The Best Nicotine-Free Vapes In 2026: Is A 0mg Vape Kit Or Shortfill Better?
Nicotine-free vapes give you the option to vape with 0mg of nicotine, allowing you to enjoy all the flavours you've come to love, simply without any of the nicotine. Since the UK disposable vape ban took effect on 1 June 2025, the best 0mg options have become more popular than ever, with the single-use disposable versions being switched to prefilled pod kit versions instead.
If you are aiming to vape completely nicotine-free, you have two easy options to choose from. You can opt for a 0mg prefilled pod kit like the SKE Bar 600 0mg or IVG Pro 12 0mg, with both giving you upwards of ten different flavours to choose from. Alternatively, you can choose to vape with nicotine-free shortfill vape juice; this gives you access to a much wider selection of flavours, although you will need to make sure you are using the correct vape kit for the best possible experience.
5 Quick Tips About Vaping Nicotine-Free
- The best 0mg options in 2026 are prefilled pod kits, with the likes of SKE Bar 600 and IVG Pro 12 being two of the most practical, with over ten prefilled pod flavours available for each.
- Shortfills in either 50ml or 100ml are also completely nicotine-free, ideal for use with sub-ohm vapes at the lowest cost per millilitre.
- Fruit-ice flavours largely translate best to 0mg as pure menthol loses some of its punch, whilst tobacco flavours can feel a little flat without the addition of nicotine.
- From October 2026, the UK vape duty adds £2.20 per 10ml plus VAT to all e-liquid including 0mg, so the traditional cost-per-ml advantage of 100ml shortfills is narrowing.
- Dropping straight from 20mg to 0mg tends to be harder than stepping down through 10mg and 5mg over several weeks first.
Why The October 2026 Duty Still Changes The Cost Of 0mg
From 1 October 2026, the UK Vaping Products Duty applies a flat charge of £0.22 per millilitre of e-liquid sold in the UK, regardless of nicotine strength. This does mean 0mg products are not exempt, as the duty is calculated on liquid volume rather than nicotine content.
As a result, this change is going to have the biggest impact on the shortfill format simply because they contain more liquid volume, whereas the 0mg prefilled pods only contain 2ml and will have the smallest change in how they are priced. This might just make you consider a prefilled pod kit instead, as this inverts the cost calculation. This is not a reason to abandon shortfills, but it's worth taking into consideration with your budget. Our UK Vape Tax 2026 guide covers the full duty timeline, per-format price table, and duty-stamp scheme.
Best 0mg Zero Nicotine Prefilled Pod Kits
With 0mg prefilled pod kits being one of the best long-term options for vaping nicotine-free, both SKE and IVG in particular, have gone all-in on adapting two of their most practical prefilled pod kits into zero-nicotine versions. Both brands have even ensured their devices are compatible with the existing pods with nicotine content and the newer nicotine-free versions, so you won't need to purchase a new device. Since the two ranges take a very different approach to pod size and puff count, it is worth knowing a little more about them both before you make your pick.
SKE Bar 600 0mg Vape Kit
The SKE Bar 600 0mg range covers a total of 15 flavours, all available both as complete prefilled pod kits and as prefilled pod refills for existing SKE Bar 600 users. Each pod holds 2ml of 0mg e-liquid and delivers approximately 600 puffs, spanning fruit, ice, menthol and even tobacco-flavoured options.
The SKE Bar 600 0mg Menthol Prefilled Pod Kit is the cleanest choice for step-down vapers who want a pure cooling sensation to compensate for the missing throat hit that nicotine typically provides. The SKE Bar 600 0mg Blueberry Sour Raspberry Prefilled Pod Kit perfectly mirrors the icy fruit flavour that's deliciously familiar but has none of the nicotine content. The SKE Bar 600 0mg Watermelon Ice Prefilled Pod Kit is the smoothest all-day fruity option, whilst the SKE Bar 600 0mg Fresh Menthol Mojito Prefilled Pod Kit adds enough flavour complexity to work as a menthol alternative for vapers who find pure menthol too plain in 0mg. Better still, if you already have an SKE Bar 600, you will be able to use the 0mg prefilled pods in exactly the same way as the versions that have nicotine content, so you won't need to switch out your vape.
IVG Pro 12 0mg Vape Kit
The IVG Pro 12 takes a slightly different approach with a higher puff count compared to the SKE vape kit, containing prefilled pods that can hold up to 12ml of 0mg vape juice that can last up to 10,000 puffs. Powered by a 1000mAh rechargeable battery, this IVG device even comes with a digital display, making it easier than ever to keep track of your puff count and your vape juice level. In practical terms, that's the equivalent vaping time of roughly 16 SKE Bar 600 pods from a single IVG Pro 12 pod, with the only real trade-off being a slightly larger device and a higher upfront cost per kit.
The range covers 10 flavours as prefilled pod refills, with the likes of Strawberry Raspberry Cherry, Fizzy Cherry, and Blue Raspberry Ice readily available as a kit including the 0mg nicotine pod. All seven flavours including Strawberry Ice, Pineapple Ice, Lemon Lime, Classic Menthol, and Red Sour Raspberry are available as refill pods which much like the SKE Bar 600 can be used in existing IVG Pro 12 vape kits and are not solely limited to the zero nicotine version of the kit.
Quick Reminder
Both the SKE Bar 600 and IVG Pro 12 work as drop-in replacements for the nicotine-containing versions of the same devices, so vapers stepping down from the 20mg or 10mg version can switch to the 0mg pods without needing to change their vape kit.
Shortfills As The Higher-Volume Alternative To Nicotine-Free Vapes
Shortfill e-liquids remain the format for existing sub-ohm kit users who want the widest 0mg flavour selection, since a 100ml shortfill is nicotine-free by default under UK TPD rules. A shortfill will only have nicotine content if you choose to add a nic shot that you purchase separately. Shortfills are typically high-VG (70/30 or 80/20), which means they're designed for sub-ohm direct-to-lung kits rather than MTL pod kits. If you have an existing sub-ohm vape kit setup, shortfills give you access to hundreds of 0mg flavour options that prefilled pods simply don't cover.
Just don't forget that after the October duty mentioned above, you will find the pricing will change quite a bit, so it is worth stocking up via our 0mg shortfill selection or read our shortfills and nic shots guide to make the most of them prior to any legislation changes.
What We Found When Testing The 0mg Range
Switching to 0mg nicotine vape juice in any form isn't just about the nicotine content; the flavours themselves also matter a great deal for your overall vaping experience. The truth is that the nicotine contributes to the perceived intensity of the flavour, as the throat-hit sensation you have become used to is often directly associated with what makes a satisfying puff. Taking a look at the 0mg range from both IVG and SKE, we've tested out the different flavour blends so you have a clearer idea as to what you can expect.
Fruit-ice blends translate best into 0mg
The likes of iced flavours such as Watermelon Ice, Cherry Ice or even the more distinctive Blueberry Sour Raspberry are some of the best when it comes to retaining their flavour depth, as the menthol content in their ingredients helps to directly emulate the throat hit you would feel from a vape juice that contains nicotine. You will notice a difference, but the menthol does make it less noticeable.
Pure menthol can taste a little flat in comparison
With the sensation of the nicotine playing a larger part in the pure menthol vape flavours, there is a noticeable difference when using the 0mg versions of these flavours. The plain Menthol variant used in the SKE Bar 600 does lose some of its icy punch, but the easiest way to avoid this if you are a big fan of menthol is to instead lean more into the more elaborate menthol blends like Fresh Menthol Mojito. The additional flavour notes in flavours like this will help to make the lack of nicotine adding to the intensity of the menthol a little less obvious.
Non-icy fruit flavours do taste noticeably different
These flavours have the most noticeable differences if you are used to vaping with nicotine, as the absence of menthol means there is no throat hit to emulate the sharper sensation. But that doesn't necessarily make the overall taste less enjoyable, especially if you enjoy fruit flavours, since without nicotine or menthol you are left with a cleaner, more distinctive fruity taste that might appeal to you more. You might just find this preferable but it is worth trying both, especially if you are aiming to cut back on your nicotine intake.
Tobacco flavour becomes largely purposeless
Probably the flavour category that changes the most would be anything linked to tobacco flavour, as it is specifically designed to mimic the experience of using a cigarette. This is when the sensation of the nicotine or in this case the lack of it, can have the greatest impact. Without the sharpness of the nicotine, this can make these flavours significantly less appealing and unless you are especially fond of tobacco-blended flavours, this might be best just trying out since it will not be particularly similar to the nicotine version of the vape juice.
Matching Your Device To Zero Nicotine Vape Juice
If you are changing from using vape juice with nicotine, you will need to be wary of the fact your vape kit might not be compatible with the different type of vape juice. This will probably be quite obvious if you are already using a prefilled pod kit that doesn't include a 0mg option, but you will need to be careful if you are currently using a refillable vape. With shortfills being high-VG, you will not be able to properly use this in an MTL pod kit as it will not only result in dry hits, you will likely get a burnt taste and potentially damage your vape too.
| Device you own | Best 0mg format | Typical volume |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing yet, starting out | Prefilled pod kit (SKE Bar 600, IVG Pro 12) | 2ml or 12ml per pod |
| Refillable MTL pod kit | 50/50 freebase 10ml (0mg) | 10ml bottles |
| Sub-ohm direct-to-lung kit | 100ml high-VG shortfill (0mg) | 50ml or 100ml bottles |
For more on matching e-liquid to device, our PG/VG ratio guide covers which ratios pair with which device types, and our beginners guide to vape kits covers device selection for newcomers.
Is 0mg Vaping For You?
Approaching 0mg vaping means you will find yourself in one of three groups: you've stepped down from higher nicotine strengths and want to keep to the routine whilst removing any dependence on nicotine. You might be a light smoker and would prefer to quit, switching instead to vaping with low or zero nicotine content to aid in that process. Then of course there are vapers who simply enjoy the flavour and vapour production that comes with the vaping experience but want to avoid any of the nicotine content.
If you've never smoked, no UK public health body recommends taking up vaping, much as the OHID 2022 Evidence Update and the Royal College of Physicians' 2024 evidence review both position vaping as substantially less harmful than smoking for adults switching from cigarettes. The harm-reduction case for vaping is built more around smokers as opposed to recreational use.
For anyone stepping down from higher nicotine strengths, dropping straight to 0mg from 20mg tends to be harder than a gradual step-down through 10mg and 5mg first. Our nicotine strength guide covers how to taper strength over time.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Zero Nicotine Vapes
What is a 0mg vape?
A 0mg vape is any vape device using e-liquid with no nicotine. The other three ingredients (propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and food-grade flavourings) are unchanged. 0mg is sold in three main formats: prefilled pod kits, 10ml nic salt or 50/50 freebase bottles, and 50ml or 100ml shortfills.
Is a 0mg vape kit or shortfill better?
It depends on your setup. Prefilled pod kits like the SKE Bar 600 or IVG Pro 12 suit newcomers and vapers who want a self-contained device with no e-liquid handling. Shortfills suit existing sub-ohm kit users who want the widest 0mg flavour selection. From October 2026, the UK Vaping Products Duty narrows the traditional per-millilitre cost gap between the two formats.
Does 0mg e-liquid still have flavour?
Yes. Nicotine itself doesn't contribute flavour; the taste comes from food-grade flavour concentrates blended into the PG/VG base. A 0mg version of any recipe tastes essentially identical to its nicotine-containing counterpart. What changes is the throat-hit sensation, since nicotine produces a small throat feel that some vapers associate with a satisfying puff. This is why menthol and ice profiles remain popular in 0mg: the cooling sensation partially compensates for the missing throat-hit.
Can I add a nic shot to a 0mg shortfill later if I change my mind?
Yes. A 100ml 0mg shortfill leaves space at the top of the bottle to add up to two 10ml nic shots, which brings a 100ml bottle to 3mg strength. You can vape the shortfill at 0mg indefinitely, or add nic shots later if you decide you want some nicotine back. The reverse, removing nicotine once added, is not possible.
Is 0mg vaping safer than vaping with nicotine?
Removing nicotine eliminates the addictive component and reduces some short-term cardiovascular effects (mild blood-pressure changes, vasoconstriction). It doesn't eliminate all risk, because PG, VG, and flavourings are still being heated and inhaled. The OHID 2022 Evidence Update and the Royal College of Physicians' 2024 evidence review both conclude that vaping (with or without nicotine) is substantially less harmful than smoking for adults switching from cigarettes, but is not entirely risk-free.
How do I step down from nicotine to 0mg?
Most successful step-down vapers reduce strength gradually rather than dropping to 0mg in one go. A typical pattern is 20mg to 10mg to 5mg to 0mg, spending several weeks at each level. Switching to a higher-VG e-liquid or slightly more powerful device at each step can help compensate for the reduced nicotine feel by producing more vapour per puff.