These are the main ways in which the novel differs from the film:
-Deckard has a wife, Iran. In the film he mentions an ex-wife, but the character was probably removed to allow for Deckard's romantic involvement Rachael.
-Rachael knows she is a replicant, whereas in the film she is convinced that she is human, until Deckard proves otherwise.
-There is another bounty hunter, Phil Resch, who Deckard test to see if he is a replicant. In the film Phil's purpose is served by Rachael having a programmed memory, which raises the question of whether Deckard can trust his own.
-The replicants have short lifespans because of scientific shortcomings, not to prevent them developing emotions. The film changes this presumably to further explore the human-replicant similarities and the ethical issues about killing replicants. Roy does not save Deckard's life in the novel.
-The replicants have not returned to earth to extend their lives, in fact it is not at all clear why they have returned to earth. They seem to face their own and each other's deaths with considerable indifference.
-There is a religion (Mercerism) which centers around the empathy box. This is one of the major issues in the novel, but is completely removed from the film. This is probably because it has little impact on the major plot arcs of the film: Deckard's search for the replicants, Deckard's relationship with Rachael, and the replicants quest for extended lifespan.
-The title is very different: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
-The ending of the novel is far more obscure, and not as immediately satisfying as watching Deckard and Rachael drive off into the sunset. Deckard drives off into the desert and has a bizarre religious experience involving some rocks and an electric toad, he then returns to his wife, patches things up, and keeps the toad. It is understandable that this ending was not used for the film.
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