It tends to light and burn faster. It is great as a fire starter and for the quick morning warm ups and breakfast cooking. At night, when you want to have a longer burning fire. It will take a lot more wood if you use softwood exclusively. Sometimes you may not have a choice.
Hardwood is sometimes hard to come by.
Softwood also produces more of the traditional snap crackle and pop you come to expect with a campfire than hardwood does. Hardwood can also be used to start fires, but you will find it a little more difficult to get going. Hardwoods burn slower and longer. It makes for a good long lasting night fire. When building your fire.