What is the difference between a saree blouse and a choli?

Both are the fitted upper garments worn with Indian ethnic bottoms — but they pair with different garments:

Saree blouse: The fitted top worn specifically with sarees. Traditionally has a deep back (visible when saree is draped), short sleeves or sleeveless, and is stitched to match the saree fabric. Modern blouses come in extremely varied styles (backless, off-shoulder, full-sleeve, halter).

Choli: The fitted top worn with lehenga choli or chaniya choli sets. Very similar in construction to a blouse — the distinction is mainly in what it is paired with. Cholis for Navratri chaniya sets tend to be more colorful and embellished.

In wholesale: Most sarees are sold with a matching blouse piece (unstitched blouse fabric). Stitched blouses are available as separate products but require accurate measurement ordering. Lehenga sets usually come with a stitched choli.