Snus vs vapes: differences, pros and buying guide

Snus and vapes are two very different nicotine products. Snus is used orally by placing a pouch under your upper lip. With vapes, on the other hand, nicotine is absorbed by inhaling vapour. In this article we compare use, nicotine strengths, pros and cons and the legal situation in Switzerland, and give you a buying guide.

First of all: both products usually contain nicotine, and nicotine is addictive. Smoke-free products are not risk-free either. If you do not smoke, do not start.

What is snus?

Snus is a smoke-free tobacco product from Scandinavia that is placed under the upper lip in small portion pouches. The nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa. There are also tobacco-free nicotine pouches (e.g. VELO or ZYN), which are used in the same way but contain plant fibres instead of tobacco. In everyday language, both are often simply called “snus”. You will find a wide selection in the snus collection.

How do you use snus correctly?

1. Open the can and take out a pouch.
2. Place the pouch between your upper lip and gum.
3. Leave it in place; do not chew or swallow it. A slight tingling is normal.
4. Remove the pouch when the flavour and effect fade, and dispose of it in the lid compartment or in the bin.

The guide Snus dosage: strength in mg explains which strength makes sense.

What is vaping?

When vaping, an electrical device heats a liquid (e-liquid) that usually contains nicotine, flavourings, propylene glycol and glycerine. This produces a vapour that is inhaled. There are different types of devices:

• Disposable e-cigarettes: ready to use, not refillable. Permitted nationally in Switzerland, banned in the cantons of Valais and Geneva.
• Pod systems: rechargeable, with replaceable or refillable pods. Examples include the ELFA Pro or Aroma King SMART.
• Box mods and vape pens: more powerful devices with settings for experienced users.

Browse our range of pod systems and disposable vapes. The article pod systems vs disposable vapes explains the difference between the two.

Comparison: snus vs vape

Nicotine strength: snus is labelled in mg per pouch or mg per gram, liquids in mg per ml. A direct comparison is therefore difficult. What matters for both: do not choose a higher strength than necessary.

Long-term effects: there is less long-term research on both products than on cigarettes. Use them consciously and responsibly.

Pros and cons in everyday life

Snus – what speaks for it:

• Discreet, without vapour or smell
• Easy to use, no device or charging required

Snus – what speaks against it:

• Can irritate the gums
• The strength is fixed per pouch; you can only vary it by format or flavour

Vapes – what speaks for them:

• Wide variety of flavours and different nicotine strengths
• Rechargeable devices can be used for a long time

Vapes – what speaks against them:

• Visible clouds of vapour, restrictions in non-smoking areas
• Battery, pods and maintenance required

Legal situation in Switzerland

• Since 1 October 2024 the Tobacco Products Act (TobPA) has applied: snus, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes (with and without nicotine) may only be sold to people aged 18 and over, including online.
• Snus has been legal in Switzerland since 2019. In the EU, snus containing tobacco is banned except in Sweden.
• Disposable e-cigarettes are permitted nationally but may hold no more than 2 ml. Valais and Geneva have cantonal bans.
• When travelling, duty-free allowances and the rules of the destination country apply. More on this in the article Snus when travelling: flights and customs.

Buying guide: what suits you?

• You want discretion, no device and no vapour: snus or nicotine pouches. Start with a mini or slim format and a moderate strength. The article mini, slim and large explains the formats.
• Flavour variety matters to you and you already vape: a rechargeable pod system. In the long run it is usually cheaper than disposables.
• You do not want to charge or maintain anything: a disposable vape, provided it is permitted in your canton.

A detailed three-way comparison can be found in the article Snus, nicotine pouches and vapes compared.

Conclusion

Snus and vapes are smoke-free nicotine products with different characteristics. Snus is suited to discreet use without vapour, while vapes offer more flavour options and variable nicotine strengths. Choose the product that fits your everyday life and use nicotine consciously.

Note: nicotine products are for adults aged 18 and over only. Nicotine is addictive. This is not legal advice.