ZYN vs VELO: which is right for you?

That is the short version. The rest of this guide explains why, with the actual tins and prices we stock, so you can see where the two brands overlap and where they pull apart.

Who makes them

ZYN is made by Swedish Match, which is now part of Philip Morris International. It started in Sweden and was the first tobacco-free pouch to become a household name in the UK. The tins are small, round and plain, and the strength is shown as dots on the lid.

VELO is British American Tobacco's pouch brand. It is the biggest UK pouch brand by volume and the one you are most likely to see in a petrol station. The tins are a touch larger, the colours are louder, and the range leans towards fruit.

Neither contains tobacco. Both use a plant fibre filler, nicotine, flavouring and a bit of salt and sweetener. If you want the detail on what goes into one, read what's inside a nicotine pouch.

Strength: ZYN runs lower and higher

This is the biggest practical difference. ZYN's UK range starts at 1.5mg and ends at 13.5mg. VELO's starts at 4mg and ends at 11mg.

ZYN Cool Mint, Spearmint and Black Cherry all come in at 1.5mg. ZYN Citrus is 3mg. These are the gentlest pouches we sell from any of the big brands, and they are where a first-timer should start. At the other end, ZYN Blackcurrant Frost, Blueberry Frost and Menthol Ice sit at 13.5mg, which puts them in the X-Strong band.

VELO's lowest tins are Bright Spearmint, Tangy Lime and Purple Grape at 4mg. Its strongest are Freezing Peppermint and Peppermint Storm at 11mg. Most of the VELO range sits at 8mg or 10mg, which is the medium to strong zone where most regular users settle.

So if you are new, or you are stepping down, ZYN gives you more rungs on the ladder. If you already know you want something around 10mg, both brands have you covered and the choice comes down to flavour and feel. Our nicotine pouch strength guide explains what each band feels like.

Format and feel: dry mini vs moist slim

ZYN's low strengths (1.5mg to 6mg) come in a Mini Dry format. The pouch is small, almost nothing under the lip, and dry to the touch. Dry pouches release nicotine more slowly, so the first few minutes feel gentle and the pouch keeps going for a long time. There is very little drip. The trade-off is a slower start.

ZYN's 9mg and above tins are a slim format, still on the drier side.

VELO pouches are moist. You feel them start within a minute or two, and the flavour is bigger up front. They do produce more saliva, which some people prefer and some do not. VELO's 4mg and 6mg tins are Mini, and the 8mg to 11mg tins are Slim.

If discretion matters (open-plan office, long drive, flight), ZYN Mini Dry is the easier one to forget about. If you want to feel it working straight away, VELO. Read more on dry vs moist pouches before you decide.

Flavours: VELO has more fruit, ZYN has the better mint

Flavour family	ZYN	VELO
Mint	Cool Mint, Spearmint, Icy Mint, Menthol Ice	Bright Spearmint, Crispy Peppermint, Freezing Peppermint, Peppermint Storm
Fruit	Black Cherry, Citrus, Red Fruits, Watermelon Mint, Blueberry Mint, Red Berry Fizz	Mango Ice, Ruby Berry, Cherry Ice, Peach Ice, Strawberry Ice, Tropical Ice, Icy Berries, Purple Grape, Tangy Lime, Blueberry Ice
Other	Coffee, Guava Spice	Smooth Papaya, Lime Flame, Orange Spark, Minty Lemon

VELO's fruit flavours are the reason a lot of people pick it. Mango Ice at 10mg is one of the best-selling tins on the site and it tastes like the label says. VELO rotates in new flavours often, including the McLaren Edition Sweet Papaya at 8mg.

ZYN's fruit is more restrained. Watermelon Mint at 11mg is our best-selling ZYN tin, but it is still a mint with watermelon on top rather than a sweet fruit pouch. Where ZYN wins is on plain mint. Cool Mint and Spearmint are clean, not sugary, and they taste the same from the first pouch to the last.

If you want to explore beyond mint and fruit, our nicotine pouch flavours guide covers coffee, cola and liquorice as well.

Price

A tin of ZYN is £4.49. A tin of VELO is £4.29. Over a tin a week that is about £10 a year, so price should not decide this one.

Bundles change the maths. VELO's 8mg Variety Pack and Fruity Mint Mix are 10 tins for £29.99, which works out at £3.00 a tin. ZYN's 20-pack bundles (Cool Mint 6mg and the Mega Mix) are £29.99 when they are in stock, which is £1.50 a tin, but they sell out fast. If you already know which brand you like, the bundle page for that brand is where to buy.

Our verdict

For most people switching from smoking or vaping, we point to VELO first. The moist pouch gives you a quick, obvious hit, the 8mg and 10mg tins land in the right zone, and the fruit flavours keep things interesting while you settle in.

For anyone starting from zero, or anyone who wants a mint pouch they can leave in for an hour without thinking about it, ZYN is the better brand. The 1.5mg and 3mg Mini Dry tins are genuinely gentle, and nothing in VELO's range goes that low.

If you are a heavy user chasing strength, neither is the answer. ZYN tops out at 13.5mg and VELO at 11mg. Look at the strong band and above for brands built for that.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Best nicotine pouches UK 2026
• ZYN strengths explained
• VELO strength guide