What decides who will become president? Electoral college or Our votes in the polls? I dont understand.?

I keep hearing our votes don't count but than I hear that the electoral votes is the one that really decides who becomes the next president. If that is so what is the point of us citizens voting if it don't really count? How does the electoral college votes work if it is the only ones that count? Is it decided by the majority of what the states citizens vote or just some regular group of democrats and republicans in the electoral college that decide if the want republican or democrat? I am confused please help thanks!