Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Cost of Staying vs. Upgrading
Windows 10 ESU costs $0 to $30 for home users and $61+ per PC for businesses. See the dates, prices and what upgrading to Windows 11 really costs.
Upgrading to Windows 11 is free if your computer qualifies, while staying on Windows 10 costs home users $0 to $30 and businesses $61 or more per computer. Windows 10 reached the end of regular support on October 14, 2025, and the only way to keep getting security fixes on it is a paid program called Extended Security Updates, or ESU. Here is how the options compare, using the dates and prices Microsoft lists as of October 9, 2026.
The short answer
| Home users | Businesses | |
|---|---|---|
| Security updates last until | October 12, 2027 | Year 1: October 13, 2026. Year 2: October 12, 2027. Year 3: October 10, 2028 |
| Cost to stay on Windows 10 | $0 (sync your settings), 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or $30 one time | $61, then $122, then $244 per computer, per year |
| Cost to upgrade to Windows 11 | Free on a qualifying computer | Free on a qualifying computer |
| If your computer does not qualify | Buy a new PC, or stay on ESU | Buy a new PC, or stay on ESU |
Important date note: you may have read that home-user ESU ended on October 13, 2026. Microsoft’s current home-user page says coverage runs through October 12, 2027. October 13, 2026 is the end of the first paid year for businesses, which is only four days away.
What happened to Windows 10, and what is ESU?
Windows 10 still turns on and works, but since October 14, 2025 Microsoft no longer sends it security fixes, new features or technical support. Think of it like a house where the locks still work, but nobody is repairing the door frame when a burglar finds a weak spot.
Extended Security Updates (ESU) is Microsoft’s paid way to keep getting the most important security fixes on Windows 10 for a limited time. Microsoft describes them as “critical” and “important” fixes, which means the ones that block serious attacks.
What ESU includes and does not include:
- Included: security fixes for Windows 10, delivered through Windows Update.
- Not included: new features, fixes for non-security problems, or general technical support. Microsoft only helps with activating ESU and installing the updates.
- Required: your computer must run Windows 10 version 22H2, the final version. To check, press the Windows key and R together, type winver, and press Enter.
Antivirus software helps, but Microsoft says it is not enough on its own, because it cannot patch weaknesses in Windows itself.
Which dates matter: October 13, 2026 or October 12, 2027?
Both dates are real, but they apply to different people. Home users are covered through October 12, 2027, and businesses buy coverage one year at a time.
| Who you are | Coverage ends |
|---|---|
| Home user (personal use) | October 12, 2027 |
| Business, ESU Year 1 | October 13, 2026 |
| Business, ESU Year 2 | October 12, 2027 |
| Business, ESU Year 3 (the last year offered) | October 10, 2028 |
Three things follow from this:
- Home users have not run out of time. Microsoft’s current page says you can enroll until October 12, 2027, and that coverage continues automatically if you already enrolled. Earlier home-user guidance gave October 13, 2026, and many articles still repeat it.
- Businesses cannot skip a year. Microsoft says ESU must be bought by the year and is cumulative, so buying Year 2 means paying for Year 1 as well.
- Businesses get at most three years. After October 10, 2028, there are no more paid Windows 10 security updates for organizations.
How much does it cost to stay on Windows 10?
Home users pay at most $30 once. Businesses pay $61 per computer for the first year, and the price doubles each year after that.
Home users: free, rewards points, or $30
You can enroll through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Enroll now. Microsoft offers three ways to pay:
- Free: turn on Windows Backup to sync your PC settings to OneDrive.
- 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
- $30 one-time purchase (plus tax).
One ESU license covers up to 10 of your Windows 10 PCs, and you must sign in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator on the PC. This home program cannot be used for business computers: Microsoft does not offer it on PCs joined to a work domain, joined to Microsoft Entra, or managed by a device management tool such as Intune.
Businesses: $61 per computer, doubling each year
Organizations buy ESU through Microsoft volume licensing or a partner, and the first year costs $61 per device. Microsoft states that the price doubles every year, so Years 2 and 3 work out to $122 and $244. Those two figures are our arithmetic from Microsoft’s “doubles” statement, so confirm them with your reseller before budgeting.
| ESU year | Coverage ends | Price per computer | Total per computer if you buy every year so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | October 13, 2026 | $61 | $61 |
| Year 2 | October 12, 2027 | $122 | $183 |
| Year 3 | October 10, 2028 | $244 | $427 |
For an office with 20 Windows 10 computers, that is $1,220 for Year 1, $3,660 through Year 2, and $8,540 through all three years. A company that waits until Year 2 to start still pays for both years: $183 per computer.
A few more business details:
- Eligible editions: Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education used for business. Long-Term Servicing (LTSC) editions are not covered.
- Free ESU in the cloud: Windows 10 virtual machines in Windows 365 Cloud PCs, Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure virtual machines get ESU at no extra cost. Windows 10 devices that connect to a licensed Windows 365 Cloud PC are also covered.
- How it is turned on: your IT administrator copies an activation key from the Microsoft 365 admin center and applies it to each computer.
- Schools: Microsoft’s education guidance lists its own ESU pricing, so education customers should confirm cost with their reseller.
How much does it cost to upgrade to Windows 11?
The Windows 11 upgrade itself costs nothing if your computer meets Microsoft’s requirements. Microsoft says the move from Windows 10 Home or Pro to the same edition of Windows 11 is free. If your computer does not qualify, your cost is a new computer.
Can your computer run Windows 11?
Download Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app and select Check now. It tells you whether your PC qualifies and which requirement fails if it does not. These are the requirements it checks:
| Part | Minimum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz, 2 or more cores, on Microsoft’s supported list | Most Intel 8th generation and AMD Ryzen 2000 series chips, or newer |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB | The computer’s short-term working space |
| Storage | 64 GB | Room for Windows, apps and files |
| Startup system | UEFI with Secure Boot | A modern, more secure way for the PC to start |
| Security chip | TPM 2.0 | Most PCs from the last five years have one, but it may be switched off in settings |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 with a WDDM 2.0 driver | Standard on most newer PCs |
| Display | 720p, larger than 9 inches | Almost every screen qualifies |
Windows 11 Home also needs an internet connection and a Microsoft account during first setup.
What the upgrade really costs
- License: $0 for eligible PCs.
- Your time: back up files first, then allow time for the install and several restarts. You have 10 days to go back to Windows 10 if something goes wrong.
- Possible small fixes: a TPM or Secure Boot setting that is turned off can usually be switched on in the PC’s startup settings at no cost.
- A new PC if yours does not qualify: Microsoft does not publish one price, so get quotes and compare them with the ESU cost for the years you would need. Microsoft also points to trade-in and recycling programs to offset the cost of the old computer.
What staying on Windows 10 costs beyond the price tag
ESU buys time, not a long-term fix. Microsoft calls it a bridge while you move to a newer system, and several costs sit outside the ESU price.
- No tech support. Microsoft will not help with general Windows 10 problems, only with ESU activation and installation. Your own IT provider carries that load.
- No new features. Windows 10 stays frozen as it is today.
- A rising price, then a hard stop. For businesses the yearly cost doubles, and the last year ends October 10, 2028. You still have to move to Windows 11 eventually.
- Office on Windows 10. Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel and Outlook keep working and keep getting security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. Even so, Microsoft recommends Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability problems over time.
- Older Office versions. Office 2021 and Office 2024 on Windows 10 keep running but no longer receive support. On Windows 11, Office 2021 is supported through October 2026 and Office 2024 through October 2029.
- Possible paperwork. Some cyber insurance policies and compliance rules expect supported operating systems. Check yours before you decide to stay.
Should you stay on Windows 10 or upgrade?
Upgrade every computer that qualifies, and use ESU only as a short bridge for the ones that do not. The upgrade is free, while ESU costs more each year for businesses.
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home PC that meets the requirements | Upgrade to Windows 11 | Free, and ESU is not needed |
| Home PC that does not qualify, and you are not ready to buy | Enroll in consumer ESU | $0 to $30, protected through October 12, 2027 |
| Business where most PCs qualify | Upgrade them now | No license cost, and you avoid yearly ESU fees |
| Business with a few PCs tied to old software | Buy ESU for those PCs only | $61 per device for Year 1 |
| Business with many PCs that do not qualify | Use ESU as a bridge and plan replacements | The price doubles each year, so spread replacements over time |
| Business already using Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop | Use the free ESU | No extra charge for Windows 10 Cloud PCs and virtual desktops |
A rough rule for a PC that cannot upgrade: if the ESU total for the years you need is close to the price of a replacement, replacing it is the better buy, because a new PC also comes with Windows 11, a warranty and full support.
What to do this week
Start by listing your Windows 10 computers and testing each one, because that tells you what you need to buy before October 13, 2026.
- List every Windows 10 computer you own or manage, including spare laptops.
- Run PC Health Check on each one to see which can run Windows 11.
- Back up important files on the PCs that qualify, then upgrade them through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Decide on the rest. Businesses should decide before October 13, 2026 whether to buy Year 1 ESU for them. Home users can enroll through Windows Update.
- Mark your deadlines: October 12, 2027 for home users and Year 2, and October 10, 2028 for the final business year.
- Confirm current prices with your Microsoft reseller or on Microsoft’s ESU pages before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Did Windows 10 ESU for home users end on October 13, 2026?
No. Microsoft’s current home-user page says ESU runs through October 12, 2027. October 13, 2026 is when the first paid year ends for businesses.
Is it safe to keep using Windows 10 without ESU?
It works, but it is riskier every month. Microsoft no longer sends security fixes for Windows 10 unless the PC is enrolled in ESU, and antivirus alone cannot patch Windows itself.
How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?
The first year costs $61 per computer, and Microsoft says the price doubles each year for up to three years. That makes the later years $122 and $244 by simple math.
Can I buy Year 2 of ESU without Year 1?
No. ESU is cumulative, so a business that starts in Year 2 pays for Year 1 and Year 2 together: $61 plus $122 per computer.
Can a business use the $30 home ESU?
No. The home program is for personal use and is not offered on work-joined or managed PCs. Businesses must buy commercial ESU licenses.
Is upgrading to Windows 11 free?
Yes, if the PC meets the requirements. Windows 10 Home or Pro upgrades to the same edition of Windows 11 at no charge.
What if my PC cannot run Windows 11?
You can enroll in ESU to stay protected for a limited time, or replace the computer. Plan the replacement before ESU ends.
Does ESU include tech support?
No. Microsoft helps only with ESU activation, installation and problems caused by an ESU update.
Will Word, Excel and Outlook keep working on Windows 10?
Yes. Microsoft 365 apps keep receiving security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028, though Microsoft recommends Windows 11 for the best reliability.
Need help deciding?
Rubell Services LLC helps small and mid-size organizations count their computers, check Windows 11 readiness and plan Microsoft 365 and Windows upgrades. Contact us for a quick review before the October 13, 2026 deadline.
Sources
All pages below were opened on October 9, 2026. Prices and dates can change, so confirm them on Microsoft’s pages before you buy.
- Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (Microsoft)
- End of support for Windows 10 (Microsoft)
- Extended Security Updates program for Windows 10 (Microsoft Learn)
- Enable Windows 10 ESU for physical machines (Microsoft Learn)
- Lifecycle FAQ: Extended Security Updates (Microsoft Learn)
- Windows 11 requirements (Microsoft Learn)
- Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 considerations (Microsoft Learn)