Air coolers and air conditioners are very similar in that they both distribute cool air. You can set the desired temperature of an air conditioner, but you're unable to control the temperature of an air cooler. This is because an air cooler cools the air via an evaporation method.
More differences include:
Air coolers don’t require any outside ventilation, while air conditioners must be vented.
Air coolers work best when placed near an open door or window.
Air conditioners can lower the temperature far more than is possible with an air cooler.
Most air coolers can also be used as a humidifier.
You can read our blog article which gives a more detailed breakdown of the differences between an air cooler and air conditioner!