otherwise / apart from that
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otherwise
Introduces a consequence that will occur if a previously mentioned condition is not fulfilled; in the sense of 'andernfalls' (otherwise).
Du musst dich beeilen, ansonsten verpasst du den Bus.
You have to hurry, otherwise you'll miss the bus.
'Ansonsten' (otherwise / apart from that) is an adverb that often stands at the beginning of the sentence. When it is in position 1, the conjugated verb follows directly after it (inversion).
Wir müssen jetzt los, ansonsten kommen wir zu spät.
We have to leave now, otherwise we'll be late.
You can recognize the meaning 'andernfalls' (otherwise) by the fact that the preceding sentence contains a condition or an instruction. 'Ansonsten' (otherwise) then introduces the negative consequence if the condition is not fulfilled.
Zieh eine Jacke an, ansonsten wirst du krank.
Put on a jacket, otherwise you'll get sick.
You can recognize the meaning 'abgesehen davon' (apart from that) by the fact that the preceding sentence mentions a specific piece of information or a small limitation. 'Ansonsten' (apart from that) then extends the statement to the general situation.
Mein Knie tut ein bisschen weh, aber ansonsten fühle ich mich topfit.
My knee hurts a little, but apart from that I feel great.
The word 'ansonsten' (otherwise / apart from that) is very common, especially in spoken language and informal texts. It sounds natural and suitable for everyday use.
Hast du am Wochenende schon was vor? Ansonsten könnten wir ins Kino gehen.
Do you already have plans for the weekend? Otherwise, we could go to the movies.
otherwise / else
'sonst' and 'ansonsten' can both introduce a consequence when a condition is not met. In this sense, both mean something like 'otherwise'. 'sonst' is very common in everyday language and often sounds more direct. 'ansonsten' sounds a bit more formal or structured and can also mean 'apart from that' or 'besides that'. This is why learners may confuse the words: in warnings or conditions they are often similar, but 'ansonsten' can also talk about other aspects of a situation.
Luis braucht ein neues Ladekabel, ansonsten funktioniert sein Handy gut.
Luis needs a new charging cable; apart from that, his phone works well.
Wir müssen jetzt los, sonst kommen wir zu spät.
We have to leave now, otherwise we'll be late.