The answer to 'gutters vs' is that gutters and downspouts are essential for protecting your home from water damage, while downspouts alone do not provide the same level of protection. Gutters collect rainwater from your roof and channel it away from your home's foundation, preventing water from seeping into the basement or crawl space and causing costly repairs. Downspouts, on the other hand, are only responsible for directing the water collected by the gutters away from your home.
Gutters are typically made of aluminum, steel, or vinyl and come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit your home's needs. They are installed along the edges of your roof to catch the water as it flows off. Downspouts are connected to the gutters and carry the water away from the home, usually into a drainage system or onto the ground, where it can be safely diverted away from the foundation.