Is it better to play elite rather than normal?
what are the differences exactly?

Elite monsters are stronger and got much more life, it is funnier to play and it does make a real challenge when you defeat the last boss on nightmare

if u want to make your gaming more "grindcore" then you wil play & enjoy elite

elite is faster leveling because there are way more blue and orange monsters

(so more drops too)

I have played both and like elite way better.

The monsters aren't appreciably tougher imo