Is there any real difference between using perlite or vermiculite to aid drainage?

Hello Floo, here is an article that was posted here. It has some good info about them. I used to think they were interchangeable but they really aren't.
https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

Hmm interesting

It is! I do use vermiculite in seed starting mixes, but use perlite for potting up things like cacti and succulents that need excellent drainage and drying out. I don't like the bright white, but pots can be top dressed with rock or gravel of a better color.

I've always used vermiculite for most things or just compost on its own. So I should be using perlite for stuff like aloe, sansevieria and euphorbia milii right?

I do. I've had much better luck using it for the succulents and cacti. Sometimes I buy cactus mix, but add another 40 to 50% perlite to it. It depends on how often you like to water and what your climate is like where you're growing them. Experiment a bit and see what works best for you. We all do things differently, and still have our successes.