They’re functionally the same – smoking plant material in that form factor. But I’ve noticed cigarette smokers tend to hold the cigarette facing out, in between their index and middle finger. Whereas someone smoking a joint would more typically hold it towards their palm, between their thumb and middle or index finger.
Heat and ashing.
Due how finely shredded and tightly packed tobacco is, there is much less heat (that the inner finger is more sensitive to than finger tips) and easier to control / denser ash with cigarettes. Compounding this, the filter helps with heat and the between finger hold makes it easier to flick the dense ash. Their similar in components, but less so in functionally.