Manual vs. Automatic: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 30, 2023
To Lease: To rent property for a specified period. To Buy: To acquire ownership through payment.
Key Differences
To Lease involves paying for the use of an asset over time. To Buy means acquiring permanent ownership through a single transaction.
To Lease often includes ongoing payments. To Buy typically involves a one-time payment or financing.
To Lease usually doesn't build equity. To Buy allows for equity accumulation in an asset.
To Lease often has contractual time limits. To Buy results in indefinite ownership duration.
To Lease might have restrictions on use or customization. To Buy allows for full control and customization.
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Comparison Chart
Ownership
Temporary use rights
Permanent ownership
Payment Structure
Ongoing payments
One-time or financed purchase
Equity Building
Usually none
Builds equity in the asset
Time Duration
Contractual period
Indefinite
Use/Customization
May have restrictions
Full control and customization
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Manual and Automatic Definitions
Manual
Contractual use of an asset.
To lease equipment can be cost-effective for startups.
Automatic
Purchasing property outright.
They saved enough money to buy their dream car.
Manual
Of or relating to the hands
Manual skill.
Automatic
Obtaining assets permanently.
To buy land can be a good investment.
Manual
Done by, used by, or operated with the hands.
Automatic
Transaction leading to ownership.
He plans to buy a boat next summer.
Manual
Employing human rather than mechanical energy
Manual labor.
Automatic
Act of acquiring property.
To buy vintage art requires a keen eye.
Manual
Of, relating to, or resembling a small reference book.
Automatic
Acting or operating in a manner essentially independent of external influence or control
An automatic light switch.
A budget deficit that triggered automatic spending cuts.
Manual
A small reference book, especially one giving instructions.
Automatic
Self-regulating
An automatic washing machine.
Manual
(Music) A keyboard, as of an organ or harpsichord, played with the hands.
Automatic
Acting or done without volition or conscious control; involuntary
Automatic shrinking of the pupils of the eyes in strong light.
Manual
A machine operated by hand.
Automatic
Acting or done as if by machine; mechanical
An automatic reply to a familiar question.
Manual
A manual transmission.
Automatic
Capable of firing continuously until ammunition is exhausted or the trigger is released
An automatic rifle.
Manual
A vehicle having a manual transmission.
Automatic
Semiautomatic
An automatic pistol.
Manual
Prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon, especially a rifle
The manual of arms.
Automatic
An automatic machine or device.
Manual
A maneuver in certain board sports, such as skateboarding, in which all of the board except one end is lifted off the ground, especially when the tip of the board is kept from making contact with the ground.
Automatic
An automatic firearm.
Manual
A handbook.
Automatic
A semiautomatic firearm.
Manual
A booklet that instructs on the usage of a particular machine or product.
The dishwasher isn't working; can you remember where we put the manual?
Automatic
A transmission or a motor vehicle with an automatic gear-shifting mechanism.
Manual
(military) A drill in the use of weapons, etc.
Automatic
(Football) See audible.
Manual
An old office-book like the modern Roman Catholic ritual.
Automatic
Capable of operating without external control or intervention.
The automatic clothes washer was a great labor-saving device.
Manual
(countable) A device that is operated using the hands, or by a human rather than a machine.
Automatic
Done out of habit or without conscious thought.
The reaction was automatic: flight!
Absent-minded doodling is a form of automatic art.
Manual
(automotive) A manual transmission; a gearbox, especially of a motorized vehicle, shifted by the operator.
Automatic
Necessary, inevitable, prescribed by logic, law, etc.
Spitting at another player means an automatic red card.
Manual
(by synecdoche) A vehicle with a manual transmission.
I'm not used to automatics; I've always driven manuals.
Automatic
(of a firearm such as a machine gun) Firing continuously as long as the trigger is pressed until ammunition is exhausted.
Fully automatic weapons cannot be legally owned by private citizens in the US, except in very special circumstances, as by private security companies.
Manual
(music) A keyboard for the hands on a harpsichord, organ, or other musical instrument.
Automatic
(of a handgun) An autoloader; a semi-automatic or self-loading pistol, as opposed to a revolver or other manually actuated handgun, which fires one shot per pull of the trigger; distinct from machine guns.
The US Army adopted John Browning's M1911 pistol as its sidearm, chambered in .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol).
Manual
A manual typewriter (as contrasted with an electronic one).
Automatic
Automatically added to and removed from the stack during the course of function calls.
Manual
(countable) A procedure or operation that is done using the hands, or by a human rather than machine.
Automatic
Having one or more finite-state automata.
Manual
Manual measurement of the blood pressure, done with a manual sphygmomanometer.
Do a manual
Give someone a quick manual
Automatic
A car with automatic transmission.
I never learned to drive a stick. I can only drive an automatic.
Manual
A bicycle technique whereby the front wheel is held aloft by the rider, without the use of pedal force.
Automatic
A semi-automatic pistol.
The G-men raiding the speakeasy were equipped with .45 automatics, while the local policemen were carrying revolvers and shotguns.
Manual
A similar maneuver on a skateboard, lifting the front or back wheels while keeping the tail or nose of the board from touching the ground.
Automatic
Having an inherent power of action or motion.
Nothing can be said to be automatic.
Manual
(uncountable) Manual control or operation.
Put the controls to manual.
Leave the system on manual.
Automatic
Pertaining to, or produced by, an automaton; of the nature of an automaton; self-acting or self-regulating under fixed conditions; operating with minimal human intervention; - esp. applied to machinery or devices in which certain things formerly or usually done by hand are done by the machine or device itself; as, the automatic feed of a lathe; automatic gas lighting; an automatic engine or switch; an automatic mouse; an automatic transmission. The opposite of manual.
Manual
(of an activity) Performed with the hands.
Automatic
Not voluntary; not depending on the will; mechanical; controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control; as, automatic movements or functions. The opposite of voluntary.
Unconscious or automatic reasoning.
Manual
(of a machine, device etc.) Operated by means of the hands.
Automatic
Like the unthinking functioning of a machine.
Manual
Performed by a human rather than a machine.
The teacher urged the students to do a manual check, because some errors aren't picked up by the spell checker.
Automatic
Light machine gun.
Manual
Of or pertaining to the hand.
Automatic
A pistol that will keep firing until the ammunition is gone or the trigger is released; as, a .45 automatic.
Manual
Performed by a person using physical as contrasted with mental effort; as, manual labor.
Automatic
Light machine gun
Manual
Done or made by the hand. In some contexts, contrasted with automatic or mechanical.
Automatic
A pistol that will keep firing until the ammunition is gone or the trigger is released
Manual
A small book, such as may be carried in the hand, or conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the service book of the Roman Catholic Church.
This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws.
Automatic
Operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control;
Automatic transmission
A budget deficit that caused automatic spending cuts
Manual
A keyboard of an organ or harmonium for the fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a clavier, or set of keys.
Automatic
Like the unthinking functioning of a machine;
An automatic `thank you'
Machinelike efficiency
Manual
A prescribed exercise in the systematic handing of a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the manual of the sword; the manual of the piece (cannon, mortar, etc.).
Automatic
Without volition or conscious control;
The automatic shrinking of the pupils of the eye in strong light
A reflex knee jerk
Sneezing is reflexive
Manual
A small handbook
Automatic
Acquiring ownership through payment.
She decided to buy a house instead of renting.
Manual
(military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle
Manual
Of or relating to the hands;
Manual dexterity
Manual
Requiring human effort;
A manual transmission
Manual
Doing or requiring physical work;
Manual labor
Manual laborer
Manual
Renting property for a period.
They decided to lease a car instead of buying.
Manual
Temporary possession agreement.
The company chose to lease office space downtown.
Manual
Binding rental arrangement.
They opted to lease their second home.
Manual
Agreement for temporary use.
To lease a luxury vehicle can be more affordable.
FAQs
What does it mean to buy?
To acquire ownership through payment.
What does it mean to lease?
To rent property for a specific period.
Does buying build equity?
Yes, in the asset purchased.
Is ownership indefinite when buying?
Yes, ownership is permanent.
Are lease payments typically ongoing?
Yes, often monthly or annually.
Can purchased property be customized?
Yes, as the owner wishes.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy in the short term?
Typically, leasing requires less upfront cost.
Is buying usually a one-time payment?
Yes, either outright or through financing.
Does leasing build equity?
Generally, it does not.
Are there time limits when leasing?
Yes, as per the lease agreement.
Can you sell a property you've bought?
Yes, as the owner, you can.
Can leased property be customized?
Often limited by the lease terms.
Does leasing require a credit check?
Usually, to assess financial reliability.
Is maintenance included in leasing?
Sometimes, depending on the lease.
Is buying more cost-effective long term?
Often, as it leads to asset ownership.
Can you sublease a leased property?
Depends on the lease agreement.
Can you terminate a lease early?
Often with penalties, as per the contract.
Can you liquidate a purchased asset?
Yes, by selling the asset.
Is credit important when buying?
Yes, especially if financing is needed.
Who handles maintenance when buying?
The owner is responsible.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
