Switching From Disposable Vapes: Prefilled or Refillable?

Disposables are gone. If you used one, you've got two options now: prefilled pod kits or refillable pod kits. Both work. Both feel similar to a disposable. The difference comes down to how much control you want.

Here's a quick comparison so you can skip the parts that don't apply to you.

If You Want It Simple: Prefilled Pods

Prefilled kits are the closest thing to a disposable. You charge the battery, click in a pod, and vape. When the pod runs out, you throw it away and click in a new one. No bottles, no filling, no vape coils.

The trade-off is flexibility. Most prefilled pods only come in 20mg, so if you want to lower your nicotine over time, you're stuck. Flavour choice depends entirely on what that brand makes for their pods, which is usually 10-20 options. Still way more than a single disposable, but nothing compared to refillable.

You can browse all the pod flavours by taste to see exactly what each prefilled brand offers.

Big prefilled brands right now include Elf Bar, Lost Mary, SKE Crystal, IVG, and Hayati. Browse our prefilled kits and refill pods to see what's available.

If You Want Control: Refillable Kits

Refillable kits give you access to every nic salt and 50/50 e-liquid on the market. That's thousands of flavours across dozens of brands, at any nicotine strength from 0mg to 20mg.

If you prefer a slimmer shape than a pod, our vape pen kits offer the same refillable savings.

The daily experience is almost identical to a disposable. You fill the pod, put it in, and vape. The extra step takes about 30 seconds. In return, you're paying roughly half what prefilled costs and you can reduce your nicotine whenever you're ready.

If the end goal is stopping altogether, our quit smoking with vaping plan sets out how to taper down from here.

If that sounds like the right fit, our beginner's guide covers everything you need to know about picking your first refillable kit. Our nic salt strength guide helps you choose between 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg.

What About the Flavours?

This is where refillable really pulls ahead. Disposables gave you maybe 5-10 flavours per brand. Refillable opens up the entire e-liquid market.

If you liked your disposable flavours, bar salts are nic salt e-liquids made to taste exactly like the old disposables. Brands like Elux, ElfLIQ, and Bar Juice 5000 bottle the same recipes you already know. Our best nic salt brands guide covers the top picks.

Beyond bar salts, there are custards, tobaccos, bakery flavours, drinks, menthols, and fruit combinations you'd never find in a disposable. UK e-liquid brands have had years to develop these and the quality is noticeably different.

Which Route Should You Take?

Go prefilled if you don't want to think about it at all. Charge it, click in a pod, done. It'll cost more and you'll have less choice, but there's nothing to learn.

Go refillable if you care about flavour variety, want to control your nicotine level, or want to spend less. There's a 30-second learning curve on filling a pod and that's about it.

Refillable kits also let you drop to 0mg in time, and our nicotine free vapes range covers that final step.

Either way, you're spending less and wasting less than disposables. And if you start with prefilled and decide you want more options later, switching to refillable is easy. Browse our pod kits or beginner kits to see what's out there.