When trying to quit smoking, a nicotine alternative can be of great help. In fact, studies have shown that only 3% of people who stop smoking cold turkey manage to stay smoke-free for more than six months.
Two options for smoke-free nicotine are nicotine pouches and nicotine gum, but which is the better choice? Here we’ll explore the similarities and differences between these two nicotine alternatives, so you can determine which is right for you.
What Are Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine pouches are a tobacco-free pouch that you pop under your lip to enjoy intense nicotine release to sate your cravings. They are subtle and smoke-free, so you can use them discreetly wherever you go.
Nicotine pouches will typically last for up to 30 minutes.
What is Nicotine Gum?
Nicotine gum is like chewing gum that contains nicotine. When you chew the gum, it essentially squeezes out the nicotine, allowing you to satisfy your cravings in a smoke-free manner.
A nicotine gum will last for around 10-15 minutes before it loses its impact and flavour.

Differences Between Nicotine Pouches and Nicotine Gum
As you can tell, there are a few key differences between nicotine pouches and gum, and what they offer.
Discretion and Ease of Use
The most noticeable difference between pouches and gum is the effort you need to put in to experience the nicotine. While nicotine gum must be chewed the whole time to release the nicotine, no effort is required for a pouch, beyond placing it under your lip.
As such, nicotine pouches have the upper hand if you’re looking for a product that is more discreet; and if you want to avoid people asking for gum when they see you chewing!
How Long It Lasts
One of the main differences between pouches and gum is the time the products last. Nicotine gum lasts for around 10 minutes before it loses intensity. On the other hand a nicotine pouch lasts for about 30 minutes, providing an extended nicotine release and longer-lasting flavour.

Strength
Nicotine pouches do tend to be stronger than nicotine gum, providing a more intense and quick delivery of nicotine and flavour. Not only do they outlast gums in terms of duration, but you’ll often experience more nicotine strength from a pouch.

Similarities Between Nicotine Pouches and Nicotine Gum
It’s not all differences here! There are many ways in which these two nicotine replacement options are similar.
Tobacco-Free
One of the biggest benefits of both nicotine pouches and gum is the lack of tobacco. When a product contains tobacco it will have a lingering odour, a strong tobacco taste, and can cause staining on teeth. These issues will be eliminated with a nicotine-only alternative like gum or pouches.
Easy to Use
Compared to smoking or vaping, which requires kit like lighters or batteries, nicotine pouches and gums are pretty simple to use, given that they go straight in your mouth! They are convenient and have no fiddly parts to learn.
No Inhale
Both smoking and vaping involve inhaling nicotine, which many people want to avoid doing once they have stopped smoking. If you’re after a more discreet alternative, where no vapour cloud is produced, or you feel more comfortable not inhaling a substance into your lungs, then a pouch or gum can be a good swap.
Different Nicotine Strengths
Both pouches and gums are available in different nicotine strengths, for example, 10mg or 20mg. You can choose a strength based on how many cigarettes you are used to smoking, or the strength at which you vape. Choosing the right nicotine strength helps to keep your cravings satisfied and avoid over use of nicotine, which could lead to feeling a bit sick!
If nicotine pouches sound like the right choice for you, then browse our full range of 4NX tobacco-free pouches and claim your free nicotine pouches today.