Beautiful is probably the highest compliment, because it`s respectful and kinda ego-boosting. When they call you pretty, it`s a lesser version of beautiful but it`s still a nice compliment. Pretty is a term that friends like using amongst each other (at least my friend group, id.k for anyone else).
Cute is just straight up flirtatious, unless you`re talking to a friend. It`s the all-purpose term for complimenting lm.ao
