I've been told this is true because on the climbing wally ou have specific hold where on a real climb you can improvise.

it is waaaaaay harder

They're different sports, it would be like comparing apples & oranges. But outdoor rock walls can easily be as hard as anything ever established in an indoor wall, even if we do not consider other factors such as stability of rock, exposure to the elements, length of climb, technical complications, & sometimes lack of good protection. Establishing a rating for outdoor climbs tends to be more problematical than for indoor climbs, because indoor climbs can be more consistent by design, while all kinds of things can happen for outdoor climbs. For this reason, climbers experienced with indoor climbs may find outdoor climbs bewildering at first, sometimes the climbs seem easier, or more frequently the climbs seem lot harder, even for the same climb ratings. And finally, yes, a guidebook may show a certain outdoor climb as having a certain rating, but who is to say exactly how it is to be climbed? Variations r frequently possible, both harder & easier. However, most indoor rock gym climbs have a rating from roughly 5.4 to 5.13, with the bulge at about 5.10, while outdoor sport climbing areas can go up to 5.14 or even 5.15, with the bulge at about 5.11. Part of the reason for this disparity is that indoor rock gyms have to make a profit, & most of the paying customers just cannot climb at that high of a level. On the other hand, hard core outdoor rock climbers competitively r always pushing the envelope, & there is considerably less interest in developing climbs of intermediate difficulty.

One other point that should be made is that for safety reasons, indoor rock gyms PREFER that the walls actually be vertical or slightly overhanging, so that when a climber falls, he/she does not crash down the wall, as outdoor rock climbers almost always have to deal with. This is another example of how comparing the two is like comparing apples & oranges, because it is relatively rare for outdoor climbs to be at a sustained overhang, while experienced indoor gym climbers will almost always climb that way, so different techniques & strengths r called for, & that is probably the reason why outdoor climbers who have no experience with indoor climbing could at first find the harder indoor climbs difficult.

NO IT IS NOT IF YOU R IN THE MARINES U CLIMB THE REAL THING IT IS HARDER

It depends.

On real rock u can climb a route that has very little to use, a few crimpy grips that r well spread out, with little to hold on to when placing gear. Or u can go along a nice easy crack.

It is the same on an indoor wall, u can do a route that is full of jugs that is basically like a ladder. Or u can do a route that is full of crimps & slopers.

Both can be really easy or really hard. l think the guy above me who said it is like comparing apples & oranges hit the nail on the head. Just different things.

my rock gym is sandbagged (aka, they make the routes more difficult in grade, in a way to make up for the lack of height) so for me it is easier outside.

However, outside has a scarrier element because if u fall, u r falling on stone, not padding. Although the chances of falling r slim, it still makes me nervous.

However, l like the holds on rock than the fake ones. l think it is preference. l am in houston so l do not have a lot of options. In addition, l hate the hiking up to the routes so the gym pleases me. :)

They r two different animals & l suggest u try both. Also, outside, u r having to have someone to lead (normally) which is a little harder. Trad is harder than that although l like trad more because l follow along a crack/seam & that is something that is not very well done at my gym.

Every one else has been answering in lengthy , so l will just give it to u right hear, easy. No, climbing outside is just plain harder. My climbing coach who climbs 5.14 is always talks about how the climb l am on, for example, is an indoor 5.12, & an outdoor 5.12+. There is a difference, climbing inside, the holds r set up in a way, where u can do it, it requires skill, & strength. Outside, they r not set up for you, & on the harder climbs, 5.10-15's, there r not any ways to improvise, & usually the climb holds r harder on ur hands.
Good Luck!
Lily K

maybe

Outside is way harder, your holds are not bright orange and obvious. It requires much more technique than indoor climbing. Its like the difference between lifting weights for improved strength for lets say football, and actually playing football. There is no comparison.

Obviously it depends on the grade, which in turn depends on what sort of climbers climb at that indoor wall or who has written the guide book.
However, in general I'd say that the same grade tends to be a lot harder outside.
This is as much psychological as anything else - outside you've got the wind whipping around you, it can be freezing cold or wet or boiling hot. There r sharp edges everywhere, there is the possibility of rocks, gear or even bolts coming loose. You can not as easily communicate with ur belayer because of the wind & outdoor noise. If you're leading trad not sport then there is the fear of any of ur gear coming loose. If you're leading sport then the bolts r much further apart than at indoor walls.

However. There is no particular set route to follow, particularly on the easy routes. You can choose exactly where to put hands & feet, it does not depend upon where someone is bolted a hold. This can make it easier, or it can make it harder. If there r loads of nice holds then there is plenty to choose from, but if there r barely any nice holds then it can be tricky to find them.

real climbing is more dificult since you when you climb on real rocks, you need to look for possible holds. Unlike on climbing walls, artificial rocks are already visible and you know which one to use.

Holy crap people, the answer is: neither yes nor no!! It just depends how hard the route is. Period.

Yes. You are climbing according to the route setters design and some of them do not think of climbers, outside its all up to nature and there are more places for your feet. l have set dozens of indoor routes and l often forgot that everyone else is not 6ft tall!

It depends. l do both, & I've found outdoor climbing more difficult, however the texture of the wall itself is easier to smear on. Overall, unless u r lead climbing either sport or trad, it varies. The one thing l find more difficult is setting a proper anchor - many places in my area do not have safe bolts or hangers, & there r no easy anchors in sight. So to sum it up, it varies if u r an entry level climber, but for intermediate & beyond outdoor climbing is much more difficult & requires much more skill & experience.

oh yes! its a lot harder. when you have grips that are given to you it is a lot easier! if you go to a rock gym, try crack climbing. its like outdoor rock climbing. it rips up your hands and you have to have A LOT more endurance for outdoor than you would need at a rock gym