Vape pens are everywhere these days. While some are designed to handle marijuana concentrates like waxes or oils, most vape pens are specifically for e-liquid.
For anybody looking to quit smoking, they’re the go-to-option, smaller and simpler than the vape mods longer-term vapers use but still offering excellent performance and enough battery life to get you through the day.
The big challenge is finding one that ticks all of the boxes for you and has what it takes to help you make the switch from smoking. But thankfully there are tons of fantastic options out there, and we’ve put this guide together to help you find the best e-juice vape pens.
The Best E-Liquid Vape Pens
If you’re looking for the best vaporizers for e-liquid, there are so many options available that wading through them can be pretty difficult. But for anybody who’s feeling overwhelmed, we’ve put together this list of high-quality e-liquid vape pens to help you make your decision.
If you need more information about the basics of vape pens (like what they are, how they work and how to use them) scroll to the end of this post for a crash course.
1 – Smok RPM80
You can pick up the Smok RPM80 for $31.95.
The RPM series from Smok has really taken the vaping industry by storm in the past couple of years, and it’s our pick for the best vape pen for e-liquid. It’s a hard device to classify, looking essentially like an advanced vape pen – with the basic layout of a vape pen aside from the color screen and two adjustment buttons on the front – but with a tank like a pod system and features like a mod. As the name suggests, it puts out up to 80 W, and it comes with two 5 ml capacity pods as standard.
The integrated battery is has an impressive 3,000 mAh capacity, and allows you free adjustment over the wattage up to 80 W. Combined with the 0.4 ohm standard mesh and 0.17 ohm conical mesh coils, the flavor and vapor from the RPM 80 is hard to beat in any other vape pen-style device. But you also get the simple refilling system and connections of a vape pod, complete with plug-and-play installation coils and a magnetic connection for the pod. It might be difficult to classify, but however you do, it’s an awesome device.
2 – JUUL
Get the JUUL device for $19.99.
The JUUL is a revolutionary device. Its position among the best e-liquid vape pens comes more from its unique design and approach than its raw specs, but it’s still a great device. It looks more like a USB stick than traditional flavored vape pens, but there are lots of benefits to the unconventional style. The device uses “JUULpods” – small e-juice containing pods – in place of a traditional refillable tank, with five flavors available that use high-strength nicotine liquid to ensure you get a satisfying vape.
The JUUL’s battery is quite small, but since it’s been designed to work with the pods, you can get a full day of use out of it before you’ll need to recharge. And when you do have to recharge, it only takes an hour to go from completely drained to fully charged. Everything about the JUUL is designed with ease of use in mind, so the pods simply push right into the open slot at the top of the device (no need to refill or anything like that) and the charger connects magnetically. It’s a flavored vape pen that’s as easy to use as a cigalike.
The JUUL also puts out an impressive amount of vapor, especially considering the size of the device, and it’s more than enough to keep smokers satisfied. The high-nicotine liquids (which use nicotine salts) have a big part to play in the satisfaction, but the flavor and vapor production have an important part to play in how enjoyable the device is to vape.
If you’re looking for the best e-liquid vape pen but want something that’s as easy to use as possible, the JUUL should be right at the top of your list. The device costs $19.99, and the Juulpods cost $12.99 for a pack of two pods.
3 – Innokin Zlide Tube Pen
You can pick up the Zlide for $39.99.
Innokin has made many excellent devices during its time in the industry, and so it isn’t much of a surprise that they also have more than one device on this list, and the position of third best e-liquid vape pen goes to the Zlide Tube. At first glance, it looks pretty similar to the other entries on this list: it’s a chunky-looking vape pen with a standard style tank and one button for operation. However, the device is beautifully put together and designed, and care has been taken over every aspect, from the slide-open but still child-locking top filling system for the tank to the constant 16 W output to maximize performance while still preserving battery life.
The battery itself is pretty big too, at 3,000 mAh it’s easily enough to keep you vaping through a whole day. The kit comes with 1.2 ohm and 0.8 ohm Z coils, allowing you to adjust the type of draw you get by choosing coils and using the adjustable airflow system on the tank. Flavor is really the focus of the Zlide, and the coils and mouthpieces (you get two with the kit) are both designed with that in mind. It has a 4 ml tank and there’s a juice window so you always know how much you have left.
4 – Vaporesso Sky Solo Plus
The Vaporesso Sky Solo Plus comes in a kit for $19.95.
The Sky Solo Plus is one of the more pen-like entrants onto this list, with a chunky body more like a tube mod, but a simple, single-button interface and an in-built tank. This makes it one of the top-rated vape pen options out there if you want something simplistic but truly powerful. The Sky Solo Plus is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery, which is good even for a higher-power device and will likely last you for more than a day of solid use. It charges at 1 A with the included USB cable.
The tank for the Sky Solo Plus is built into the actual device, which simplifies things a bit if you’re new to vaping but does reduce the flexibility of the setup a little. It comes with two 0.18 ohm mesh coils, which work alongside the battery for a huge vapor output and vibrant flavor, as well as offering adjustable airflow so you can get the draw working how you want it to. The tank also has a huge 8 ml capacity, which is bigger than most but fits pretty well with the higher output from the Solo Plus.
5 – Innokin Gomax Tube Pen
Pick up the Innokin Gomax for $29.99.
The Gomax from Innokin makes the rankings as a top-rated vape pen because it offers an excellent design but with more of a focus on the “average” vaper than Innokin’s next entry onto this list. It boasts a huge maximum power output and makes use of the cloud-producing capability of the Plex3D “matrix” coils it uses, which are essentially an evolution of mesh coils. The most unique thing about the Gomax, though, is that the tanks are “disposable” once the coil dies, which makes things much easier for newer vapers but debatably reduces the potential of the vape pen for longer-term vapers. Although it works with other tanks, so it’s still worth considering.
That said, the 5.5 ml, top-filling tank with the 0.19 ohm Plex3D coils offers excellent performance in terms of both flavor and vapor. This is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery that offers up to 80 W of output, and this combined with the unique coil design and the adjustable airflow system on the base of the tank can lead to huge cloud production. The Gomax is pretty affordable too, at $29.99 for the device, a USB cable and one disposable tank.
6 – Aspire Tigon
You can pick up the Tigon for $39.99.
The Aspire Tigon earns a spot among the best e-liquid vaporizers thanks to the sizable battery and no-nonsense design that still offers control over the performance that you get. It looks basically like a chunky vape pen, with a single button for operation and a basic-looking tank to top it off. However, the 3.5 ml capacity tank comes with both 1.2 ohm MTL and 0.4 ohm DL coils so you can vape whichever way you prefer, or even use nicotine salt juices with the device and the higher-resistance coil. To support this, there’s also an adjustable airflow system so you can get the type of draw you’re looking for, and you get a drip tip for each “mode” too.
The battery is nothing to balk at either, with a 2,600 mAh capacity that’s comfortably enough to get you through a day of use, or likely longer if you’re using the higher-resistance coil. The maximum power output is 28 W, which isn’t huge but is more than enough to give you satisfying clouds with the lower-resistance coil while still allowing you to get the most out of the Tigon’s battery. As well as offering simple operation thanks to the single button, the tank also has a slide-open top filling system for maximum convenience.
7 – Voopoo Drag S
The Drag S from Voopoo costs $34.95.
The Voopoo Drag S is the simplest entry into the Drag series, with a pen-like shape but still featuring a display screen and adjustable power settings like a mod. This is what makes it one of the best e-juice vape pens out there, because it offers some of the best features you get with higher-end devices with the form and usability of a pen. The Drag S has a 2,500 mAh internal battery, which is well beyond the size of many devices from this list, but with the higher power output it will still last around a day between charges. It has a USB-C charger which supports fast charging at up to 2A.
The tank from the Drag S is PCTG plastic, giving it a pod-style appearance despite the tank-like shape and functionality, and can hold 4.5 ml of e-juice. It comes with one 0.3 ohm and one 0.2 ohm coil, which are both intended for direct-to-lung vaping at 40 W and up. The battery can put out up to 60 W of power, with easy adjustment thanks to the dedicated buttons on the front. It also has plenty of nice little touches like a leather patch on the back side for comfort in-use.
8 – Innokin Sceptre
The Innokin Sceptre starter kit costs $19.99.
The Sceptre e-liquid vape pen from Innokin is another pod-style pen system, with a slightly cylindrical but flattened body and a mouthpiece in the top. The slightly larger body is a big bonus when it comes to battery, though, giving the pen space for a 1,400 mAh battery, which is awesome compared to most other pod systems. The pod has a 2 to 3 ml capacity, and has changeable coils, so you can just switch them out when one starts to lose its flavor. This makes it slightly less beginner-friendly, but it still works simply enough thanks to the bottom installation system.
The Sceptre comes with one 0.5 and one 1.2 ohm coil, which work at slightly different power settings. The 0.5 ohm coil is mesh, with a wider airflow so it works well with direct-to-lung draws, and operates at 18 or 20 W. The 1.2 ohm is for mouth-to-lung draws and operates at either 8 or 9.5 W, working best with nicotine salt e-liquids because of the reduced output. These settings are changed through “Boost mode,” which you activate with the main button on the device. Overall, it offers a good balance between the capabilities of more complex systems and the simplicity of standard pens or pods.
9 – Innokin Go-Z
Get the Innokin Go-Z starter kit for $22.99.
Innokin has earned an excellent reputation by consistently putting out strong devices that perform well, and the Go-Z is one of their latest offerings. The e-liquid vape pen has a standard look, with a tube-shaped battery with a single button for operation and a compact, PCTG plastic bodied tank sat on top. The device is built around the 1,500 mAh battery, which offers enough power for a day or more of vaping with the device, longer if you’re using nicotine salt e-liquids.
The Go-Z comes with the tank of the same name, which holds up to 2 ml of e-liquid and comes with some great extra features. It has a slide-open top-filling system, making it really easy to stay topped up with e-liquid, and it also features an airflow control ring around the bottom. The tank has a 1.6 ohm coil as standard, which makes it perfect for mouth-to-lung draws in combination with the lower airflow settings. The Go-Z has a consistent 13 W output, giving you solid performance all the way through its charge. For the price, it’s an exceptional deal.
10 – Smok Novo 3
The Novo 3 starter kit costs $18.95.
The Novo series from Smok have been some of the most popular pod-style vaping devices ever since they first hit the market, and the Novo 3 continues in the style of its predecessors. The e-juice vape pen has a 2 ml pod included, with coils pre-installed so all you need to do is fill it up and start vaping, with a draw-activated (automatic) firing system it’s completely intuitive even if you’re completely new to e-cigs. It has an 800 mAh battery, which isn’t as big as some options on this list but for a lower-power device it’s more than big enough for a day of use.
The Novo 3 has 0.8 ohm mesh coils, which work well with both nicotine salt and traditional e-liquids, and like most mesh coils it puts out an impressive amount of vapor and gives great taste. The pod has a redesigned, U-shaped airflow system that further boost vapor production, and gives a fairly airy draw for a simple device. The maximum power output is 25 W, which is suitable for both salt nicotine and ordinary e-liquids, with enough of a punch but not so much that it’s unpleasant for stronger e-juices. The kit comes with the battery, two pods and a charging cable.
11 – Vaporesso XROS
Get the Vaporesso XROS for $22.95.
The XROS from Vaporesso is a compact but impressively capable top-rated vape pen, with a simple, user-friendly design and something between a pod system and a traditional pen-like design. The XROS runs on an 800 mAh internal battery, which means great battery life in combination with the 16 W maximum power output from the device. If you use high-strength salt nicotine juices, you can easily get more than a day of use out of a single charge of the XROS. It also has a three-color LED below the fire button so you always know your remaining charge level at a glance.
The XROS has 2 ml pods, which have pre-installed coils so you don’t have to worry about connecting or disconnecting anything. It comes with one 0.8 ohm pod and one 1.2 ohm pod, both of which use mesh so you get excellent performance with both of them, although the higher resistance one operates at lower powers and is better for higher-strength juice. You can use the device both button-operated and with a simpler puff-to-vape approach, and it has all of the usual safety features you’d expect on an e-cig.
A Crash Course in E-Juice Vape Pens
What is a Vape Pen?
A vape pen is a pen-like e-cigarette used to vape e-liquid. Most are around the size of a marker pen, and have two main parts: the battery and the vape tank. The battery provides the power for your setup, and has a “fire” button on the body to activate the battery and start vaping.
The tank is a little more complicated, but consists of a reservoir for your e-juice and an “atomizer head” which contains a coil and a wick. The liquid from the tank reservoir soaks into the wick (which is usually made from cotton) and is vaporized when you press the fire button. The vapor then travels up to the mouthpiece (at the top of the tank) to be inhaled by the user.
This is how an e-juice vaporizer works in the most basic terms.
The distinction between a vape pen and a vape mod can be vague in some cases, with tube mods in particular looking a lot like fat vape pens, but it doesn’t matter too much.
The short version is that a pen-like e-cigarette can be considered an e-juice vape pen, even if it could arguably be described as a mod too.
There are also vape pens intended for marijuana concentrates or “dry herb,” but these are essentially defined in the same way, albeit working a little differently.
How to Put E-Liquid in a Vape Pen
The simplest and most common thing you’ll have to do with an e-juice vape pen is fill it up with e-liquid. Most e-liquid vaporizer pen tanks work in a similar way, so you’re unlikely to need instructions specific to your device. Your tank will either open from the top or the bottom to be filled, with most modern devices using a top-filling system. To fill it up, you unscrew the top or bottom to get access to the tank.
Inside, there will be a “chimney” extending up the center of the tank, running from your coil to the mouthpiece. This is the path the vapor travels up for you to inhale. The golden rule to remember when learning how to put juice in a vape pen is that you don’t want to get e-juice down this central tube. Drip your e-juice down into the tank while completely avoiding this central tube. Some devices have “fill holes” which lead directly into the tank and make it really easy to fill up (as shown above), but even if yours doesn’t, all you have to do is ensure the e-juice goes directly into the tank section.
For bottom-filling tanks, it should go without saying that you’ll need to hold the tank upside down until you’ve screwed the base back on. In these cases, you also need to be sure that you don’t overfill the tank and let e-juice spill down the chimney.
Before You Vape: Priming Your Coils
After learning how to put juice in a vape pen, you’re pretty much ready to vape. However, “priming” a new atomizer head helps you maximize its lifespan and helps you avoid dry hits. Prior to filling, if you unscrew your tank to get access to your coil, you should be able to see the wick material inside it. If you directly apply e-juice to the wick – through the windows in the side and from the top – this prevents the wick from getting burned when you first vape. If you’ve already filled your tank without doing this, it’s no problem – just wait five to ten minutes before you take your first puff to give it time to absorb in.
Choosing the Best E-Liquid Vape Pen
Finding the best e-juice vaporizer for your needs can be a bit of a challenge even if you have suggestions like those given above. How do you choose one option out of several on your shortlist? How do you know which one is best suited to your vaping needs? While we won’t be able to cover everything here, thinking about the following points can help you make the right choice.
How important is battery life?
In general, bigger batteries last for longer. So if you’re looking for the most portable e-liquid vape pen you can find, you’ll probably end up with one that only has a limited battery life. Choose one with a higher capacity (a higher number before the “mAh”) and the battery will last longer between charges, but it will be bigger too. We’d recommend prioritizing battery life, but ultimately it’s up to you which you see as more important.
How important is vapor production?
Some vapers are looking for big clouds, while others are just looking for something reasonable to help them quit smoking. Although these two aren’t mutually exclusive, it’s generally the case that sub ohm coils produce bigger clouds, and many smokers are looking for something a bit more discreet. Sub ohm vape pens are preferable for many long-term vapers, but if you’re just looking for something to help you quit smoking, then you don’t necessarily need one.
Mouth to lung or direct to lung inhales?
Tied to the previous point, smokers inhale “mouth to lung,” which is a two-stage process, whereas longer term vapers tend to inhale “direct to lung,” a one-stage process. In general, sub ohm vape pens are geared for direct to lung inhales, which may feel unnatural to a smoker at first and lead to some coughing. If you want something with a tighter draw more suited to new vapers, choose a “mouth to lung” vape pen.
What e-juice will you be vaping?
Modern e-liquids are often high in VG, which makes them a little thicker than more PG-heavy juices. Most vape pens released these have at least have one coil that can cope with high-VG juices, but with some simpler vape pens, you can run into wicking problems. In some cases (like with the V2 Pro Series 3X), there are coils designed for VG or PG e-juices and some that are more well-suited to PG e-juices. The refillable entries on this list all have at least one coil that can cope with high-VG e-juice, but it’s something to keep in mind when shopping around.
All-in-one or separate battery and tank?
All-in-one style e-juice vaporizers have some definite advantages. It couldn’t get much simpler if you’re new to vaping, and it means you get everything you need all in one place. However, traditional style vape pens have advantages too. Unlike with an all-in-one style device, they make it much easier to upgrade because you can easily pick up a new tank. Most all-in-one devices perform great (and we would recommend them to new vapers), but if you’re likely to keep vaping, it may be worth getting a more versatile vape pen.
What are you vaping?
If you’re looking for the top e-juice vape pen, you’re probably more interested in avoiding cigarettes than anything else, but vape pens can offer a lot more. Some vaporizers also support vaping dry-herb or marijuana concentrates, and if you use marijuana medically or recreationally, devices like this are definitely worth considering.
Many users choose to vape CBD in addition to (or instead of) nicotine. CBD oil offers a calming effect that's much more subtle than vaping weed but still carries many of the same medicinal benefits as cannabis (just without the THC). We have a few great recommendations for the best CBD oil pens that are worth checking out.
Conclusion
Finding the best vape pen for e-liquid isn’t really easy. But the problem isn’t that there aren’t many good options; it’s that loads of vape pens on the market today offer great battery life and perform like champs.
The suggestions in this list will steer you in the right direction, but in reality, as long as you know the basic factors to consider and you check out plenty of vape pen reviews before making a purchase, you’ll find something you enjoy more than you ever enjoyed smoking.