Direct comparison
Plant vs animal cell
Plant and animal cells share a nucleus, membrane and cytoplasm, but plant cells also have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Plant cell | Animal cell |
|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Present — a rigid wall of cellulose outside the membrane. | Absent — only a flexible cell membrane. |
| Chloroplasts | Present — they carry out photosynthesis. | Absent — animals cannot photosynthesise. |
| Vacuole | One large, permanent central vacuole. | Small, temporary vacuoles, if any. |
| Shape | Fixed, regular box-like shape from the wall. | Rounded and more variable. |
| Nucleus | Present. | Present. |
| Cell membrane | Present, inside the cell wall. | Present, as the outer boundary. |
| Mitochondria | Present. | Present. |
| How it gets food | Makes its own by photosynthesis. | Takes in food from outside. |
| Energy store | Starch. | Glycogen. |
Same core, three plant extras
Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic, meaning they keep their genetic material inside a nucleus, and both contain cytoplasm, a cell membrane and mitochondria. The differences all relate to the plant’s way of life as a maker of its own food. The cell wall gives the plant rigidity so it can stand upright without a skeleton. Chloroplasts capture light energy to build sugars by photosynthesis. The large central vacuole fills with cell sap and presses outwards, keeping the cell firm — when it loses water, the plant wilts. Animal cells, which obtain food by eating, need none of these and stay more flexible and varied in shape.
Common questions
FAQ
What three structures do plant cells have that animal cells do not?+
Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large permanent vacuole, none of which appear in animal cells. The cell wall gives support and shape, chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis to make food, and the central vacuole stores cell sap and keeps the cell firm. These additions suit the plant’s role of making its own food.
What do plant and animal cells have in common?+
Both are eukaryotic cells, so each has a nucleus that holds the genetic material. Both also contain cytoplasm where reactions happen, a cell membrane controlling what enters and leaves, and mitochondria that release energy by respiration. These shared features are the common core of all eukaryotic cells, plant or animal.
Do animal cells have a cell wall?+
No. Animal cells have only a flexible cell membrane as their outer boundary — they have no rigid cell wall. The cell wall is a feature of plant cells (and also fungi and many bacteria, though made of different materials). Without a wall, animal cells are more rounded and can change shape more easily.
Going deeper
