Since the invention of the modern electronic cigarette, vapes have gone through several generations, with each iteration offering more advanced technology, better ease of use, more options and improved functionality.
As their popularity has exploded in recent years, so has the number of manufacturers and brands in this highly competitive market – so to help you familiarize yourself with the top names in the game, here we list the best rechargeable vape brand and manufacturers.
Rechargeable Vape Brands vs manufacturers
In the world of vapes, some names have become famous to vendors and consumers alike while other remain largely unknown outside of the industry.
This is because some companies operate their own facilities, with dedicated R&D departments and factories producing their own branded vapes.
However, other companies exist that don’t produce vapes sold under their own brand but rather concentrate on OEM and ODM vape products that can be ordered, customized and sold under other brand names, freeing vendors from the need to operate factories.
In this post, we include both the best-known branded vapes and the top companies involved in OEM and ODM vape production to give you the broadest introduction to the current state of the industry.
A brief overview of some vaping products and terms
In the early days of vaping, electronic cigarettes were designed almost solely to replace traditional cigarettes as a way of giving smokers a way of quitting.
As a result, they were designed to look and feel like cigarettes and were intended to mimic the experience of smoking as closely as possible.
However, that was back in the early 2000s, and things have moved on a lot since then.
Nowadays, while many vape products are still designed to help smokers quit – and still try to recreate the feeling of smoking – a whole range of other products are now available to cater to vapers with diverse tastes and requirements.
As a result, there is now an almost bewildering array of vaping systems on the market – and the related jargon can be even more confusing.
This means that before we look at the major players in the vaping world, it might be useful to talk about some of the types of vapes that are currently available and the terms that are used to describe them.
Here are some of the terms you are most likely to come across.
Cig-a-like
A cig-a-like vape is one of the original types of e-cigarettes that were designed to mimic the experience of smoking a real cigarette – and they are still produced today.
They are usually shaped like a cigarette – although they are necessarily slightly larger – and may include features like a paper mouthpiece or an LED light to replicate the glow when you take a puff.
Pen
Vape pens are small and convenient vape devices shaped roughly like a pen. They usually have a battery and a tank on top. You can usually change the coil and refill the pen with vape juice, but they offer limited functionality.
Mod
“Mod” is short for “modified”, and this refers to the fact “mod” vapes have been modified in the sense that they offer more enhanced features than older or simpler devices. This could involve things like adjustable air flow. These devices are more suitable for experienced vapers.
Pod
A vape pod can be thought of as a plug-and-play vape system. Everything is easy to use and maintain, making them a good option for those who don’t want to mess about with anything overcomplicated.
Mouth-to-lung (MTL)
Mouth-to-lung – or MTL – refers to a vaping system where you breathe the vapor into your mouth and then inhale it into your lungs just like when smoking a real cigarette. This is the most popular type among former smokers as well as among beginners.
Direct-to-lung (DTL)
Direct-to-lung (DTL) systems allow you to breathe the vapor directly into your lungs. This can take a bit of getting used to at first and is a system that’s usually more popular among experienced vapers.
DTL systems have lower resistance and heat the liquid to higher temperatures, producing denser vapor. They are often called sub-ohm systems because the resistance is less than one ohm.
The top vape brands and manufacturers
Here’s a list of some of the major vape brands and manufacturers.
1. RoseDalekb (lowest price & excellent quality)
Having been founded in Shenzhen, China, in 2017, RoseDalekb may be a relative newcomer to the vape scene, but this rapidly growing company has lost no time making up ground on its competitors in all areas.
RoseDalekb is now represented in over 30 countries by over 200 distributors selling its products in more than 1,000 shops.
Most consumers won’t be familiar with the RoseDalekb name since the company focuses on producing OEM and ODM vaping systems rather than selling vapes under its own brand name.
However, the company produces a full range of products, including disposable vapes, vape pens, pod systems and cartridges.
RoseDalekb also offers a comprehensive customization service, allowing vendors to modify just about every feature, including the cartridge size, the components, the finish, the intake hole, the mouthpiece and the vape juice. Logos and art can also be incorporated into the design.
One of the company’s strengths lies in its dedication to innovation, boasting a large and experienced R&D team and state-of-the-art lab facilities. RoseDalekb recruits talent from relevant related fields to drive technological development.
At the same time, RoseDalekb has positioned itself as the most competitively priced manufacturer of vape products in China, offering customers the best combination of low price, excellent quality and exceptional reliability.
2. SMOK
SMOK is one of the most established names in the world of vaping, and the company now produces a wide range of products that are sold under the SMOK brand.
Founded in 2010, SMOK has been around for almost as long as people have been vaping.
The company originally established its reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality sub-ohm mod kits, but nowadays, it is just as famous for its extremely popular pod vape systems.
With its constant experimentation and innovation, SMOK is considered one of the most influential companies in the history of vaping, and many of its products have driven the wider development of how we vape today.
For example, when SMOK began producing its original pod kits, they were considered a niche system of limited interest to mainstream vapers.
However, the foray into pod kits with the company’s Nord range proved to be an inspired move – since nowadays, pods are among the most popular types of vape kits on the market.
SMOK is considered one of the best brands for beginners and intermediate vapers, and their sub-ohm products that produce huge clouds are especially popular.
On the downside, SMOK products are priced a little above average, but if you choose a model from their ever-expanding catalog, you know you’ll be buying a high-quality vaping system that is worth every cent you pay for it.
3. Aspire
Another well-established brand from Shenzhen, China, Aspire was created in 2013 – and since its foundation, the company has produced many products that remained popular today, even in this fast-moving market.
For example, the Aspire PockeX was one of the products that helped the company establish itself as a major player in the vape industry, and with its powerful throat hit that’s ideal for heavy smokers trying to transition to vapes.
Another product from this company that was designed especially for cigarette smokers trying to move away from combustible tobacco was the Vilter, a vape with a paper drip tip that was intended to recreate the experience of smoking a cigarette as realistically as possible.
The company’s R1 disposable vape has also proved enduringly popular.
This device incorporates a fixed coil, rechargeable battery and refillable pod and is ideal for relatively new vapers who want to move from disposables to reusable vapes but who aren’t quite ready to splash out on a high-end model.
However, Aspire is not one to rest on its laurels and is also at the forefront of product innovation and design.
For example, it was one of the companies that pioneered the use of sub-ohm tanks and BVC coils to allow adjustable airflow, an important milestone in the evolution of vaping technology.
In short, this is a company that has been around for a long time and that has amassed a following of loyal vapers who appreciate its reliable yet reasonably-priced products.
4. Innokin
As one of the oldest and most successful vape manufacturers and brands, Innokin is one of the undisputed big boys in the world of vape products.
Since being founded in 2011 in Shenzhen, China, the company has launched many hugely successful products that include pod systems, vape kits and vape tanks.
Their range also boasts regular models alongside child-resistant certified systems for those worried about their vaping equipment finding its way into the hands of children.
The popularity of these products has always been based on reliability and simplicity of use, which has also made Innokin one of the most attractive companies for those new to vaping.
The company’s products include several useful safety features that also make them especially appealing to newbies.
Among the company’s biggest successes was the Adept Zlide mouth-to-lung kit as well as the Endura range of starter kits. More recently, the company secured another win with the award-winning Klypse pod kit.
On the downside, the company’s range doesn’t cater quite as well to more advanced vapers or those looking for more functionality or features.
However, this is compensated by the fact that Innokin’s products are among the most widely available vape systems, which will mean Innokin users will never have trouble finding coils or anything else they need.
5. Geekvape
Just like the majority of big vape manufacturers and brands, Geekvape was created in Shenzhen, China – and in this case, in 2015.
Another award-winning company, Geekvape stands out from the crowd by specializing in rugged and tough vape products that are designed to last.
While products from most other vape brands will be damaged beyond repair after only a small fall, Geekvape vapes are designed to be waterproof, dustproof and shockproof, making them one of the best choices for outdoor use or for vaping in more challenging environments.
However, there’s more to Geekvape products than mere durability since they consistently boast advanced functionality, attractive aesthetics and high-end taste.
One of the company’s most recognizable lines is the Aegis range. This series includes the T200, which boasts an impressive 2.4-inch full touchscreen display that gives you a convenient way to check and control all your vaping preferences.
Another notable product is the military-style Geekvape Nano, a diminutive yet powerful vape that delivers everything you could want from a vaping system but in a smaller package.
Finally, with its strong flavors and dense clouds, the Geekvape Z Sub-Ohm SE tank demonstrates this company’s ability to produce top-quality, reliable tanks too.
6. SMOORE
SMOORE is a vape manufacturer responsible for producing some of the top branded vapes around, including the ever-popular Vaporesso range, which we’ll look at in just a moment.
The company is considered a global leader in vaping manufacturing and technology, boasting a particularly strong R&D department as well as a well-developed manufacturing capacity.
Although the company is less recognizable among vaping enthusiasts since vapes are not marketed or sold as SMOORE branded products, it is nevertheless responsible for a wide range of vape kits, mods, tanks, coils and related accessories marketed under other brand names.
In fact, the company is nothing less than the largest producer of vaping products in the world.
As well as the popular Vaporesso vape brand, SMOORE also owns FEELM, a high-end atomization technology brand that is focused on delivering atomization devices powered by the FEELM ceramic coil.
Since its creation in 2009 in Shenzhen, China, SMOORE has consistently delivered cutting-edge, market-leading products.
It has also gone on to partner with British and American Tobacco and Reynold’s Asia-Pacific while picking up various awards for its products and its excellence in innovation.
7. Vaporesso
Vaporesso is perhaps the best-known brand owned by SMOORE. It was launched in 2015, and its products have gained a reputation for being sleek, stylish, luxurious and fun to use.
The range of products from this brand includes pods, pod mods, tank mods and pen-style mods – along with a range of high-quality accessories.
All of them are attractively designed, making them a great choice for the style-conscious vaper, but their high levels of performance also deliver the quality demanded by even the most discerning user.
The quality of the products from this brand has seen them accumulate industry recognition, and in 2022 alone, the brand collected an impressive total of over 70 awards.
This success is driven by focusing on innovation through science, and Vaporesso vapes incorporate advanced technology like the company’s MORPH-MESH structure that delivers the perfect ratio of flavor to sensation as well as CUMULUS cotton for longer lasting flavor.
That said, one negative point to mention about this brand is that it doesn’t cater so well to beginners looking for starter kits.
On the other hand, for more experienced vapers who are clear about what they want and know what they’re doing, the pod kits and sub-ohm vapes from Vaporesso are ideal – especially at the very reasonable prices for which they are sold.
8. Voopoo
Unlike most of the brands in our roundup, the slightly bizarrely-named Voopoo has not been around for such a long time.
However, this brand has already made a name for itself among vaping aficionados, quickly establishing itself as a name with lots of potential and plenty of promise.
This is even more so now since it began a partnership with advanced chip manufacturer GENE in 2017 – the incorporation of GENE chips in Voopoo vaping products has given them an edge in terms of precise control and fast response.
You’ll be able to spot Voopoo products due to their striking appearance – many of them boast a mixed leather and metal finish, which gives them a classy look all of their own.
This brand is best known for its DRAG range, box mods that produce satisfying amounts of cloud.
Perhaps the best of the lot is the DRAG 3, an advanced vape with the full complement of high-end specs you’d expect – although you’ll have to be willing to pay high-end prices to get your hands on one.
9. Elf Bar
Elf Bar is one of the newest names on the market, but in the short time since the brand appeared in 2018, the name has become synonymous with the simplest, most convenient disposable vapes around – as well as their almost unrivalled flavors.
The vapes that made Elf Bar famous were the kind that you just unwrapped and started using – there was no messing about with filling, charging or anything else.
However, despite the wild success of their main product, the company also makes rechargeable vapes, and these also have the immediate advantage of giving you access to the brand’s irresistible range of unmistakable flavors.
Indeed, building on the brand’s early success, the company’s range now includes pod systems, disposable pods and pod kits, all featuring fun and attractive aesthetics, user-friendly operation and affordable price tags.
10. Uwell
Like Elf Bar, Uwell is a brand that’s known for the quality of its vape flavors, largely due to the Caliburn series of pod vape kits. These vapes are characterized by being sleek, lightweight and discreet, providing the advantages of pod systems with the dimensions of pre-filled vapes.
Uwell doesn’t have as large a catalog of products as most other major vape brands, but the vapes it does produce are, without exception, of top quality.
The Caliburn A2 is perhaps the company’s most famous product and offers users a hassle-free vaping experience using a simple-to-operate system that allows you to simply enjoy your vaping without having to worry about lots of unnecessary extras.
This has been followed up more recently by the popular Caliburn G2, an upgrade on the A2 that reproduces the familiar intuitive vaping system with the addition of flavor-enhancing tech that sustains the flavor right to the end.
Another advantage of this brand is that its products are sold at affordable prices, meaning you not only get a reliable and high-quality vape, but you also get great bang for your buck.
11. ALD
ALD is a manufacturer from Shenzhen, China, that focuses more on OEM, ODM and technological innovation in the vaping industry rather than producing branded vaping products.
Founded in 2009, it is a company that prides itself on its focus on R&D – ALD now employs over 250 scientists and engineers working in advanced labs and cooperating with top universities.
As a result of this focus, 8% of the company’s revenue goes straight back into R&D to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of vaping technology, which has led to over 500 global patents.
For example, ALD products include features such as iCot®, a next-generation cotton-based vaporization module, and SILMCO®, an electronic atomization technology that makes use of advanced cellular ceramic material and metal thick-film printing tech.
ALD’s flagship products include a range of disposable vapes, affordable and advanced pod systems and CBD vape pens.
The company’s major offerings also include their recent FRESOR B9000 rechargeable disposable vape, featuring ALD’s advanced Dual Mesh technology.
An advanced 9000-puff device, the B9000 is designed to ensure the flavor doesn’t diminish, even during the largest puffs.
Another of ALD’s popular products is the rechargeable disposable Cube Box, a conveniently compact yet powerful vape that boasts a 12ml oil tank to provide up to 5,000 puffs.
ALD also offers a wide-ranging customization service, allowing customers to design products that will best represent their brand.
12. Freemax
Freemax is a brand that’s best known for mastering a type of coil technology that allowed a combination of rich flavor, thick cloud and longevity, a holy trinity that had previously not been achieved.
For this reason, this brand is a great option for the kind of vaper who is interested in these qualities and values them above the realism of the “smoking” experience.
In other words, if you’re coming to vaping because you want to taste a range of enticing flavors and enjoy blowing huge clouds of vapor, this could be just the brand you’re looking for.
However, if you’re a cigarette smoker looking for something to wean you off your addiction to combustible tobacco, this might not be the best option for you.
Another downside is the higher prices associated with Freemax’s most expensive models – although more affordable versions are also available.
A large and growing number of reputable players
As we have seen, there is already a large and growing number of players in the vaping industry, and although some of them are of dubious quality, many are producing products of exceptional quality – and the companies we’ve mentioned here are among the leading names.
