Galvanic vs. electrolytic

[Renee Grange 1I]

How can we tell the difference between galvanic and electrolytic cells?

[Aiden Metzner 2C]

An electrolytic cell converts electrical energy into chemical energy, a galvanic cell converts chemical energy to electrical energy.

[Sofia Barker 2C]

Galvanic cells create electrical energy from chemical energy. This reaction is a spontaneous redox reaction.
Electrolytic cells create a potential difference from electrical energy. The electrons are forced to flow, creating a nonspontaneous redox rxn.

[Sanjana K - 2F]

This diagram is pretty helpful too.

[Matthew Tsai 2H]

In a galvanic cell, electrons flow spontaneously, but in an electrolytic cell, electrical energy drives electron flow in the opposite direction (nonspontaneous).