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Two of the most common e-liquids available to buy online right now, 50/50 freebase and nic salt, look almost identical to anyone who is new to vaping, but they are actually quite different products.
What makes them different is how the nicotine itself is made, the strengths available, and which vaping kit the liquid works in. This guide explains how and why they differ, and, more importantly, which might be the best option for you.
Nic salts and 50/50 freebase e-liquids share the same 50PG/50VG base, so both suit the same low-powered MTL kits.
Freebase e-liquid gives a sharper throat hit and comes in 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg; nic salts feel smoother and come in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg.
Nic salts use benzoic acid to soften high-strength nicotine, which is why 20mg salt feels gentler than 18mg freebase.
Both formats run in MTL kits and neither belongs in a true sub-ohm tank; nic salts and low-strength freebase suit coils from 0.6ohm up, while 12mg and 18mg freebase is better at 1.0ohm and above.
Heavier smokers tend to start on 20mg salt or 12mg freebase; lighter smokers do well on 5mg to 10mg salt or 3mg to 6mg freebase.
A 50/50 e-liquid is built from equal parts propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG). The PG carries flavour and throat hit, while the VG makes the vapour. Split evenly, they give a versatile juice that draws tightly and runs in most vape starter kits - the entry point for most people who are new to this.
The nicotine in a standard 50/50 is freebase (the unbound form), which is a higher pH than salt and gives a noticeable, punchy throat sensation above 12mg. In the UK, 50 50 vape juice comes in 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg. In terms of labelling, ‘50/50’ refers to the PG/VG ratio, while ‘freebase’ refers to the type of nicotine.
A standard 50/50 bottle uses freebase nicotine, which is why the two terms often appear together, but they are describing different things.
Many nic salts are blended to the same 50PG/50VG ratio, so they behave like a 50/50 in the kit, but what changes is a small amount of benzoic acid, which lowers the pH. That smooths the harsh ‘punchy’ edge off strong nicotine, so a 20mg salt often feels much gentler than 18mg freebase at the same draw.
Salts are also believed to reach the bloodstream faster, which is why they usually settle a craving quicker than alternatives, although the exact speed is still debated in the research, so treat faster absorption as the widely accepted view rather than inarguable fact.
UK nic salts come in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg, with 20mg the legal ceiling for a 10ml bottle. The smooth hit at those strengths is why salts belong in low-powered kits running coils of 0.6ohm and up. In a sub-ohm kit, they can deliver an uncomfortable dose in one puff.
Here are the two formats side by side:
| Feature | 50/50 Freebase | Nic Salts |
|---|---|---|
| Base Ratio | 50PG/50VG | 50PG/50VG |
| Nicotine Strengths | 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg | 5mg, 10mg, 20mg |
| Throat Hit | Sharper, noticeable at 12mg+ | Smoother, even at 20mg |
| Satisfaction | Steadier | Faster |
| Best Device | MTL kits, 0.6ohm+ | MTL kits, 0.6ohm+ |
| Suits | Step-down, widest flavour choice | Recent switchers, strong smooth hit |
In short, the main difference between 50/50 e-liquids and nic salts is how the nicotine is treated. Nic salts use benzoic acid for a smoother, faster hit at higher strengths, while 50/50 freebase gives a more noticeable throat sensation.
Freebase at 12mg to 18mg gives a distinct, very sharp catch at the back of the throat. Now, that might sound unpleasant to some people, but to many, it is a highly desirable, sought after sensation, as it echoes a cigarette. Nic salt at 20mg feels much smoother than 18mg freebase taken the same way, which is the benzoic acid at work on the pH.
To put it in terms that are probably more useful to anyone who might be new to vaping, if your first vape felt harsh, nic salts are usually the answer (or at least worth trying).
If you miss the firm draw of a cigarette, 12mg to 18mg freebase or 20mg salt is probably worth a go. Coil resistance changes harshness too, though, as a 1.2ohm-plus coil gives a tighter draw. To that end, if a vape feels off, it may be the coil rather than the juice.
Which brings us neatly round to our next point - the different devices available for nic salts vs freebase.
The quick answer is that both 50/50 freebase and nic salts run in the same low-powered MTL kits, and neither belongs in a sub-ohm tank.
50/50 e-liquids fit the widest range of hardware, from starter kits and refillable pod kits to MTL tanks, which makes them the safer pick if you are unsure. Nic salts suit the same low-wattage devices, but strength matters more, since a sub-ohm kit burning large amounts per puff can over-deliver potent salt nicotine fast.
Regarding coils, 0.6ohm to 0.9ohm are technically ‘sub-ohm’ by number, but in a low-powered MTL pod kit they are fine for both. A true sub-ohm setup runs 30W to 120W with high-VG liquid at 0.5ohm and below, which is a different kind of vaping.
| Device Type | Compatible Format |
|---|---|
| Refillable Pod Kit (0.6ohm+)/td> | Both |
| MTL Tank | Both |
| Vape Pen / Starter Kit | Both |
| Sub-Ohm Tank (0.5ohm and below) | Neither |
50/50 freebase comes in 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 18mg variants. Nic salts are available in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg options. Getting the strength right from the start is often a tricky proposition, as matching your previous smoking habits to daily nicotine strengths in vaping isn't an exact science, but there are anecdotal rules you can follow.
If you were a 20-a-day smoker, 12mg to 18mg freebase or 20mg salt is probably a good place to start. Ten to twenty a day, and 6mg to 12mg freebase or 10mg to 20mg salt should suffice. Lighter or social smokers can happily sit on a low freebase or a 5mg salt.
And since salt hits faster, a 10mg can do the work of a stronger freebase, so there is certainly no medal for jumping straight to 20mg.
Choose nic salts if you have recently stopped smoking, want a strong hit without the harshness, use a pod kit or low-wattage device, and care more about a quick, satisfying draw than clouds.
Choose 50/50 freebase if you prefer a noticeable throat hit, have vaped a while and want to step your strength down, or want the widest flavour range.
Either works if you have a pod kit at 0.6ohm or above and fancy switching between the two, or you are chasing a flavour stocked in both.
Our own VS Fifty-Fifty range is a solid, low-cost place to start with a clean Ice Menthol and a Straight Tobacco worth a gander.
Vampire Vape's Heisenberg is the classic British all-rounder, a cold berry-and-aniseed blend that has been a shop staple for years. For the dessert end, Double Drip's Cherry Bakewell is all buttery pastry and cherry jam.
Bar Juice 5000's Triple Mango is a ripe, tropical 20mg salt, while ELFLIQ's Blue Razz Lemonade gives you that sharp, familiar bar-style flavour, and Vampire Vape Max keeps it simple with a smooth 10mg Watermelon. Between them they cover fruit, ice and a bit of sweetness.
The choice between nic salts and 50/50 freebase is not really about which is better, as the choice is highly subjective. It all depends on what suits you personally. If you are just off the cigarettes and after a smooth, strong hit from a pod kit, salts are probably the best place to start.
But if you prefer a firmer throat hit, a lower strength, or a fuller flavour, freebase is likely more ideal. Either way, get your coil resistance matched to your liquid and you will not go far wrong.
Not usually, no. Nic salts are made for low-powered MTL kits with coils of 0.6ohm and above, such as pod kits, vape pens and starter kits. They should not go in high-powered sub-ohm tanks, which vaporise too much liquid per puff and can deliver nicotine far too quickly.
Nic salts are not necessarily stronger, but they carry higher nicotine more comfortably. A 20mg salt feels smoother than an 18mg freebase because benzoic acid lowers the pH, and salts absorb faster, so they satisfy a craving more quickly at the same strength.
You can vape both in the same kit, just not mixed in one pod. They sit on different nicotine bases, so combining them can muddy the flavour and the hit. Finish one, then switch.
Many recent switchers prefer nic salts, since the smooth, fast hit at 10mg or 20mg settles a craving without harshness. Some ex-smokers prefer the sharper throat hit of 12mg or 18mg freebase, as it feels closer to smoking. Both are valid starting points.
No, because both use the same 50PG/50VG ratio, so vapour output is similar and suited to MTL vaping. That output comes from the ratio and the device, not from whether the nicotine is salt or freebase.
Yes, both are legal under UK TPD regulations, which cap 10ml bottles at 20mg nicotine and limit bottle size. All e-liquids stocked at Vape Superstore are TPD-compliant.
