You’ve heard the terms, but what exactly are the differences between an e-cigarette vs. vape pens? And the answer is not much. In fact, the two terms are actually often used interchangeably.
While we’ll go into greater detail below, the biggest difference between vape pens and e-cigarettes is that vape pens have a refillable tank and a rechargeable battery. This makes them more versatile and designed for longer uses.
But, as we said, there are plenty of other differences between vaping and smoking. If you’re ready to learn more about the e-cigarette vs. vape, keep reading. We answer all the most commonly asked questions about whether a vape is the same thing as an e-cigarette below.
Differences Between Vaping and Smoking an E-Cigarette
As briefly mentioned above, one of the most notable differences between using a vape pen and an e-cigarette is that a vape pen cartridge can be refilled with your favorite kind of vape juice. The most popular vape juice flavors include apple, pineapple, grape, peach, and mango.
Here are some of the other big differences between vape pens and electronic cigarettes you should know:
Availability and Where to Purchase
An e-cigarette may be easier to purchase than a vape pen, as e-cigarettes are commonly sold at gas stations and convenience stores. Vape pens, on the other hand, may only be available for purchase online or at your local vape shop.
Of course, this is going to depend on where you’re located. However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Rather, it’s just something to keep in the back of your mind.
Flavor Options
Having flavor options puts one big win in the vape pen column. As mentioned before, there are tons of vape juice flavors. There really is something for every type of palette. Best of all, you can even make your own vape oil! We welcome you to check out our blog: How To Make CBD Vape Oil to learn more!
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for e-cigarettes. These come with predetermined flavors. As such, you may not really like what you get…even if it sounded good. This can be a major drawback for e-cigarette users.
The Time it Takes to Use
Perhaps, this is a win for e-cigarettes, as they are ready to use as soon as you open them. In most cases, it only takes a few seconds to heat up a vape pen. However, depending on the brand, it could take a minute or longer.
While this isn’t a huge drawback, it’s something to be mindful of.
Length of Use
E-cigarettes are usually disposable. Most vape pens are rechargeable. Likewise, e-cigarettes may cost you $20-$30 for each use. You may be able to find a reliable vape pen for around the same cost and have it last way longer.
How long a vape pen lasts is a huge benefit of using them when compared to other options on the market.
This is not an exhaustive list. However, they are a few of the big differences between an e-cigarette vs. vape.
Types of Vape Pens

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There are four different categories of vape pens. These are cig-a-likes, vape pens, mods, and pod mods. Each of these has its own distinct features. Here’s an overview of each type of vape pen on the market:
Mods
Mods are known for their ability to generate some fat, plumy clouds, giving you more out of each hit. They get their name from their origin as a way for people to modify their flashlights into vaping devices to get more clouds out of them. Over time, these devices were made more mainstream and now are produced by reputable companies rather than being homemade mods.
Vape Pens
Vape pens on the other hand offer a convenient way to not only enjoy your favorite vapors but have also become popular in the cannabis industry for their ability to use oils, concentrates, and vape flowers. These are the most well-known of the different types and over the years, as new models come out, they have been updated to keep in line with the latest features, even staying relevant in the wake of mods.
Cig-A-Likes
They’re the originals. Cig-a-likes are self-explanatory. These look like traditional cigarettes and are a great way to get started on vaping if you want to give it a try. They tend to have a lower capacity than other kinds of vape pens but offer more convenience.
Pod Mods
Pod mods have been gaining popularity lately. They offer a low-wattage way of introducing yourself to the world of vaping. These are a newer entry level alternative to using cig-a-like. They’ve also proven themselves as a way to move away from smoking traditional cigarettes due to their nature and similar nicotine output when using.
Types of E-Cigarettes
Unlike vapes, e-cigarettes fall under two different categories. These two categories are distinct in their usage and what they provide for the user:
Disposable One-Piece
Looking for an e-cigarette but don’t want to pump the time and money into getting a whole system for your own? There are plenty of disposable options out on the market that provide that same amount of nicotine without having to worry about having a device you have to maintain and look out for at all times.
Rechargeable Cig-A-Like
Imagine holding what looks like a traditional cigarette and then noticing that you have to plug it in to charge it when the battery starts to run out. Cig-A-Likes are known for their great entry-level potential. This takes that idea and makes it easy to just keep using the same setup as long as you buy new cartridges for it.
How Many Vape Pen Puffs Are Equal to an E-Cigarette?

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When it comes to e-cigs and vaping, one of the most commonly asked questions among consumers is how many vape pen puffs are equal to an e-cigarette. However, the more appropriate question to be asking is how many of these vape pen puffs are equal to an actual cigarette.
Though there are some slight differences between vape pens and e-cigarettes, they are closely related so it’s impossible to compare them to one another. The same can’t be said, however, for a cigarette.
Generally speaking, it takes about 10 puffs to equal a traditional cigarette. Likewise, it will take about 100 vape pen puffs to equal 10 cigarettes. While this may sound like a lot, keep in mind that this number can vary based on the duration of your puffs. For example, the longer the puff, the lower that number will be.
How Many Vape Pen Puffs Do I Need to Take to Get the Same Amount of Nicotine I Would From a Cigarette?
If you’re looking to vape instead of smoking a traditional cigarette, you may be curious about how many puffs you need to take to absorb the same amount of nicotine that’s in a cigarette. Finding the answer requires you to exercise some of your math skills. This is because you’ll have to multiply the total value of your vape juice by the nicotine strength to find out what the total nicotine content is.
So, for example, let’s say that you have 20ml worth of vape juice that has 20mg of nicotine strength. This means you have 20mg of nicotine per milliliter of vape juice. That would mean that if you have 20ml of vape juice, you end up with a total of 200mg of nicotine overall. This is something to consider when discussing an e-Cigarette vs. vape.
Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking an E-Cigarette?

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Ever since vape pens first hit the market in the early-to-mid 2000s, they were touted as the healthier option for smoking cigarettes. The average cigarette exposes you to around 7,000 different types of chemicals. These chemicals are known to cause cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. These chemicals include but aren’t limited to acetone, arsenic, and even formaldehyde.
Vape pens have considerably lower rates of toxic chemicals.
That being said, vaping is not totally harmless. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends users avoid inhaling any THC-based products. Likewise, you can avoid nicotine with a vape pen, considering some vape juices don’t contain any.
Likewise, users should also avoid altering any products, while also making sure to only buy vape pens from an authorized user. That’s where you, as a CBD vape cartridge filling machine owner come in.
Considering CBD is generally safer and lower risk than THC, you can move these products fast to meet your sales goals. The CBD industry is seeing skyrocketing growth! Check out our blog, The Future Of The CBD Vaping Industry: Trends And Innovations In Filling Machines to learn more!
There’s never been a better time to join this exciting industry!
Final Thoughts
E-Cigarette vs. vape: which one is better? That can only be decided by you. Vape pens and e-cigarettes are very similar. Yet, their differences cannot be overstated. With this guide, you can be better equipped to decide which one is right for you. Whether you are torn as a consumer or interested in learning more as a vape pen retailer, this guide is for you.
We welcome you to check out our other blogs, such as Where CBD is Legal and Vaping Device Problems And How To Fix Them to learn even more about this growing industry.