Both tools narrow a light beam, but they do it a bit differently.

A snoot typically gives a single narrowed beam and is often described as having more gradual falloff. It can be a simple, practical way to spotlight a subject or small area, and it’s also easy to improvise in a pinch.

A grid is like many tiny snoots side by side. That usually gives tighter control, less spill, and a more direct, narrower beam. Grids are useful when you need to highlight a detail or keep light confined to a very specific area.

In practice:

• Choose a grid when you need maximum control and minimal spill.
• Choose a snoot when you want a narrowed beam but don’t need quite as much precision, or when simplicity/improvisation matters.

The exact look also depends on the size and design of the grid or snoot, so there is some overlap between them.