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.
Couple of reasons in my experience. Cigarettes have a generous butt, and are pretty structurally sound, which makes them pretty easy to handle that way, and you can ash with a simple flick of your thumb. Joints often have no butt, or just some folded up but of paper or some other dodgy bullshit, so there’s far less to grab onto. They’re also often pretty flimsy, and fall apart easily. So holding them that way gives you better control and is more gentle on the joint.