Here is the difference between xrp and Ripple Connect taken from their whitepapers:
1) Ripple, the company, offers banks a software called Ripple Connect (thanks /u/cmbartley) which uses InterLedger Protocol (ILP) to transfer $$ between banks with a minimal fee because it doesn't have to get transferred 2-3 times into different fiats or service fees. It simply needs to get converted once. This software DOES NOT USE XRP. XRP is an option but right now banks are not choosing it because it's new and because of its volatility.
2) XRP is a cryptocurrency that exists outside of Ripple Connect that is high in liquidity and has fast transactions. Source: https://youtu.be/51dMe_Oui4M?t=2439

For you to invest in this coin, you need to know the following things:
1) The success of Ripple the company is not directly tied to the value of XRP.
2) When you buy Ripple, you are simply buying another cryptocurrency. Its advantages are its fast transaction times, high liquidity, and finally the various exchanges it's on.
3) You are NOT buying the currency that banks are currently using to transfer their money. So banks are not buying XRP right now and you should not expect banks to buy up a whole ton of XRP in the near future. South Korea and Japan are scheduled to start using Ripple in 2018.
4) Ripple the company will advocate for use of XRP as the cryptocurrency of choice within Ripple connect for banks to transfer money in the ILP between lesser known fiats outside of the USD and the Euro.


Sources:
https://ripple.com/files/ripple_solutions_guide.pdf
https://ripple.com/files/ripple_vision.pdf