The table below summarizes their similarities as well as their difference

Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Origin Around 3.5 billion years ago. Around 2 billion years ago.

Size 0.1–5.0µm in diameter. 10-100µm in diameter.

Cellular Most are unicellular. Most are multicellular.

Organization

Genetic Material The genetic material (DNA) is suspended in the nucleoid. The genetic material (DNA) is
found in the nucleus.

Shape Of Genetic DNA is circular. DNA is linear and is packed with

Material histone proteins.

Number Of Only one. Multiple chromosomes are

Chromosomes present.

Nucleus No nucleus. Has a membrane bound nucleus.

Plasma Membrane Made up of peptidoglycan. Made up of phospholipids.

Cytoplasm Has cytoplasm but does not contain Endoplasmic reticulum. Has cytoplasm however
Endoplasmic reticulum is usually
present.
 Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Golgi Apparatus Golgi apparatus is a part of the endomembrane system Present

within the cytoplasm – it is absent.

Microtubules Microtubules are filamentous intra-cellular structures which Microtubules are usually present.
are responsible for various kinds of movements) and micro-
filaments are very rare.

Organelles No organelles wrapped in membranes. Has organelles wrapped in

membranes (e.g. mitochondria,
Golgi bodies, smooth and rough
ER, vacuoles, etc.)

Cytoskeleton Present None

Glycocalyx Present Only in some.

Ribosomes Made up of rRNA and proteins. Made up of rRNA and proteins.

Flagella Flagella are a lash-like appendage that protrudes from the Longer in Eukaryote cells.
cell body. They are smaller in Prokaryote cells.

Cell Wall Prokaryotic cell wall (e.g, bacteria) composed Eukaryote Cell wall is composed
Composition of mucopeptide (linear chains of alternating amino sugars) of cellulose; Peptidoglycan is
or peptidoglycan (polymer consisting of sugars and amino absent.
acids).

Plasmids Plasmids (a small DNA molecule within a cell and separated Plasmids are uncommon in
 Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

from a chromosomal DNA) happens. Eukaryote cells.

Mesosome Cell membrane could contain an in-folding Mesosome is absent in

called mesosome (an organelle of bacteria that appears as an Eukaryotes.
invagination of the plasma membrane).

Mitochondria Mitochondria (Cellular respiration) are absent. Do Mitochondria are often present.
Prokaryotes Have Mitochondria? Refer to this detailed post.

Endocytosis / Endocytosis (active transport mechanism in which a cell Both present.

Exocytosis transports proteins “into” the cell) and Exocytosis (active
transport mechanism in which a cell transports proteins “out
of” the cell) are absent.

Cyclosis Cyclosis is the movement of protoplasm within a cell; it is Present

absent.

Fimbriae Prokaryotes may have pili and fimbriae (appendage that can Absent

be found on many Gram-negative and some Gram-positive
bacteria).

Transcription Transcription is the second step of gene expression where Transcription occurs inside the
particular section of DNA is copied into RNA); it occurs in the nucleus for eukaryote cells.
cytoplasm for prokaryote cells.

Lysosmes / Lysosmes (membrane-bound Present

Sphaerosomes / organelle), Sphaerosomes (small cell organelles present in
 Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Glyoxysomes the cytoplasm) and Glyoxysomes (found in plants – fat

storing tissues of germinating seeds) are absent.

Centrosome Absent Present except in flowering

plants. See the comparison
of Centrosome vs Centriole.

Asexual Possible through binary fission. Possible through mitosis.

Reproduction

Examples Bacteria Animals, plants, fungi, rhizarians

chromoalveolates, and
excavates.