meaning - What's the difference between "client" and "customer"?


I already asked a similar question (customer vs. client vs. user vs. consumer of on-line service) but, I believe, there may be some differences between technical and legal jargon and general usage of English.


I'd like to find the distinct most appropriate and unambiguous terms to distinguish the users of on-line services:



  • malicious bot vs. entity using programming tools to access online services;

  • general public vs. registered for a free service user;

  • registered for free service user vs. user who paid for a fee-based additional on-line service;


Well, the terms under consideration, so far, are:



  • user

  • consumer

  • client


What is the difference between customer and client?
What are other possible pertinent terms?



Answer



A client is the one to be served, economically or not, the economical one being a customer. A customer (purchaser) is not necessarily a client, when product(s) rather than services are offered.


A consumer is the one who uses products or services, paid or not. So, a consumer is not necessarily a customer. Children at toy shops are usually consumers, their mothers being customers.


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