A frequency distribution groups data values to show how often each value or range of values occurs, while a simple list just displays each value without any organization or summary.

A frequency distribution organizes data by grouping values into intervals, showing how often each range occurs, while a simple list only displays individual data points without summarizing patterns. This grouping in frequency distribution reveals trends and makes large datasets easier to interpret by condensing data into manageable intervals. In contrast, a simple list lacks structure, making it challenging to identify patterns or draw conclusions at a glance. Thus, frequency distributions are more effective for analyzing and presenting the overall distribution of data.