewer, HelpWire, and AnyDesk but one stood out.

I finally found a new rising star in RustDesk, which is growing in popularity. Like Chrome, it is cross-platform and works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Raspberry Pi systems. RustDesk is open-source (source code on GitHub) and includes many helpful remote features. It also allows self-hosting if you want a more secure connection. It’s highly customizable, allowing branding and encrypted connectivity. When I am running Windows Home and need a remote app, I go with RustDesk. It's responsive, easy to use, and file transfers are a cinch.

3 BitLocker

Encrypt drives and folders with VeraCrypt

The BitLocker feature on Windows 11 Pro allows you to encrypt your entire drive using AES encryption to help protect your data by preventing unauthorized access. It also allows you to encrypt data on external drives with the BitLocker to Go feature. It works well, but I was looking for something more straightforward — BitLocker is clunky. Luckily, there is a free tool I can use as an alternative. VeraCrypt provides similar capabilities and uses AES-256 encryption, the same as BitLocker.

VeraCrypt is a free, cross-platform, and open-source encryption app. It is versatile and can encrypt external drives, individual folders, hidden volumes, virtual drives, or your entire drive with full disk encryption. In addition to Windows compatibility, it also works with Mac and Linux.

2 Hyper-V

Use VirtualBox or VMWare

The Hyper-V hypervisor feature in Windows Pro allows you to easily create virtual machines (VMs) on your system. It is essential for corporate environments and helpful for enthusiasts with home labs. However, it doesn't have the features of other virtualization products for creating VMs. I considered the two most popular free options, VirtualBox and VMWare.

However, I prefer VirtualBox since it’s open-source, although the extension pack is proprietary. It also offers networking and other features that I like. It provides more features and functionality than Hyper-V, which makes it a more versatile tool than Microsoft’s hypervisor. However, in the end, for most home users, I would recommend VirtualBox. It's straightforward and responsive, and it includes plenty of features for running multiple VMs. Networking is straightforward, and I can connect to VMs on the Home and Pro versions of Windows quickly.

1 Windows Sandbox

Test apps in the Sandboxie Plus

The Windows Sandbox feature allows you to test software in a protected virtual environment. It’s fast to set up and creates a limited Windows 11 VM. This feature is helpful for developers and system administrators to test apps without affecting their current system. Windows Home doesn’t include this feature, as it’s part of the Hyper-V hypervisor technology included in the Pro version. So, I set out to find something else.

I get similar (perhaps better) functionality using Sandboxie Plus. It’s an open-source tool that creates a secure virtual environment to test software. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for new users. It also includes many customization options to change its appearance and create program groups. You can also manage app behaviors and configure app resources. When I have a questionable app on my system, I run it through its sandboxed environment without worrying about infecting my system.

You can still get all the features of Windows Pro on the Home version

Another feature not in the Home version is the Group Policy Editor (GPE), which is essentially a front-end for Registry settings. It is a tool for making administrative settings changes. None of us has time to constantly hack the Registry, and it can cause unwanted changes. To get similar functionality, I tried the Group Policy Plus tool, which is available on GitHub. However, it doesn't include all the settings for the Home version that's available on Pro. It also doesn't work in the same way as GPE. It's worth noting that there are system hacks you can find online to add GPE to Home versions of Windows, but be wary. Some of them don't work anymore, requiring a lot of work.

Settings that are exclusive to Windows Pro are well-intended, but they aren't always the best tool for the job. Plus, if you want to save money by paying extra for Windows 11 Pro, no worries. The above free and open-source alternatives provide similar features and functionality. In some cases, they offer more, like with RustDesk for remote work. I started by looking for free apps that provide Pro features on Home and liked them so much that I replaced them entirely.