In the short term, there is no real difference. However, growth hacking focuses more on Organic than Paid and on Inbound rather than Outbound.

In other words, growth hacking is building a growth machine that can run and bring results on its own in the long run, whereas the benefits of digital marketing stop the moment its campaigns and activities also stop.

Growth hacking is the branch of digital marketing where data matters more than hierarchy, and ROI is more important than brand awareness. Digital marketing primarily focuses on how to get customers while growth hacking goes beyond acquisition and examines the marketing & growth funnel holistically.