Prefilled vs Refillable Vape Pods – Which is Better?

Pod kits are the natural next step for vapers to move away from smoking cigarettes and following the single-use disposable vapes ban. Compact, easy to use and more affordable than both cigarettes and disposables, vapers need to make an important choice – prefilled vape pods or refillable vape pods?

Although they may look the same and are both easy to use, the comparisons end there. Several key differences between the two, which we will highlight in this guide, will determine the right fit for you.

Whether that is better value from refillable pods with more customisation, or less maintenance and similar taste to disposables with prefilled pods, we examine the best of both types from the likes of Elf Bar, Vsavi, Lost Mary and Vuse.

Control or Simplicity: Evaluating Performance

It is clear, compared to the more customisable vape mods and the classic cigalikes or vape pens that are ideal for new-to-vaping smokers in cost and similar design, that refillable and prefilled pods are the middle ground.

They offer an alternative that is just as easy to use as disposables and does not break the bank to do so, with an initial outlay. Pod kits can be recharged, reused and replaced with either prefilled or refillable pods. But how do they perform and what are the key features that separate pods?

Refillable Pods: Greater Customisation

Refillable vape pods are empty when you buy them. You fill them yourself with any vape juice you like — including nicotine salts, high-PG liquids or even 0% nicotine if you're cutting down.

1. Refillable pods are open systems which can host a wide range of coil resistances. This means you can alternate between high and low wattage vaping to get a stronger throat hit or more cloud production.
2. With empty pods, you can fill them with whatever flavour, nicotine strength, nicotine type and brand you like.
3. Pods need to be replaced less often because all you are doing is removing the coil when the life goes, which is roughly 1-2 weeks, depending on use.

However, bear in mind that with greater control comes more maintenance. You may need to clean the coils of vape juice buildup. The coils will also need to be saturated, unlike prefilled pods, which are soaked before sealing, meaning a stronger flavour closer to disposables.

Prefilled Pods – ‘Plug and Play’ System

What we mean by plug and play is prefilled pods that come sealed with e-liquid already inside. You simply click them into the device and vape — no mess, no bottles, no decisions to make about which coil to use or which e-liquid to fill. They are:

1. Very simple to use straight out of the pack. Magnetically drop into the top of the device and away you go.
2. Offer more intense flavours like disposables.
3. The cloud production and throat hit should always be consistent.
4. Represent good value as you can buy multipacks of 4-5 from the same brand, plus multibuys are often available.

On the downside, you have nowhere near the customisation or options compared to refillable pods. You are limited by brand and if your favourite goes out of stock or is discontinued, you then need to look for an alternative. Yes, it is easy that you do not need to change coils, but there are also fewer options in terms of resistances from fixed coil prefilled pod ranges.

Are Prefilled and Refillable Pods Cost-Effective?

This depends on what you are comparing pods to, as we all know, the price of a pack of cigarettes in the UK alone is £16 on average for a pack of 20! For some, that lasts only one day, so that can be £112 spent a week. With disposable vapes before the UK ban, they were also £4 as a minimum per disposable, which, for many, only lasted 1-2 days max. So, with that, you are looking at £28 a week.

In comparison to prefilled or refillable pods, the outlay is much smaller. You can get a pack of two/four prefilled pods for £3–£5 per 2ml pod, and you are also contributing to less environmental waste as the battery on the pod kit can be recharged. Unfortunately, once it is empty, as a sealed pod, you will have to replace the whole thing.

With refillable pods, you have the best of both worlds. Often sold in packs of four or 5, these 2ml empty pods can be refilled with a world of e-liquids, whether that is freebase or nic salt e-liquids. These typically cost £10 for a pack of five, which can usually be refilled 4-5 times as a minimum each until the pod coil life diminishes. Some can offer coil changes so you can replace the coil (also available in packs of 4-5 for £10).

Let’s Talk About Flavour & Vapour Quality

What do you seek when you pick up a vape kit? Some hope for the same sweet, strong flavours as disposables from the likes of Elf Bar or Lost Mary. Others want generous cloud production and reliability. Here is a breakdown of what to expect with both:

Prefilled Pods – Matches Disposable Flavour

Because prefilled pods contain e-liquid inside ready to vape, this means instant flavour and high intensity as the coils are already saturated. Even if the batch was produced more than one day previously, you will still get an intense flavour as the vape juice has been inside for 24 hours. Some pods may be sitting on manufacturer shelves for months at a time. However, this also means flavours can fade if the pod sits unused for too long. Because some brands use stronger sweeteners, this may also wear out your taste buds.

The likes of Elf Bar, Lost Mary and Vuse have prefilled pods containing a coil and saturated e-liquid that will taste just like the previous single-use disposables. This is ideal for those who want the same throat hit and flavour sensation. Cigalikes such as the reliable Vsavi starter kit with prefilled pods can also produce a traditional tight draw and throat hit to match disposables but also mimic cigarettes in look and tobacco or menthol flavours.

Overall, it depends on what you prefer with prefilled pods and the consistency you expect. For smokers who have not used disposables, Vsavi kits are your best bet. If you are loyal to Elf Bar, Vuse, IVG or Lost Mary disposables, a prefilled pod kit is the way to go.

Refillable Pods – Greater Customisation

As a direct comparison, refillable pod kits for flavour and cloud production are slightly different. You will need to saturate the coil yourself and leave for 5-10 minutes once the pod is filled, as you would with a vape pen or vape mod.

Performance also depends on your coil and vape juice choice. When matched well, you can enjoy richer flavour, better vapour, and even larger clouds if desired.

In addition, refillable pods let you swap flavour families daily (fruity in the morning, menthol at night) - something closed pod users can’t do unless they stock multiple pods and devices.

Fans of refillable pods like the option to alternate between flavours at a more affordable price. It all boils down to whether you want to carry around more pods that are easy to swap or multiple e-liquid bottles – with the latter, you have far greater choice but a little more work and maintenance.

Environmental Impact

One of the main reasons for the disposable vape ban was the increase in plastic waste in landfills or incorrectly disposed of by littering from the UK population who vape.

Pods are the way forward to reduce environmental impact compared to disposables or cigarettes, as this reduces landfill waste. If you wanted to be as sustainable as possible, refillable vape tanks are the longest-term solution but they tend to be more compatible with customisable vape mods than pod kits.

Each pod is single-use, often made with a combination of plastic, metal and residual nicotine. Although they are still difficult to recycle and do add to landfill waste, disposing of them correctly and less frequently will mean a reduction in plastic waste.

With refillable pods, this is the best option. You dispose of the pod only after extended use. As mentioned earlier, some pods have replaceable coils, reducing waste even further.

For eco-conscious vapers, refillable systems are one of the easiest upgrades you can make without sacrificing performance.

Final Verdict: Which One’s Right for You?

Now that we have explained all the benefits and drawbacks of refillable pods vs prefilled pods, it should be easier for you to decide which is right for you. As a summary:

• Choose prefilled pods if you want the closest alternative to disposables or cigarettes. They're ideal for new vapers who don’t want to deal with bottles, coil replacement or maintenance. Great for short-term convenience, but watch out for coil failures, inconsistent flavour lifespan, and high replacement costs due to quicker ‘burnt out’ coils.
• Choose refillable pods if you want better value, flavour freedom and the ability to control nicotine levels long-term. Offer flexibility, refill savings, and surprising performance—even in disguised “prefilled” formats. Yet they still have durability and leak concerns depending on device and user practice, in addition to slowing down chain vaping habits for some.

If you’re serious about switching from smoking or moving beyond disposables, refillable pods offer more flexibility, less environmental concern and increased savings - without sacrificing the vaping experience.

Want to Try Refillable Vaping?

Check out our range of easy-to-use refillable pod kits and nicotine salt vape juice to get started. Whether you’re cutting down or just want a more reliable way to vape, we’ve got everything you need for the switch. Feeling old school? The Vsavi Cigalikes offer just as much convenience and more tobacco or menthol flavours (plus refill options) if you think the fruit flavours from Elf Bar or Lost Mary are too sweet for your liking.