Snus vs. nicotine pouches
Updated
Warning: Both snus and nicotine pouches contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Neither is a safe product, and we don't recommend starting either.
At a glance
| Tobacco snus | Nicotine pouches | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains tobacco | Yes – moist, ground tobacco | No – plant fibre, nicotine, flavourings |
| Contains nicotine | Yes | Yes |
| How it's used | Under the upper lip | Under the upper lip |
| Formats | Loose, or in portions (original or white) | Portions only, e.g. slim, mini or regular |
| Strength stated as | mg per pouch or per gram | mg per pouch or per gram |
| Sale in the EU | Banned in all member states except Sweden | Allowed in many countries, but rules differ and some restrict or ban it |
What snus is
Snus is a tobacco product from Sweden: finely ground, moist tobacco that is placed under the upper lip, either loose or in small portion pouches. Original portion pouches are moist and release flavour and nicotine quickly; white portion pouches have a drier surface, release more slowly and drip less.
What nicotine pouches are
Nicotine pouches – sometimes called “white snus” – contain no tobacco leaf. They are filled with plant fibre, nicotine and flavourings and are used the same way as snus. Because they contain no tobacco, they fall under different rules than snus in many countries.
Legal status
The EU's Tobacco Products Directive bans the sale of tobacco for oral use – which includes snus – in every member state except Sweden. Nicotine pouches are not covered by that ban, but countries regulate them in their own way. Rules change, so please check the current law where you live. On this site, shop links for tobacco snus are only shown in countries where its sale is legal.
How we compare them
We rate both categories with the same four criteria – taste, longevity, comfort and value – and the same strength levels, but rank them separately, because they are different products.