Consumer vs. Customer: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between a consumer and a customer is that a consumer is someone who uses or consumes a product or service, while a customer is someone who buys that product or service.

Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand Consumer and Customer:

  • Consumer: A consumer is an individual or organization that uses a product or service. They may or may not be the person who purchases it.
  • Customer: A customer is someone who buys a product or service, usually with the intention of using it.

Now, let’s get to Consumer vs Customer:

Major differences between Consumer and Customer

Consumer Customer
A consumer can be anyone who uses a product or service. A customer is someone who purchases it.
A consumer may not necessarily pay for the product or service. A customer always pays for it.
Consumers may not have a direct relationship with the business selling the product or service. Customers usually have a direct relationship.
A customer has the power to choose which products or services they purchase. A consumer may not have that choice.
Customers are the main source of revenue for a business. Consumers are not necessarily a direct source of revenue.

So, these are the main differences between the entities.

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