Day trades open and close within the same market session. Swing trades hold overnight for at least two sessions. This one difference has cascading effects on risk, strategy, capital requirements, and lifestyle.
Day trading: faster feedback, tighter risk per trade, requires constant attention, needs $25K+ for frequent trading on margin, no overnight risk, harder to profit from big multi-day moves.
Swing trading: slower feedback, overnight risk, works with smaller accounts, no PDT restrictions, can capture larger directional moves, requires patience.
Many traders use both styles. A stock that had a huge gainer day might be worth a swing trade into the next 2-3 days. A catalyst that is just breaking might be a day trade if it is fast-moving.
For most beginners with accounts under $25,000, swing trading is the more practical starting point. You can make more decisions with less pressure and avoid the PDT trap.