How does Buffy compare to Charmed?

Charmed wasn't a low rent version of Buffy, just one person's opinion.

The only comparison the shows have is it's Supernatural element.

Buffy was a about a young girl whose destiny was chosen to be a Vampire Slayer who has to not only navigate killing Supernatural creatures but also deal with life as a teenager and her relationships with friends and family. It's the first time that any Slayer has been apart of the world, so it's new for everyone around.

Charmed is about 3 siblings who find out they are the most powerful good witches, and later a 4th sister. It's the story of good and evil as they fight many different beings trying to take over or end the world, all the while trying to live normal lives, by falling in love, getting married and starting families of their own.

Two totally different ways of it playing out. Only Sarah and Alyssa were known before their respective shows hit the air. So it gave us many talented people who most are on long running shows after these two have been over, long ago. And come on the guest stars on both shows were amazing. People from all walks of the entertainment industry.

Charmed was a low-rent ripoff of Buffy, and was laughably bad.