Stocks give you ownership (equity) in a company, while bonds are loans you make to a company or government. Stock returns come mainly from price growth and sometimes dividends, with no promised payout. Bonds typically pay scheduled interest and return principal at maturity if the issuer does not default.
Because stockholders share in upside and downside, stocks are usually more volatile than bonds but have historically offered higher long-term growth. Bondholders are creditors and are generally paid before stockholders if a company fails. Source: NerdWallet — Bonds vs. Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide.