Obelisks are purely decorative, free-standing monuments whose sole purpose is to commemorate or honor an event/person. They have a specific shape which is four-sided and tapers into a point at the top.
Columns are (mostly) cylindrical, form part of a building and, while often decorated, are rarely used to honor someone in modern times. Obelisks and columns are similar in that they are both stone structures, but distinct in every other regard.