--- title: "Windows 10 ESU Costs: Your Three Options in 2026" description: Windows 10 ESU costs double each year. Compare paying to stand still, a hardware refresh, or reusing devices with Citrix UniconOS. image: https://www.cxanz.com/hubfs/FIL_CX_GEO_Blog%202%20-%20Nov%2026.jpeg --- [![CXANX+Citrix LockUp Black](https://www.cxanz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CXANX+Citrix%20LockUp%20Black.png?width=300&height=40&name=CXANX+Citrix%20LockUp%20Black.png "CXANX+Citrix LockUp Black")](https://www.cxanz.com/) [![CXANZ+Citrix LockUp Black RGB](https://www.cxanz.com/hubfs/Australia/Projects/CXANZ/AUS-HSM-CXANZ/Brand%20Assets/CXANZ+Citrix%20LockUp%20Black%20RGB.svg "CXANZ+Citrix LockUp Black RGB")](https://www.cxanz.com/) - [Home](https://www.cxanz.com) - [Partners](https://www.cxanz.com/partners) - [Customers](https://www.cxanz.com/customers) - [Blog](https://www.cxanz.com/blog) - Resources - [Find a Partner](https://www.cxanz.com/psp-partners) - [Contact Us](https://www.cxanz.com/meet-the-team) - [Home](https://www.cxanz.com) - [Partners](https://www.cxanz.com/partners) - [Customers](https://www.cxanz.com/customers) - [Blog](https://www.cxanz.com/blog) - Resources - [Find a Partner](https://www.cxanz.com/psp-partners) - [Contact Us](https://www.cxanz.com/meet-the-team) # Windows 10 Is Over. Deferring Your Upgrade Now Costs Triple. By [**Roshantha Pillay**](https://www.cxanz.com/blog/author/roshantha-pillay) on Oct 28, 2026, 3:53:22 PM ![Windows 10 End of Support | CXANZ Citrix](https://www.cxanz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FIL_CX_GEO_Blog%202%20-%20Nov%2026.jpeg?width=8256&height=5504&name=FIL_CX_GEO_Blog%202%20-%20Nov%2026.jpeg) Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Yet many organisations across Australia and New Zealand are still running it. The upgrade that was delayed hasn't disappeared. In many cases, the cost has simply shifted, from a planned upgrade project to a combination of extended support fees, hardware refresh requirements and increased operational risk. ## The Extended Security Updates Maths Microsoft's Extended Security Updates programme buys time, and it is priced to discourage you from using it for too long. Commercial pricing starts at US$61 per device for the first year, doubles to US$122 for the second and doubles again to US$244 for the third. Three years of deferral costs US$427 per device. Coverage is cumulative rather than optional, so an organisation that skipped Year 1 and now wants Year 2 has to buy Year 1 retroactively as well. Year 1 ran to 13 October 2026. Anyone wanting cover for the year after that is looking at US$61 plus US$122, triple what the first year cost, and US$244 the year after that. Check current pricing in your own currency and licensing agreement before budgeting. The figures above are Microsoft's published commercial rates in US dollars. So, as you plan your Windows device strategy, and if Windows 10 is still in the mix, what are your options? ## Option One: Pay to Stand Still For devices that genuinely require Windows and cannot support Windows 11, Extended Security Updates (ESU) can be a practical short-term solution. It is also the least disruptive option, allowing organisations to maintain their existing environment while buying time to plan the next step. The challenge is that time comes at a cost. Extended support fees increase over time, while the factors that delayed the upgrade often remain unchanged. In many cases, organisations find themselves paying more each year without reducing complexity, modernising their infrastructure or moving any closer to a long-term solution. ## Option Two: Refresh Hardware in a More Expensive Market For many organisations, a hardware refresh remains the most straightforward path to Windows 11. The challenge is that many are now entering a more expensive market than the one they deferred from. Device costs have risen, budgets remain under pressure, and the migration still needs to happen. Waiting may have deferred the investment, but it hasn't reduced it. The fleet still needs to be upgraded, applications still need to be validated, and users still need to be migrated. The result is a simple reality: delaying the decision has often made the eventual transition more expensive. ## Option Three: Ask What the Machine Actually Needs to Do The third option starts with a question: what does the device actually need to do? For many users, the endpoint is simply a way of accessing applications and desktops that are hosted elsewhere. If that's the case, the device doesn't necessarily need a full desktop operating system, ongoing patching, and all the complexity that comes with managing it. It needs to boot, connect securely and provide a reliable user experience. Citrix UniconOS was developed to support that different approach. It transforms existing PCs and laptops into secure, centrally managed endpoints running a lightweight Linux operating system, with nothing stored locally. When applications and desktops are delivered centrally through Citrix, hardware that may not meet Windows 11 requirements can often continue to be used effectively, turning a replacement decision into a redeployment opportunity. Not every workload is a fit. Some users will continue to require a local Windows desktop for specialist clinical applications, engineering software or unique peripheral requirements. Those devices should remain on Windows and be managed accordingly. The opportunity isn't to move everything. It's to identify which devices truly need a full Windows desktop and which simply need secure access to applications. ## How to Decide This is rarely a single decision across an entire estate. More often, it's a segmentation exercise. - Devices that need Windows and can run Windows 11**:** upgrade them and move on. - Devices that need Windows but cannot run Windows 11**:** consider options such as Extended Security Updates, application modernisation, virtual desktops, or targeted hardware replacement. - Devices that primarily provide access to applications and desktops hosted elsewhere**:** these are often strong candidates for Citrix UniconOS and can frequently continue delivering value on existing hardware. For many organisations, the third group is larger than expected. The goal isn't to treat every endpoint the same. It's to match the operating model to the user's needs and invest where it delivers the most value. ## Are you getting the most from Citrix? CXANZ is the local Citrix team across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, backed by global expertise and focused on helping customers and partner’s win. Before deciding which devices belong in which category, it helps to understand the capabilities you may already have. Our complimentary [60-minute Citrix Review](https://www.cxanz.com/resources/citrix-review) helps identify opportunities, priorities and next steps. You'll receive a written summary, actionable recommendations and a roadmap aligned to your environment. No cost. No obligation. Previous Blog [← What Happens When Ransomware Takes Your Windows Fleet Offline?](https://www.cxanz.com/blog/ransomware-recovery-windows-fleet) ![CXANX+Citrix LockUp White](https://www.cxanz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CXANX+Citrix%20LockUp%20White.png?width=300&height=40&name=CXANX+Citrix%20LockUp%20White.png) Cloud Software Group and any trademarks, service marks, trade names, and logos of Cloud Software Group (including Citrix and NetScaler) are owned by Cloud Software Group, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used by Dicker Data under license from Cloud Software Group, Inc. 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