Even though they are both used to generate electricity, we generally think of alternators as parts of a car specifically used for the battery, and generators as a backup for something like a camping trailer or your own home in the case of an electricity outage. Overall, these comparisons are both pretty accurate!
Alternators and generators perform similar functions, but it’s important to know which one is suited best for your needs. Probably one of the most important difference between the two is that: Alternators cannot charge a completely dead battery, whereas generators can. Trying to charge a dead battery with an alternator can cause fires and additional damage to your motor.