We lost the game, despite the fact that we practiced all week. In spite of means exactly the same thing and is used exactly the same way as despite. ... We lost the game, in spite of the fact that we practiced all week. In spite of not having an umbrella, I walked home in the rain.

What is difference between despite and in spite of?

The only difference between in spite of and despite is the 'of'. Despite the pain in his leg he completed the marathon. It seems to me "in spite of" is a slightly more elaborate form, to be used in more fancy, most formal writing. "Despite" is not informal but not quite that elaborate.

Where do we use in spite and despite?

Although, even though, in spite of and despite are all used to link two contrasting ideas or show that one fact makes the other fact surprising. They can all be used at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. Despite the rain, we enjoyed the festival. We enjoyed the festival, despite the rain.