Windows 10 support ended over a year ago, and the paid extension just got twice as expensive. Here is what running it really costs, and how to plan the move to Windows 11 without a budget shock.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. A year later, we still find it on front-desk PCs, shop-floor computers and the laptop in the back office that “still works fine.” If that sounds like your business, you aren’t alone, but the cost of waiting went up this fall.
What end of support actually means
Your Windows 10 computers still turn on and run your software. What stopped is the free monthly security fixes. Every new flaw found in Windows 10 since October 2025 stays open on those machines unless you pay for updates. Attackers know this, which is why unsupported systems are some of the first things they look for once they get a foothold.
It also shows up in places you might not expect:
- Cyber insurance applications often ask whether you run unsupported operating systems.
- Compliance frameworks such as CMMC, HIPAA and CJIS expect supported, patched systems.
- Software vendors gradually stop testing and supporting their products on Windows 10.
The paid extension just doubled
Microsoft offers businesses Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 at a price that doubles each year: $61 per computer for the first year, $122 for the second year (which started in October 2026 and runs to October 2027), and $244 for the third and final year. The years are cumulative, so a business that signs up now pays for year one as well as year two. Check Microsoft’s current pricing before you budget, but the direction is clear: ESU is a bridge, not a plan.
For a 10-computer office, buying in now costs roughly $1,830 just to keep receiving security fixes on machines that are already several years old. That money usually goes further toward replacing them.
Why “upgrade to Windows 11” isn’t always a simple click
Many Windows 10 computers can’t run Windows 11 because of its hardware requirements. Even when they can, an in-place upgrade on an older, slower machine rarely makes anyone happy. The usual answer is a mix:
- Upgrade computers that meet the requirements and still have a few good years left.
- Replace the ones that don’t, starting with the computers that handle money, client data or remote access.
- Retire the ones nobody really uses anymore.
A simple plan for the next 90 days
- Take inventory: list every computer, its age, whether it can run Windows 11 and who depends on it.
- Rank by risk: front office, accounting and any PC used for remote access come first.
- Decide per machine: upgrade, replace or retire.
- Budget the replacements, or spread the cost with Hardware as a Service, where new business computers come with setup, warranty and a refresh at the end of the term for one monthly price.
- Move people over with their files, settings and printers ready, so day one on the new computer is a normal workday.
If a computer truly has to stay on Windows 10 for a while, for example because it runs a piece of equipment or older software that won’t move yet, buy ESU for that one machine, keep it off email and web browsing where you can, and set a firm date to replace it.
Don’t forget the computers you don’t see
The machines that get missed are rarely the ones on desks. Look for the PC that runs the security cameras, the computer attached to a time clock or production equipment, and the old laptop someone takes to job sites. Device management makes this easier, because every device shows up in one place with its operating system and update status.
How Freedom Tech helps
We inventory your computers, tell you which ones can be upgraded and which should be replaced, and handle the move so your team isn’t stuck with it. Our free guide, Why Cheap IT Costs More, explains why putting off upgrades usually costs more in the end. If you’d like a second opinion on your own setup, request a free assessment or book a 10-minute call at freedomtech.us/book.
