Which is better, vinyl plank or laminate?

For most rooms, vinyl plank. Rigid-core LVP is waterproof; laminate is not, because its core is wood fibre and standing water can swell it permanently. Laminate's advantage is surface hardness. A good laminate resists scratching and denting better than most vinyl, and it often looks and sounds closer to real wood underfoot. So laminate suits dry bedrooms, living rooms and hallways in a household that is hard on floors, while vinyl plank suits kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, entries and basements. Over a Calgary basement slab, vinyl is the safer choice.