Windows 10 ESU: Costs and who the update program is still worthwhile for
The first ESU year for private users ends in October 2026. We calculate when extending becomes more expensive than switching, and when it is still the right decision.
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Short answer: Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Those who still wanted security updates after that date could sign up for the ESU program. For private users, this first year expires in October 2026. Businesses can extend ESU for longer, but pay a rising price per device per year. At some point, switching to Windows 11 is simply more cost-effective.
What ESU actually is
ESU stands for Extended Security Updates. It is not support in the true sense: You only receive security patches for critical and important vulnerabilities. No new features, no bug fixes, no technical assistance with problems.
The program is intended as a bridge, not a permanent solution. That's exactly how it should be treated.
The timeline at a glance
- October 14, 2025: regular support ends, last free patch.
- until October 2026: first ESU year for private users, registration required.
- until October 2028: ESU for businesses, maximum three years, price increases each year.
As of today, September 2026, this means for private users: Only a few weeks remain until the bridge ends. Those who are still on Windows 10 should no longer postpone the switch.
The calculation for businesses
The ESU price for companies usually doubles each year. This is precisely the intention: The program should be affordable in the first year and unattractive in the third.
This contrasts with a one-time license change. Windows 11 Pro costs €85.99 per device, once, with security updates at no additional cost. For twenty workstations, that's around €1,720, which is not recurring annually.
Calculate your ESU expenses fairly: If you pay more than about a third of the license price per device per year, the switch has definitely paid off after three years. With the usual increases, this point is usually reached as early as the second year.
„When we extrapolated the ESU costs for twenty computers over three years, it was clear: The switch to Windows 11 was the cheaper decision after just the first year." An IT manager describes how a simple Excel calculation ended the discussion in the team.
When ESU still makes sense
There are cases where the program is the right choice:
- Industry software demonstrably does not run on Windows 11 and the manufacturer is still working on the porting.
- A fleet of devices will be replaced within the next few months anyway.
- Specialized hardware with drivers not available for Windows 11.
In all other cases, ESU primarily buys time, which is expensive. For devices whose functional status must remain stable for years, Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 for €132.99 is the cleaner answer: security updates until 2029, but no functional changes.
What happens if you do nothing at all
Windows 10 will not stop working. The computer starts, all programs continue to run. What stops are the security updates. Newly discovered vulnerabilities remain open, permanently.
For a computer without a network connection, this is bearable. For every device with Internet access and even more so for systems with customer data, it is not a sustainable position, neither technically nor in terms of one's own compliance.
The way forward
First, check if your hardware supports Windows 11. If so, you only need one license: Windows 11 Pro for €85.99. If the computer remains on Windows 10 for now, Windows 10 Pro for €54.99 is the inexpensive interim solution.
Details on the end of support can be found in the article Windows 10 End of Support. All license questions are bundled in the Windows Guide, and you can find the right edition using the comparison tool.
