The main difference between cell wall and cell membrane is that the cell wall is found in plant cells while cell membrane is found in animal cells. Cell membrane is semi permeable and cell wall is totally permeable.Cell membrane in plant cells are covered by cell walls and forms the outer protective covering. The thickness of cell membrane remains the same but the thickness of the cell wall increases in thickness. . Cell membrane has receptors for sensing external chemicals, but cell walls do not have any receptors.