Although stainless steel and silver look similar, there are some major differences between stainless steel and silver. Firstly, stainless steel is a man-made alloy (mix) of metals. Whereas silver is a naturally occurring product known as a precious metal, making it quite rare and therefore more expensive. ,Silver usually has a higher shine than stainless steel but can be prone to tarnishing over time and usually requires more care to keep it looking shiny. On the other hand, stainless steel is very resistant to rust and tarnish and is relatively low maintenance.