Difference Between Pinocytosis and Receptor Mediated Endocytosis

The pinocytosis pathway involves cell drinking, where only fluids and dissolved nutrients are taken into a cell.
Cells used Receptor-mediated endocytosis process for selective internalization of specific molecules.

Topic	Pinocytosis	Receptor Mediated Endocytosis
Definition	Pinocytosis refers to the ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell membrane.	The receptor-mediated endocytosis refers to an endocytotic mechanism in which specific molecules are ingested into the cell.
Also Known as	Pinocytosis is also knwon as cell drinking	The receptor-mediated endocytosis is also known as clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Components to be Uptaken	Pinocytosis mainly uptakes liquids.	Receptor-mediated endocytosis mainly uptakes solutes.
Receptor Involvement	The receptors are not involved in pinocytosis.	The receptors on the cell membrane do involve in receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Selectivity	Pinocytosis is not a selective process.	Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a selective process.
Solute Intake	Solutes in the extracellular fluid enter into the cell through pinocytosis.	Selected solutes bind to the receptors and enter the cell during receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Vesicle Formation	Vesicles form through the invagination of the plasma membrane.	Vesicles form through the internal budding of the plasma membrane
Efficiency	Pinocytosis is a less efficient process	Receptor-mediated endocytosis is an efficient process.

Similarities of Pinocytosis and Receptor Mediated Endocytosis

Both Pinocytosis and Receptor Mediated Endocytosis use the cell membrane for the process.
Both of them help in the uptake of proteins and other substances that cannot easily diffuse into the cell through the plasma membrane.
Both of them have a high demand for cellular energy and they are categorized under active transport methods.