Vaping is the go-to choice for smokers looking to quit, and in 2025, it overtook traditional cigarettes as the most popular method of cutting out traditional cigarettes. It’s widely recognised as a less harmful alternative, with 5.5 million vapers in the UK.

Heated tobacco products (HTP) have a lower uptake with around 400,000 users, and are a newer, less well-known option. However, it’s been quietly growing; UK sales were projected to rise 5% to £448 million in 2025, showing some interest.

If you’re a smoker trying to figure out what’s best for you, it can be confusing. Should you try a vape, or is heated tobacco the better option?

To help you decide, we’ll break down how each type works, compare them, and offer some practical guidance on which option suits your goals.

How Do Vapes Work?

Vapes, or e-cigarettes, heat a liquid, often called E-Liquid or vape juice. It contains nicotine, flavourings, and other ingredients to create a vapour you inhale. 

Unlike cigarettes, there’s no burning tobacco, which means you avoid the harmful chemicals produced by smoke. 

Modern vapes come in a range of styles, from prefilled devices to refillable systems, giving users flexibility in nicotine strength, flavour, and vapour volume.

How Do Heated Tobacco Products Work?

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) work by warming actual tobacco to a high enough temperature to release a nicotine-containing aerosol, but not so hot that the tobacco burns.

This means they still produce a smoke-like substance, but with fewer harmful byproducts than a traditional cigarette.

HTPs are typically used with specially designed sticks or capsules of tobacco, and the devices are rechargeable.

Vapes vs Heated Tobacco: How Do They Compare?

When it comes to choosing an alternative to smoking, it helps to see the differences side by side. The table below breaks down how vaping and heated tobacco compare in key areas:

Vapes: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Wide range of flavours and nicotine strengths
• Easy to customise devices and experience (vapour volume, pod systems, mods)
• Discreet and low odour
• Cheaper than heated tobacco over time
• Refillable and reusable
• Last longer as pods and bottles aren’t single-use
• More socially acceptable

Cons:

• Requires charging and occasional maintenance
• Advanced devices can be tricky for beginners to use
• Learning curve for selecting the right E-Liquid and device combination
• Dense vapour clouds may not be suitable in all social situations

Best for: Smokers looking for a tobacco-free alternative with flexible nicotine options and the strongest evidence base around harm reduction and quitting.

Heated Tobacco: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• A closer experience to traditional cigarettes
• Simple to use
• Minimal maintenance, just replace the tobacco sticks
• Consistent nicotine delivery with each stick
• Can be used as a bridge to less harmful vapes
• Ideal if you’ve tried vaping but struggled to switch

Cons: 

• Limited flavours compared to vapes
• Is more expensive per use than vaping
• Devices can be bulky and less discreet
• Still produces some tobacco odour
• Use one stick at a time, like smoking, which can make usage feel more rigid
• Requires charging and occasional maintenance

Best for: Smokers who have struggled to switch using other methods and are looking for a more familiar experience. Heated tobacco products are not recognised as smoking cessation aids, and evidence supporting their role in harm reduction is limited compared to vaping.

Cost Comparison: What’s Cheaper?

Both vaping and heated tobacco require a small upfront investment in a starter kit, but the ongoing cost of consumables can differ significantly. The table below shows a typical monthly spend for a moderate user, based on current UK prices.

*Based on 1 PRO pod per week (£8), and 10 tobacco sticks per day (£3). Savings will vary.

Heated Tobacco: A Legal Grey Area

Heated tobacco products currently sit in a legal grey area in the UK. Unlike cigarettes, they:

• Don’t require graphic health warnings, which makes them appear more “vape-like”
• Are not fully subject to tobacco advertising restrictions, so marketing can be more visible
• Lack official recognition as a smoking cessation aid

This regulatory gap has helped heated tobacco grow quietly, but the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill is expected to close it, bringing stricter advertising and marketing rules in line with traditional tobacco products.

Remember: Heated tobacco products are not vapes; they still contain tobacco and, consequently, some of their harmful chemicals.

What Option Might Suit You?

If your goal is to move away from smoking using a recognised, lower-harm alternative, vaping is generally the preferred option for smokers aiming to quit using a recognised lower-harm alternative.

It’s widely supported as a smoking cessation tool, including by organisations like the NHS, and offers flexibility in nicotine strength, flavour, and long-term cost.

If you’ve tried vaping before and struggled to fully switch, heated tobacco may feel more familiar. For some smokers, it can act as a short-term stepping stone away from cigarettes.

However, it still involves tobacco and carries more risk than vaping, and it isn’t recognised as a smoking cessation aid.

In short:

• Choose vaping if you want the most established, flexible option for quitting smoking.
• Consider heated tobacco only as a transitional step, not a long-term replacement.

Neither vaping nor heated tobacco is risk-free, but for smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke, switching completely can reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. 

If you’ve tried vaping or heated tobacco, leave a comment below and let us know how they compare.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Decided to make the switch to vaping? Read our guide on switching from smoking, where we’ll share tips, tricks, and recommend our best products.