I did not want a large scale pattern and preferred a uniform look - either solid color or a small scale pattern (think specky-flecky). That was my main reason for choosing quartz (in 2 bathrooms and a kitchen).

In that regard, it is purely a matter of personal preference. Others will chime in on the varied physical properties of the two surfaces.

I had granite in my previous kitchen, and it was easily stained by oil/grease and also soap. My husband is not careful about what he puts on the counter no matter how often I remind him, and I heard that quartz was much more tolerant, and it has proven to be true.

I think a big part of it is that the white countertop has become very popular and the white natural stone choices are limited and have some upkeep/durability issues.

We chose quartz because we found a pattern that we really loved. Admittedly, we did not go to a stone yard to look at slabs of granite, so we very well might have found a granite we loved too, but once we saw "our" quartz we stopped looking.

Neither should be used as a cutting board or a hot plate, so use is about the same.

Comparison of materials

What confuses me is that I did have granite in my previous home. I thought it was just about bullet proof. It was a dark granite, in the kitchen and in the bathrooms it was a lighter one. The darker one in the kitchen was super durable. I did cut on it and it just never stained, never etched. I did re-seal it maybe every other year. Other than cleaning it with non ammonia cleaner and wiping it down it was low maintenance. I thought that the quartz seems to be less durable but maybe that is where I need to be educated.

I think it's the change to wanting less busy patterns (even the solids as mentioned or the marble look with much less pattern) that may be the driver here. Is that making sense ( I keep hearing about Taj Mahal and I think that fits the bill). I think maybe it's just more current.?

I don't neccessarily love Quartz

or I'd put it like that: I used it but not because I loved it. There are few stones I truly love.

I decided that in this kitchen I'd rather have uniform countertops, and great patterned tile

(then it so happenned that budget suffered because of different new problems that had to be addressed-and great patterned tile still haunts me in my dreams)

Actually my uniform surface was supposed -in my mind-to be butcher block...it's just that both our builder and cabinetmaker strongly advised against using is next to water and fire..and the kitchen is small..very hard to integrate butcherblock. I thought of an elegant solution btw; but I think executing it would cost me as much as half of this kitchen.

In terms of maintenance-we don't baby it..but our previous granite was more everything-resistant. Maybe depends on what sort of granite. I didn't like it aesthetically at all; my DH did. He likes all stones in the world so it seems..

No, one can't put hot pots on Quartz. (and on almost any other surface-with very few exceptions). yes if uniform and light you'll see seams more. yes if uniform and light-it will look very clean -because one sees every crumb..:) so one keeps it very clean..

Our previous granite-I had to touch it to figure out whether dirty or not..:)

I think it's a matter of personal preference, context, space you're working with, what are your family's needs and habits, etc, etc...

how much you can take imperfections..

(and in what. I can be very illogical-something bothers me, something doesn't. I myself try to understand it but no rhyme no reason to it)

For example in master bathroom we have marble (or limestone. nobody knows. lol)-I didn't like any quartz for that room..and the space itself a tad more rustic in feel..so natural stone made sense. But it was a very lucky find too. It was a remnant found in a small fabrication shop. I was at my wits end -until I saw it.

I like very few granites..I do love many marbles, limestones, Quartzites, and onyx..

I think I prefer veins to speckles, for example

So see..everybody and their preferences. Or their preferences vs what their place dictates. Other elements used. Etcetera.

It's very smart of you to try to understand pluses and minuses of materials, and what might drive decisions to use this or that, in house such and such.

In response to Ann McGrath's and Salonva's comments about the bulletproof-ness--or not--of granite, the thing about granite is that there are a thousand of them. You cannot put all those granites under one umbrella. Some are easy-care, or even no-care (I have one of those), and others will need to be sealed or can show fingerprints. If you see a granite you like, you can do research beforehand on what that particular granite is like.

As mentioned above, people enjoy the uniformity of Quartz. Also if you have found a kitchen backsplash tile or floor tile that you adore, and they have busy pattern, your best bet is to choose a quiet quartz counter to go with it or them. Granite would not work aesthetically in that situation.

Having said that, I prefer granite, though I understand why people also prefer quartz. There is no right or wrong here, nor is there any rule or dictate to follow which is what I think the OP is seeking. I have a kitchen with granite counters that are 14 years old. I still have not tired of their beauty. They also look like the day they were installed, and believe me I have not babied them.

The glorious variegations of Mother Nature can be installed in your kitchen via granite counters. But many people want something quiet, and quartz is the choice for them.

There's another choice the OP didn't mention, for people looking for a fairly uniform surface in a dark color. Soapstone is beloved by many. Some soapstones have a lot of veining, and some have minimal or no veining. Once you touch soapstone's incredible silky surface, you'll never forget it. As with everything, soapstone also has its pros and cons.

I originally wanted a light colored counter, and was concerned that the light granites stain more easily, or had garnet spots I didn't like. I was all set to get a marble look quartz.

I decided that I should at least go to the granite yard to make sure there weren't any granites I was missing. I went to a huge slab yard and saw Blue Pearl Royale. It's a darker granite but it has bright pieces that reflect light. I love it.

We paired our Blue Pearl Royale granite with some Glacier White Corian (on a breakfast bar and desk). The Corian lightens up the room and it's also a very nice surface. Very impressed with both the granite and the Corian so far.

I would go to counter places and Lowe's, etc, to see the displays. Run your hands over the surfaces (I used to tell my hubby "I need to pet the granite!"). Try to picture the counter in your kitchen. Bring a sample of your cabinet and floor colors if you can.

A good quality sharp knife makes kitchen work so much easier. I'm repeatedly shocked that anyone would consider the merit of using a knife on a hard surface such as stone. It's not the counter but the knife that is being abused; just why would you want to?

Liked the pattern/colour, and I liked the price (this will vary place to place, but in my case quartz was cheaper) - it's not more complicated than that. I don't think granite's bad, it's just didn't fit in my preferences. I considered a solid surface like Corian, but I didn't like the feel of it; to me, it felt more plastic-y and less stone-y.

When we had our bathrooms remodeled three years ago, I asked the remodeler about quartz but they did not recommend it because of the cost. The granite counters we put in the bathrooms have been fine. When those counters were installed I was surprised that there was more color variation and veining than I had expected from the sample. Two months ago we decided to update our kitchen (using the same remodeling company). I asked for quartz countertops, and I guess they had become more competitive in price with quartz, so the cost was about the same for either material. I wanted quartz in a very light even pattern and color to go well with our new white cabinets. Also, because we are seniors (husband and self in early '70's)I knew visibility would be better for us with a light color and very fine grained pattern. I find it hard to see details or objects on a dark counter or on granite with large streaks and swirls (such as some motels have in their bathrooms!)