What Are the Different Types of Vapes & E-Cigarettes?
This article was written by Tjobbe Andrews | Published: July 22, 2016 | Last updated: May 6, 2026
One of the biggest barriers to stopping smoking is the perceived difficulty of transitioning from smoking to vaping. There are four main types of vapes to choose from, each catering to different preferences and experience levels.
Though this variety may feel a little daunting to new vapers at first, it quickly becomes one of the most advantageous aspects of vaping. The sheer volume of choice available makes vaping one of the most accessible and affordable tools to stop smoking with - we really mean it when we say there's something for everyone!
If you're ready to start your quit journey, this article will help you to discover which e-cig is the best for your needs.
Different Types of Vapes
Electronic cigarettes typically fall into four categories: cigalikes, pod kits, vape pens and box mods. We've put together an overview of these four types of e-cigs to help you choose the best e-cig for your needs.
Simply hover over or tap on the boxes below for a quick summary of each device. Otherwise keep scrolling for an in-depth overview of the four main types of vapes and how to use them.
Cigalikes
Cigalikes are small, discreet vapes that look and feel like a cigarette. A cigalike has a pre-filled e-liquid cartridge that screws onto a rechargeable battery. Getting started with a cigalike really is that easy: once the battery is charged and the two components are attached, you're ready to start vaping. Not only are cigalikes incredibly simple, but they also offer excellent value for money.
Pod Vapes
Pod vapes, otherwise known as pod mods, are small and simple devices that consist of a battery and a refillable or pre-filled pod. These devices are one of the newest generations of e-cigarettes and have quickly grown in popularity amongst those first making the switch to vaping. This is due to their convenience, low cost and ease of use.
Vape Pens
Vape pens are small, compact pen-shaped style devices which feature a battery and a refillable tank. Since vapers can add any e-liquid of their choosing, vape pens offer more customisation over flavour and vapour production than cigalikes or pre-filled pod systems. Vape pens are often activated with a button and sometimes have other features such as airflow adjustment and variable wattage.
Box Kits
Box mods are box-shaped e-cigarettes that consist of a battery and removable tank. Since most box mods have a 510 connector, vapers can often buy any battery and tank to create a custom box mod kit. There are simple, beginner-friendly box kits available as well as more advanced models with customisable settings. Box mods are high powered devices, and are popular with experienced vapers.
Different Vaping Styles
Each type of vape is suited to at least one specific vaping style. We cover this in-depth in our guide: Direct-to-Lung and Mouth-to-Lung Vaping. Here's a brief overview:
Mouth to Lung (MTL)
Devices that offer a mouth-to-lung vaping style are well-suited to beginners. That's because the vapour is designed to be inhaled into the mouth and then into the lungs; just as a smoker would inhale from a cigarette. MTL devices produce a subtle amount of vapour which makes them the most discreet.
Almost all types of vapes offer MTL vaping, but cigalikes and pod kits are the most popular options for beginners.
Direct to Lung (DTL)
Direct-to-lung vaping kits are designed to be inhaled directly from the device into the lungs. Although some DTL kits are suitable for beginners, they can take a little getting used to. This is because the inhalation style is different to that of a cigarette, which makes them better suited to experienced vapers.
DTL kits are sometimes called 'sub ohm' kits. This relates to the resistance of the coil within the tank. If the resistance is below 1.0 ohm, then it will be suitable for 'sub ohm' (DTL) vaping.
Trying to inhale mouth-to-lung style from a DTL device can make you cough and splutter. Because of this, we typically recommend RDTL devices for existing vapers wanting to try direct-to-lung vaping for the first time.
Restricted Direct to Lung (RDTL)
Some devices offer Restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL) vaping. These devices are better suited to beginners or those wanting to try DTL vaping for the first time, as they offer thicker vapour but with a more restricted draw than a sub ohm device.
What Determines Inhalation Style?
Vaping style is determined by the core components of an e-cig: e-liquid formulation, coil resistance and wattage.
E-liquids are formulated using propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). VG determines cloud density while PG determines flavour and throat hit. 50/50 e-liquids create an even balance of the two which is well-suited to MTL vaping. 70/30 e-liquids, on the other hand, create thicker clouds of vapour which is well-suited to DTL vaping.
Find out more in our guide: What Does PG & VG Mean?
Vape coils have a 'resistance' rating, measured in ohms. If the coil resistance is above 1.0Ω, then the tank/device is suitable for MTL or classic vaping. If the resistance is below 1.0Ω, then it will be suitable for DTL vaping.
Find out more in our guide: How to Get the Best Flavour From Your Vape
Wattage also plays a role in achieving different vaping styles. As a rule, wattage between 7-20W is best when paired with high-resistance coils for MTL vaping, and wattage of 40-200W is best paired with low-resistance coils for DTL vaping.
Find out more in our guide: What Wattage Should I Vape At?
An Overview of the Different Types of Vapes
Let's dive into more detail about the different types of e-cigs, including how they work and the benefits of each.
Cigalikes are similar to traditional cigarettes in shape, size and style. They are designed to replicate smoking, without many of the harmful chemicals.
Many smokers find cigalikes the best option when first starting out with e-cigs as they can seamlessly switch from real cigarettes to cigalikes. Cigalikes are 'grab and go' devices - you do not need to press a button, simply inhale to activate the vapour - making them a simple and convenient alternative to cigarettes.
Construction: Cigalikes consist of a rechargeable battery and replaceable 'refills', otherwise known as 'cartridges' or 'cartomisers'. The batteries are small and usually last a few hours for heavy users or up to a couple of days for occasional vapers. The end of the battery lights up as you inhale to replicate the glowing end of a cigarette
Using a cigalike: When you inhale, a sensor triggers the heating chamber (known as the atomiser) to heat a small amount of liquid from the cartomiser. This turns it into vapour which is drawn into your mouth through the central hole in the cartridge.
Cigalike Pro's
- Authentic 'cigarette' feel
- Familiar flavour
- Highly affordable
- Easy to use
- Discreet
Size-wise, pod vapes sit somewhere between a cigalike and a vape pen. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are often a flat pen shape, small and designed to fit neatly in your hand. There are two types of pod kits: closed system and open system.
Closed-system pod kits utilise a pre-filled pod system that is highly user-friendly and are an ideal option for beginners.
Pre-filled pods are specific to the brand and model of pod device. Most pre-filled pods contain nicotine salt e-liquid as it delivers nicotine faster than freebase nicotine. You can find out more about nicotine salts in our guide: What Are Nicotine Salts?
Construction: Pod kits consist of a rechargeable battery and a 'pod' which is either replaceable or refillable.
Using closed-system pod vapes: To use a pod device, simply charge up the battery and attach a pod onto the device. Pod vapes usually have an auto-draw system, so you just need to inhale on the mouthpiece of the pod refill to vape. The pod refill can be used until the tank is empty, then replaced with a new one.
Using open-system pod vapes: Start by charging up the battery. In the meantime, fill your pod with your preferred e-liquid (we love OK Vape 50/50 e-liquids, but we have to admit we're a little biased!). Take a small draw on the pod to submerge the coil in liquid and avoid a dry hit. Leave it for at least five minutes, then attach the pod to your battery. Now you're ready to start vaping!
Pod Vape Kit Pro's
- Easy to use
- Convenient and mess free
- Wide range of flavours
- Long lasting battery
- Suited to vapers of all experience levels
Vape Pens
Also Known As: Rechargeable vapes, e-cig pens
Suitable For: Any vaper
Vaping Style: MTL, RDTL & DTL
Vape pens are named for their pen-shape design. Like cigalikes, vape pens are compact and fit comfortably in the hand. A vape pen is a fantastic option for any vaper who wants a discreet, compact device with the flexibility to vape a variety of flavours.
They feature a tank that is designed to be filled with e-liquid. Vape pen tanks utilise a replacement coil system, which can be less convenient than a pod or a cigalike but offers more control over the vaping experience.
Vape pens sit somewhere in between the first-generation cigalike and an advanced vape kit and offer more personalisation options than cigalikes or pods.
Construction: Vape pens have a long, cylindrical battery with a built-in tank at the top. Similar to a pod vape, the tank contains a coil and e-liquid reservoir. Vape pens often include an airflow adjustment ring on the tank to alter the amount of air flowing through the tank for the optimum throat hit.
Using vape pens: Detach the tank from the battery, putting the battery on charge and filling the tank with your preferred e-liquid. Take a small draw and leave the tank for at least five minutes to prime the coil before attaching it back onto your battery. Once fully charged and ready to go, press the fire button and take a draw.
Vape Pen Pro's:
- Sleek and sophisticated design
- Easy to use
- Limitless flavour options
- Moderate battery life between charges
- MTL & DTL vaping style options
Box Kits
Also Known As; Box kits, box vapes, mech mods, mechanical mods
Suitable For: Experienced vapers
Vaping Style: DTL
Box kits are designed with performance in mind and are named for their large, 'box' shaped battery and the potential to modify (or 'mod') vaping style. Box kits are the go-to for experienced vapers who want to experiment and customise their vape.
Sacrificing the neat and compact styling of other vape kits, box mods opt for more powerful batteries with the capacity to deliver a sub ohm vaping experience. A box mod is heavier, more substantial and less discreet than other devices, but some users prefer the feel of them in their hand.
There are box mods that offer both MTL and DTL vaping, but the majority of box mods cater to sub ohm, DTL vaping. Tanks are usually interchangeable, so the user can remove the tank and use one with a different design or from another brand.
Construction: Box kits consist of a box-shaped battery and tank. Some devices are simple to use but there are many box kits designed for more advanced vapers. These tend to have a variety of customisable settings and often feature LCD screens with buttons to view and adjust your settings.
Using a box mod: These devices work in the same way as vape pens - start by charging the battery and filling the tank. Prime your coils before attaching the two components and taking your first draw.
Box Kit Pro's
- Customisable vaping experience
- Power and performance
- Flavourful vapour
- Dense cloud production
- Easily modifiable
Which E-Cig Is the Best?
Of the four types of e-cigs, the best one for you depends on your experience level and vape preferences.
For ex-smokers with minimal (or zero!) vaping experience, we recommend cigalikes and closed-system pod kits. Both options are simple and easy to use, with many ready to go straight from the packet.
For intermediate or advanced vapers, open-system pod kits, vape pens and box mods are the ideal choice. Offering more freedom over the vaping experience, these kits are the perfect option for those already armed with vaping knowledge.
Still not sure? Head to our blog post about choosing a vape kit for more help and guidance on the different vapes and which device will suit you best.
Or, if you'd prefer to speak to our friendly customer service team, you can contact us by phone between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
