Rolling bearings utilize balls (ball bearings) or cylindrical rollers (rollers or "needle roller" bearings). These elements are contained in bearing rings or "rings" where they facilitate movement with little sliding resistance. Ball bearings are the most common type and can carry radial and axial loads.

However, rolling bearings are subject to failure modes such as load failure, when the races are deformed by the rolling elements due to load, or the balls deform if the balls are overloaded, false hormonal damage due to repeated loads under static conditions, and wear due to Oscillating motion due to insufficient lubrication. Cylindrical roller bearings are designed to carry heavier loads, and they have greater contact with the raceways, spreading the load over a larger area. However, they are not suitable for applications involving thrust loads.

There is a difference between plain bearings and rolling bearings. Due to its complex multi-component design, precise structure and precise mounting, rolling bearings are often much more expensive than ordinary bearings. Rolling bearings are better suited for applications that require precise positioning of the shaft and/or extremely low friction. Plain bearings have a higher load capacity due to their larger contact area and adaptability and can resist high shock and edge loads. Plain bearings compensate for misalignment better than some rolling bearings to reduce the effects of edge loads. The ultra-thin, one-piece design of the plain bearing reduces housing size, resulting in significant space and weight savings. Plain bearings have greater resistance to damage from oscillating motion, resulting in longer bearing life. Plain bearings operate at high speeds and low loads without wear damage due to rolling elements slipping and have excellent damping properties. There are no internal moving parts in plain bearings, so compared to rolling bearings, in a properly lubricated system, the operation is quieter and the rated speed is almost unlimited. Mounting plain bearings directly into simple housings virtually eliminates assembly damage compared to rolling bearings. Compared with standard rolling bearings, non-metallic plain bearings have higher corrosion resistance. Plain bearings can run dry friction, eliminating the additional cost of lubrication, lubricants in maintenance and equipment downtime. Plain bearings can run dry at high temperatures and contamination.