The only difference is that our opponent cant read our gestures and expression when we are playing online poker but our playing strategy can be read through pattern and statistics.
Which one is harder? Again, it depends on the player's skills on how to read opponent's move.
Those who are great in offline poker is not always be as great as when they are playing online poker and vice versa.
I like to catch poker players or simply people when they are out of their comfort zones I like to ask something or comment, and later see their reaction. That pause, those long seconds, when they think how to answer or reply more correctly. That very moment when person start to lie or to blush when he got caught on a lie. You cant get that when playing online. But that greatly helps when gambling offline and opponent get a tiny loss of his inner balance and starts to make mistakes. Not saying that I am an elite poker player, but such little victories against someone in verbal battles makes me feel joy