A pitchfork is a larger agricultural tool often used for lifting and turning over hay. It has two or three tines, is typically made of wood, and is often quite heavy.  A compost fork, on the other hand, is typically made of metal and has four to five curved or angled tines. It's designed specifically for breaking up soil, compost, mulch, and other organic materials in gardening. It's much lighter than a pitchfork since it only needs to penetrate the top layer of soil instead of lifting large piles of hay.