Plantation shutters and blinds both control light at the window, but they are quite different products: a blind is a fabric or slatted covering that hangs from the top, while a shutter is a solid, louvred panel framed and fixed permanently into the window. That difference drives everything else.
Cost
Shutters are substantially the more expensive option. They are made from solid panels, custom-built to the opening and professionally measured and fitted in most cases, so they cost several times what a made-to-measure blind for the same window would. A blind is the budget-friendly choice by a wide margin.
Look and value
Shutters are a premium, built-in feature: they look architectural, they suit period and high-end interiors, and because they are a permanent fixture they can add to a home's appeal when selling. Blinds are more flexible and far cheaper to change, so they suit renters, anyone who likes to refresh a room, and those who want a particular colour or fabric rather than the white-to-wood palette shutters usually come in.
Light, privacy and practicality
Shutters tilt their louvres for angled light and privacy, much like a venetian, and the solid frame gives good insulation and a tight fit. They are robust and wipe clean, which suits busy and humid rooms. Blinds match the louvre control with venetians and verticals, add the option of true blackout fabric for bedrooms (which shutters, with their louvre gaps, cannot fully achieve), and cover any window shape and size at a fraction of the cost.
Which to choose
Choose shutters if you want a permanent, premium feature, plan to stay in the home, and the budget allows. Choose blinds for affordability, flexibility, true blackout in bedrooms, moisture-tolerant options for kitchens and bathrooms, and the freedom to change the look later.