The question; if sugaring is less painful than waxing, is one of the most common questions we get. The main thing to remember is everyone's pain tolerance is different and regular waxers will have a different experience than those who have never waxed or sugared before.
If you are an experienced waxer and dislike all the pain, burning, bruising, and sensitivity that comes with standard wax, then your experience will probably be a lot better with sugaring compared to waxing. If you are new to sugaring however, and have never popped your waxing cherry (so to speak), then your skin has never experienced the "trauma" of pulling the hair out from the root, this may make your experience a little different than someone who is switching over.
With that being said, many people new to sugar waxing don't experience much pain, and one of the most persuasive arguments for sugaring is the fact that it is less painful than waxing.
one reason for this is, the sugaring paste is applied at room temperature or lightly warmed, which doesn't hurt. Standard wax, on the other hand, is applied while hot.
In sugaring, the paste is sticky and thick enough to hold on to your hair but not your skin. Waxing, on the other hand, sticks to your skin surface. Because of this, when the wax eventually gets cold and needs to be removed, it becomes painful and discomforting.
When placed side by side, the pain level of sugaring is mild to moderate, with waxing being moderate to severe.
You might fare better with soft waxes if you decide that waxing is your thing.
You might want to go for sugaring around your bikini area, your armpits, and other sensitive areas.