Best Pod Vapes 2024

The pod vape market is still on the rise! Although disposables have taken the market by storm, pods are still a staple of the vaping market with hundreds of products released every year... But fear not! Our team has tried (and often reviewed) the most popular pod vapes on the market, so we can help you narrow down your search significantly.

This list features the best-performing pod systems you can refill with your own e-juice. If you are looking for pre-filled pod vapes, make sure you visit our best beginner vapes page. Otherwise, let’s get to it.

What is a pod vape?

A pod vape is a compact device that comprises two parts: a pod filled with vape juice, and the main body of the device that houses a battery. They’re available in pre-filled or refillable designs. Some will have power buttons, but often, they’re automatic—meaning you just take a drag on them to produce vapor.

Most pod systems are designed for smokers transitioning into vaping. Although the ultimate from an ease-of-use standpoint is something like a disposable e-cig, refillable and reusable pod vapes are a close second. They're often compact and lightweight, with a focus on simplicity and flexibility.

Pods are also considered the best devices for nicotine salt e-liquid, as their lower power output is a perfect fit for the higher strength of nicotine salts.

Types of pod systems

Pods have come a long way since they were first introduced with the JUUL back in 2015. While still fitting the general definition, today’s devices have advanced in terms of features and capabilities.

A pod vape in 2024 will belong to one or more of these categories:

• Standard pod system: a small button or draw-activated vape that takes replaceable pods.
• Pod AIO: a compact all-in-one device that takes pods with replaceable coils.
• Pod mod: a usually larger pod-based vape with a fully-suited chipset and screen. Most pod mods are also AIOs, as they take replaceable coils.

A standard pod system can be further sorted into two categories: refillable and pre-filled. Both types are reusable, but each style has its own pros and cons. When purchasing a pod system, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

• Refillable pod systems: these give you more freedom in terms of flavor. Also known as open-systems, these devices utilize empty pods that are manually filled by the user. The main advantage to them is that you have a wider range of flavors at your disposal. Plus, e-juice is cheaper when bought in bottles compared to pre-filled pods.
• Pre-filled pod systems: also referred to as closed systems, these vapes use pods that come pre-filled with e-liquid—think of them as JUUL alternatives. Their main advantage is that they do not have the complications of choosing the right e-liquid and filling them yourself.

How to use a pod system

Pod vapes are some of the easiest vapes to operate. This six-step guide will cover the basics:

• Make sure the battery is fully charged.
• Fill the pod with the e-liquid of your choice.
• Allow at least 5 minutes for the wick to saturate.
• Insert the pod firmly into the device. If your pod vape has an on/off function, ensure it’s on.
• If your vape has adjustable airflow, adjust it to your preferred setting.
• If your device has a fire button, hold it while inhaling. If it doesn't, take a puff as if it were a regular cigarette.

That’s it. Enjoy your vape! To get the most longevity out of your pod, make sure there’s always juice in it—or you can run the risk of a burnt coil. Once the liquid is almost gone, refill it or dispose of it. You can usually get about a week before needing to replace the pod or the coil… depending on how often you use them. Note that if your device takes replaceable coils, you don't have to replace the pod. Just remember to dispose of it immediately if you notice any discoloration on it—or do it proactively once every two months or so.

Who should use pod vapes?

• Smokers who want to quit appreciate their simplistic design and efficiency in delivering nicotine. They also enjoy the cigarette-like draw of smaller pdevices and the fact that they can use nicotine salt juice to satisfy their cravings.
• Experienced vapers find that they make great companions to their larger vaping setups, especially for vaping on the go.
• Stealth vapers gravitate towards pod systems for their compact size and discreet cloud production.

Advantages of pod vapes

• Simple & easy to use
• Reusable and refillable
• Designed for vaping to quit smoking
• Low e-liquid consumption
• Much cheaper than disposables
• Best nic salt vapes
• Instantly change flavors
• Easy to maintain
• Great for stealth vaping

Pod systems offer many advantages over other vaping devices. The main ones are convenience and simplicity. They’re easy to use, making them more appealing to ex-smokers who don’t want to be bombarded with technical features. But there are benefits to pod vaping that even experienced vapers can appreciate. For example, switching flavors is easier than before. Just pop in a different pod and go.

If you want to conserve e-juice, a pod vape is your best bet. They use less e-liquid daily, which is more cost-effective and makes them a great pairing for nicotine salts. Compared to disposables, the cost of vape juice is minuscule. Additional benefits include needing lower maintenance than other types of vape kits, and coming with a smaller footprint and lower vapor production, which makes them ideal for stealth vaping.

Disadvantages of pod vapes

• Small battery capacity
• Limited vapor production
• Pods are more expensive than coils

Due to their compact size, pod vapes have less battery capacity than a regular vape mod—although their lower power output allows their battery to last for a day in most cases. Other downsides include that they produce less vapor than vape tanks and the higher cost of replaceable vape pods compared to coils. Fortunately, many of the newer pod systems also utilize replaceable coil heads.

Pod vapes FAQs

Are pod systems cheap?

Pod systems are generally considered to be more affordable than cigarette smoking and other types of vapes.

The affordability of any given pod system depends on factors such as the brand of the pod vape, the battery life, the type of coil used, whether the cartridges are pre-filled or refillable, and the quality of the pod system in general. Most pod vapes, though, cost between $20 and $35.

Unlike disposable vapes, you don’t have to throw away the whole pod vape after using it. Depending on the device you use, you’ll need to replace the coil or pod when your juice doesn’t taste good anymore (usually weekly, but that depends on the amount of juice you’re going through). On a device that takes replaceable coils, pods also need to be changed, but not that often.

When comparing the cost of refillable pods to pre-filled pods, refillable pod systems are cheaper in the long run and can help you save money on your vape purchases. This is because juice sold in bottles is cheaper than in pre-filled pods per mL.

For the cheapest option, it is recommended to use a refillable pod vape that takes replaceable coils.

What type of coils do vape pods use?

The types of coils used vary between different pod vapes.

Some vape pods use replaceable coils. More often, though, the coils are built into the pod itself. This means that you probably won’t be able to make your own coils when using a vape pod, although some larger pod vapes come with rebuildable coil options.

Materials used

Pod coils can be made of various materials. The most usual is Kanthal, but some coils may be made of stainless steel or nichrome. Some pods take mesh-style coils, which are known for faster heat-up times.

Resistance

The resistance of the coil is important to consider. Most pod vapes use mid to high resistance coils, between 0.6 and 1.2 ohm. As a rule of thumb, the higher the resistance, the less powerful the coil.

High-resistance coils are necessary because pod vapes usually provide low wattages and produce less vapor than other types of vapes. High-resistance coils also help create the mouth-to-lung vaping experience that many people choose vape pods for. But devices made for direct lung vaping may come with much lower-resistance coils

Regardless of the coil used, it’s essential to replace it if you notice a burnt taste when vaping. The coil should also be replaced every one to two weeks, depending on how often you use the vape pod and the type of juice you use.

What vape juice should you use with a refillable pod mod?

Some vape pods are “closed systems” that come pre-filled with vape juice. The device itself is reusable, but the pods are not refillable. This simplifies the decisions that you’ll need to make because you only need to choose from the juice flavors that are available for your specific pod device.

Other vape pods are “open systems” that have refillable cartridges. This allows you to choose your own juice based on your personal preferences. You’ll need to buy the vape juice in a bottle and refill the pod cartridges as needed.

It’s also important to note that some countries have introduced restrictions on the type of vape juices that are available for purchase. For example, in Canada and the EU/UK, vape juices can only contain a maximum nicotine strength of 20 mg/mL (2%).

Using nicotine salt juices in refillable low-power pod vape systems is highly recommended. These juices come in different nicotine strengths, generally ranging from 20 mg/mL to 50 mg/mL (although there are lower and higher-strength options). Nicotine salts are recommended because:

• Most pod vapes are low-power devices. Because of this, they need high concentrations of nicotine to provide a satisfying experience.
• Nic salts give a smooth and fast nicotine hit without the harsh sensation on the throat that regular (freebase) nicotine juices can cause.

Here’s some more info about vape juice and pod vapes:

• The ideal vegetable glycerin (VG) to propylene glycol (PG) ratio for pod vapes is 50/50.
• You can use juices up to 70VG, especially in the newer pods on the market. Generally, high-VG juices aren’t recommended for use in pod vapes.

Over 70% VG is not recommended because VG is thicker than PG, which makes it more difficult for a small coil to vaporize. It’s also not recommended to go over 50% PG because the low viscosity of the juice may cause leaking.

Are pod systems safe?

Pod systems are considered to be relatively safe. This is mostly due to the small size of the batteries and the advancements in the QC from manufacturers.

Some safety tips that you may wish to consider:

• Always make sure that your pod has juice in it.
• Avoid charging the batteries of the device overnight, as much as possible.
• Discard the device if it is auto-firing or if it is damaged in any way.
• (For devices with replaceable batteries) don’t use batteries that are damaged.

Is the hit of a pod vape similar to a cigarette?

The similarity of the hit of a pod vape to a cigarette largely depends on the device and how you use it. Most pods are made to be vaped mouth-to-lung (MTL), which more closely resembles how a cigarette is smoked.

People who use pod vapes often say that they’re just as satisfying as cigarette smoking. The low vapor output also means that the clouds produced are thin, resembling cigarette smoke.

How small are pod vapes?

Pod vapes come in a variety of sizes, ranging from mini pods to high-power sub ohm devices. But the prototypical pod vape is very lightweight and compact. This makes them very discrete and easy to keep out of sight.

Generally, pod vapes are small enough to tuck into your pocket, sit in the palm of your hand, or hold between two fingers. To picture this, pod vapes are typically around the size of a highlighter or a USB flash drive.

How long do pod batteries typically last?

Pod batteries usually have a smaller capacity than larger types of vapes—although they are pretty efficient. The smaller capacity makes sense because the batteries themselves are smaller. So, be wary of this if you’re planning to vape for an extended period of time.

Generally, a pod battery lasts for a day. However, it can depend on the exact type of vape pod and your juice consumption. We’ve tried pods with capacities ranging from 300 mAh to 2000 mAh.

The batteries of vape pods usually take between half an hour and an hour to fully recharge. Sometimes, they can be used while they are charging.

The batteries in a pod vape can usually be used and recharged daily for up to a year before the battery capacity drops drastically and the device needs to be replaced. But that’s not always the case, and manufacturers are sometimes using battery charging safety features to minimize capacity loss.

Are pod cartridges leak-proof?

Most cartridges nowadays are leak-resistant, but it is possible for pod cartridges to leak.

As a result, manufacturers have taken steps to reduce the chance of leakage as much as possible. However, these anti-leakage designs aren’t making pods 100% leakproof.

Some things that you can do to minimize the risk of leakage further include:

• Close the filling plug of the pod securely after refilling the cartridge with juice.
• Make sure that the cartridge is inserted into the vape device correctly.
• If any droplets leak out, clear them from the device before using it.
• Change the coil when it needs replacing (usually every week).
• If possible, choose a high-quality pod vape device with a leak-proof design.
• Take long, slow draws from the vape rather than fast and forceful ones. This helps prevent too much juice from entering the coil.

Are there nicotine-free pod vapes?