So let's talk about the differences between investing with stocks and options. First we'll tackle the less complex investing vehicle, we all know as stocks. To start with, you should know that stocks are directional trading vehicles. If we are long the stock, then we make money when the prices of the asset rises, and we lose capital as the underlying asset's price decreases. Also, we can sell a stock short in which the profit comes when the stock falls. Direction is key when investing with stocks. We need not worry about time or market volatility.
Options, however, involve these other two dimensions just mentioned, plus the dimension of price as well. So options are actually three-dimensional trading vehicles based on price, time and volatility. To compare stock and options in a practical sense, let's consider this scenario:
A stock takes a full year to move up 10%. If you bought and held on to it, you just made 10%. However, you may have made nothing at all or even lost money if you just bought an option.
So why did the option trader lose money if the stock went up? Well, it's quite simple really. The option trader lost the time value of his options. Each option has time premium factored into the option price, and if the move doesn't happen fast, then the option trader will most likely lose money if he is simply buying Calls. Also, the volatility will most likely drop on the asset as the price rises, and this will also cause the price of the option to fall.
Now you see that in order to trade options, we really need to be well informed. Novice option traders usually buy Calls and Puts, and then don't understand why they lose money when the underlying asset goes the direction they were hoping. It's important to remember, when trading options, that you are trading a 3 dimensional asset.