• Cow is a female cattle while buffalo is a separate bovine species.
• The term cow is used to refer the female of many species, but the term buffalo refers to domestic or water buffalos.
• Cattle cows are domestic, but buffalos prefer a life in the wild.
• Buffalos have broader and stronger horns than cows with horns.
• Buffalos are usually more robustly built than cows.
• Buffalos are ashy black in colour while cows are of few colour and sometimes with patterning, as well.