The best vape starter kits keep things simple: you fill a pod, charge the kit and vape. Here are our four best-selling pod kits, as well as four of the newest ones we carry. Every kit is in stock, and so are its replacement pods. Most of them can do a tight MTL draw too, which suits nic salts.
Updated October 11, 2026
Kits that already have their own review on our blog aren’t repeated here, so you’ll find links to those at the end.
The short version
- Best seller: SMOK NOVO 2, at $19.99.
- Two draws in the box: Uwell Caliburn G3, with a 0.6 ohm RDL pod and a 0.9 ohm MTL pod.
- Newest: GeekVape GO, with a 10mL pod you refill about 3 times.
- Biggest battery: VOOPOO ARGUS G4, at 1650mAh.
- Two power modes in one pod: Vaporesso VIBE SE 2, at 15W or 28W.
- Lowest price: SMOK VOLLE, at $10.99.
Best vape starter kits: our best sellers
1 SMOK NOVO 2
The NOVO 2 by SMOK is a simple, draw-activated pod kit with an 800mAh battery and up to 25W. It comes with two 2mL pods: a 1.0 ohm mesh pod and a 1.4 ohm MTL pod. It’s also the top seller on this list: 850+ customers have bought it, and nearly 1 in 9 came back for another. Shop the NOVO 2.
Best for: first-time vapers who want a small, simple kit with an MTL draw for nic salts.
Good to know: It charges over micro-USB rather than USB-C like the newer kits here.
2 Uwell Caliburn G3
The Caliburn G3 by Uwell has a 900mAh battery, up to 25W and a small screen for your power. You can fire it with the button or just inhale. In the box, you get a 0.6 ohm pod for a looser RDL draw and a 0.9 ohm pod for MTL. Shop the Caliburn G3.
Best for: vapers who want to try both a tight and a looser draw.
Good to know: Its 900mAh battery is smaller than the 1500mAh kits here, so you’ll charge it more often.
3 SMOK NOVO 5
The NOVO 5 by SMOK has a 900mAh battery, up to 30W and a 0.69-inch screen. You can inhale to fire it or use the button. It comes with two 0.7 ohm mesh MTL pods that fill from the top, while an airflow ring tunes the draw. Shop the NOVO 5.
Best for: MTL vapers who want a screen and lots of designs to pick from.
Good to know: The kit only comes with 0.7 ohm pods, so buy 3mL replacement pods separately if you want a bigger one.
4 Vaporesso XROS 5
The XROS 5 by Vaporesso has a 1500mAh battery, up to 30W and a 0.88-inch color screen. It fires by button or draw, and it has Power, Normal and ECO modes plus an airflow slider. It also takes every XROS pod, and the kit includes a 0.6 ohm and a 0.8 ohm mesh pod. Shop the XROS 5.
Best for: vapers who want a big battery, a color screen and lots of pod choices.
Good to know: At $30.99, it’s the priciest kit on this list.
New vape starter kits for beginners
These are four of the newest pod kits we carry, newest first. Three of them hold 4.5mL or more, so you’ll refill less often than with a 2mL pod.
1 GeekVape GO
The GO by GeekVape is the newest kit on this list. It has a 1500mAh battery, Normal and Turbo modes, and a 10mL pod with a 0.8 ohm dual mesh coil. You fill each pod about 3 times, then swap it and keep the device. There’s also a 4-level dial on the pod that takes the draw from a tight MTL draw to a looser RDL. Shop the GeekVape GO.
Best for: vapers who want a big pod and fewer refills.
Good to know: The charging cable isn’t included, so use a USB-C cable you already have.
2 Vaporesso VIBE SE 2
The VIBE SE 2 by Vaporesso has a 1400mAh battery and a 4.5mL dual mesh pod. Flip the pod to switch between ECO mode at 15W and PWR mode at 28W. It fires when you inhale, and an airflow control tunes the draw. Shop the VIBE SE 2.
Best for: beginners on a budget who want two power levels in one pod.
Good to know: It has no screen, though an RGB light shows the battery level.
3 VOOPOO ARGUS G4
The ARGUS G4 by VOOPOO has the biggest battery on this list, at 1650mAh, plus 5 to 35W of power and a color screen. Its Multi-Ohm cartridge holds 3.5mL, and you rotate it to switch the resistance. It also supports both an MTL draw and a looser RDL draw, and the kit comes with two cartridges. Shop the ARGUS G4.
Best for: vapers who want a screen and full control over power.
Good to know: Spare ARGUS SNAP pods hold 2mL, less than the 3.5mL cartridges in the box.
4 SMOK VOLLE
The VOLLE by SMOK costs the least on this list, yet it has a 10mL pod with a dual mesh coil. It also has a 1000mAh battery, ECO and POWER modes, and adjustable airflow. It’s draw-activated too, so you just inhale to vape. Shop the VOLLE.
Best for: vapers on a tight budget who want to refill as rarely as possible.
Good to know: Spare pods come one at a time, at $11.99 each.
How to pick a vape starter kit
Think about the draw you like. An MTL draw, or mouth-to-lung, is tight like a cigarette, and most of the best vape starter kits here can do it. For a looser draw, pick a kit with adjustable airflow, such as the XROS 5, the GeekVape GO or the ARGUS G4.
Nicotine matters too. Pod kits like these are made for nic salts, though most also work with low-strength freebase e-liquid. Our freebase vs salt nicotine guide explains the difference. Our PG and VG guide also shows which e-liquid blends suit small pods.
The battery and the pods are where the best vape starter kits differ most. A bigger battery usually means fewer charges, so look at the 1500mAh and 1650mAh kits if you vape a lot. A bigger pod means fewer refills too, and the GO and the VOLLE each hold 10mL. Check what spare pods cost as well, since you’ll keep buying them.
What replacement pods cost
Every kit on this list uses replacement pods with the coil built in. When the flavor fades or tastes burnt, you swap the whole pod. Here’s what replacement pods cost at our store for the best vape starter kits above:
- SMOK NOVO 2: replacement NOVO 2 pods cost $9.99 for 3, in 1.0 ohm mesh or 1.4 ohm MTL.
- Uwell Caliburn G3: replacement G3 pods cost $13.99 for 4, in 0.4, 0.6 or 0.9 ohm.
- SMOK NOVO 5: replacement NOVO 5 pods cost $8.99 for 3, in 0.7 ohm (2mL) or 0.6 ohm (3mL).
- Vaporesso XROS 5: XROS pods cost $13.99 for 4, from 0.4 to 1.2 ohm.
- GeekVape GO: GO pods cost $10.99 for 2, and each one holds 10mL with a 0.8 ohm dual mesh coil.
- Vaporesso VIBE SE 2: VIBE pods cost $7.99 for 2, in 0.8 or 1.0 ohm, and each one holds 4.5mL.
- VOOPOO ARGUS G4: ARGUS SNAP pods cost $9.99 for 3, in 0.4, 0.7 or 1.0 ohm.
- SMOK VOLLE: VOLLE pods cost $11.99 each, in 0.6 or 0.8 ohm, and each one holds 10mL.
Want more power than a starter kit?
These kits are made for a gentle draw. If you want bigger clouds, though, our reviews cover kits with more power. Our DRAG S3 review covers a 60W pod mod, while our Nord 6 review covers an 80W one. Our Aegis Hero 5 review also covers a rugged 50W kit.
Want to see more new kits? Read our XROS 6 vs Caliburn G5 guide, our XLIM Pro 3 vs XLIM 3 Ultra guide and our NeXLIM 2 review.
Vape starter kit FAQ
What is the best vape starter kit for beginners?
Based on our sales, the SMOK NOVO 2 is the best vape starter kit on our list, and 850+ customers have bought it. If you’d rather have the newest kit on our list, try the GeekVape GO, which has a 10mL pod.
What’s new in vape starter kits?
Several of the newest kits we carry have bigger pods than our best sellers. The GeekVape GO and the SMOK VOLLE each hold 10mL, for example. You can refill a GO pod about 3 times before you swap it.
What comes in a vape starter kit?
Most kits include the device, one or two pods, a charging cable and a manual. Some leave out the cable, though, like the GeekVape GO. E-liquid isn’t included, so you buy it separately.
Should I use nic salts in a vape starter kit?
Pod kits like these are made for nic salts, which give a smooth hit at low power. Most of them work with low-strength freebase e-liquid too.
What’s the difference between a vape starter kit and a box mod?
Most vape starter kits are pod kits. A pod kit is small, with a built-in battery and a refillable pod. A box mod is bigger, with more power and a separate tank, so it makes bigger clouds.
When should you replace a pod?
Replace it when the flavor fades or tastes burnt. How long that takes depends on your e-liquid and how much you vape.
Do you need to be 21 to buy a starter kit?
Yes. Under the federal Tobacco 21 law, you must be 21 or older to buy vape products in the US. Some states also limit what can ship there.
Ready to start vaping?
Pick a pod kit, and add a pack of spare pods so you always have a fresh one.
We picked our best sellers by paid orders over the full history of our store, with customer counts rounded down. The new kits are listed newest first, by the date we added them. Specs come from each kit’s product page, with prices and stock from the date above. Some of these products can’t ship to every state, so check our shipping guide. Nicotine is addictive. You must be 21 or older to buy vape products, under the federal Tobacco 21 law.

