The Best Zyn Alternatives: A Comprehensive Buying Guide to Zyn Competitors 2025

Written by The Simon Crafts 

Published on August 19, 2025

Do you Zyn? Did you know that there are hundreds of alternative products to Zyn that are as popular, if not more so. Zyn’s market share in the United States is massive; everyone knows that. What some people do not know is that nicotine pouches are on the rise globally. The competition is stiff, and sometimes we do not get what we pay for. Massive marketing campaigns have forced so many to believe that Zyn is one of a kind. We know all about the Zyn competition and how to find the best Zyn alternatives. We have written this article to challenge the status quo, open eyes, and shed light on the growing nicotine pouch market.

 

Table of Contents 

 

What are Nicotine Pouches and Zyn Alternatives

 

Benefits over Traditional Smoking of Cigarettes

 

The Rise of Nicotine Pouches, Like Zyn

 

Criteria for Choosing The Proper Zyn Substitute for You

 

Zyn Competitors Under The Microscope

 

Zyn Black Cherry 6.5mg vs VELO Cherry Ice 10mg

 

Zyn Cool Blueberry 11mg vs Killa Blueberry 13mg

 

Zyn Deep Freeze 11mg vs Pablo Gold Frosted Ice 17mg

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What are Nicotine Pouches and Zyn Alternatives

Nicotine pouches are the evolution of traditional Swedish snus, a product that has been around for centuries. Traditional Swedish snus contains tobacco, and in most of Europe and North America, it is illegal for resale. The accessibility of social media, the movement of international athletes, and the growing culture of seeking cigarette alternatives led to the popularity of snus. Niconovum is cited to have manufactured the first nicotine pouch. Although the company was bought in 2009 by the giant British American Tobacco, it was not until the early 2010s that nicotine pouches began to gain popularity. In multiple Western markets, including the UK and the US, snus was frequently imported by consumers in small quantities.

 

The pouches contain nicotine, water, flavoring, and fillers. They are designed to be discreet, comfortable, and sit between the gum and lip. During the time a pouch is loaded, the nicotine disperses directly into the bloodstream, offering a similar feeling to cigarettes. It is argued that, due to the lack of combustion, nicotine pouches are cleaner than cigarettes. There is, however, no studies that conclusively prove nicotine pouches to be harmful, or un-harmful. The questions posed by the general public on pouches' safety are unfortunately still unanswered; instead, there are educated hypotheses by doctors, not firm evidence.

Benefits over Traditional Smoking of Cigarettes

 

There is no comparison in safety between nicotine pouches and traditional cigarettes. The world and its dog know that cigarettes kill. Fortunately, this generation of young people has adopted a healthier approach to life, and cigarette sales continue to decline globally.

 

Nicotine pouches are somewhat of an unknown quantity. With little to no evidence that pouches are harmful, the meteoric rise is supported by many on social media as an alternative to smoking. Social media has played a significant role in promoting nicotine pouches to a wider audience, and continues to do so. Some platforms take regulative measures to silence online retailers. But, as the audience grows, individuals are creating content that includes nicotine pouches on a day-to-day basis. As such, the promotion of nicotine pouches is no longer direct from retail stores or brands, but rather through general interest and lifestyle channels. As such, it is professional athletes using snus or nicotine pouches, who have been the subject of scrutiny in this growing market.

 

Perhaps it is athletes who benefit most from the use of nicotine pouches. Being able to consume the relaxing substance of nicotine without the cardiovascular effects of traditional smoking is positive. The media scrutiny due to the correlations with nicotine pouches and substance regulations is painfully negative, however. For the majority of us, an alternative to smoking is a welcome proposition, especially those of us who have previously smoked.

 

The Rise of Nicotine Pouches, Like Zyn

Different markets accelerate different products into the hemisphere of commercial value. Zyn has taken a considerable market share in the US, and Nordic Spirit and VELO are heavily championed in the UK. As independent brands chase the market leaders, typically, the overall quality of pouches is improved.

 

In the early 2010s, the incremental market share of traditional Swedish snus grew. Notably, the professional athlete circuit, especially soccer, played a significant role in growing the market. As players transferred between European and United States teams, the products moved with them. I am not a market researcher, so please take what I say as personal opinion. But, I was in the professional football circuit for many years through the 2010s and saw, firsthand, the rise of nicotine pouches. The transition for many long-time snus enthusiasts was completed within a matter of months. Most snus disperses nicotine effectively, but with an uncomfortable drip that hits the back of the throat. Nicotine pouches distribute nicotine more cleanly and with minimal drip, so many players I knew preferred these pouches. After games, you could find tens of used nicotine pouches on the pitch, stamped into the mud as players spat them during gameplay.

 

 

The Pricing Game of Pouches

As nicotine pouches began their rise to notoriety, the prices were generally cheaper than traditional snus, too. Ordering from websites in Europe incurred longer shipping times, and generally poor customer service. Sometimes you could wait a week for snus, at other times it could be as long as a month. As nicotine pouches were generally cheaper than snus, my peers would order higher volumes, which allowed us to stay sustained for longer periods. As such, retention rates and order frequencies were affected at the retailers. Nicotine pouches had made their move when small businesses realised they could import the products. As snus was banned in most countries, nicotine pouches were yet to be regulated or categorized, and the floodgates opened.

 

Criteria for Choosing the Proper Substitute to Zyn For You

For something that seems pretty straightforward, there is quite a lot that goes into considering a brand of pouches. There are huge differences between brands and products that most would overlook without experience. When a market has only been afforded one brand of nicotine pouches for so long, the information on alternative Zyn needs to be sought. I know my pouches, and have tried every Zyn competitor out there. Some differences are nuanced by nature, while others are glaring. Here is a little guide to help you identify what to look for when considering an alternative to Zyn.

 

Nicotine Content

Nicotine content is measured in pouches in two formulas: Nicotine content per pouch (mg) and nicotine content per gram (mg/g). Manufacturers and retailers are yet to align with how these formulas are displayed and promoted. The lack of standardized display of nicotine content level in a formula we all understand means consumers can be overwhelmed, or underwhelmed, by the products. In Pablo nicotine pouches, a product promoted as a huge 50mg, the actual nicotine content per pouch is 30mg. The hit from a Pablo is, in fact, sub-optimal against a CUBA Black which is promoted as a 43mg product. The actual mg/g of the Cuba Black Line is 66mg/g, but how the products are promoted, Pablo on paper, looks stronger.

 

Understanding the nicotine strength levels is imperative for consumers to understand what is entering into their system. Information online is so heavily promoted by retail websites that inaccuracies are inevitable, causing many users to not truly understand the strength of some of these product.

Flavour Options

Part of the universal excitement in choosing nicotine pouches is the variety of flavors available. Zyn have reinvested in their products to bring to market an array of different flavors. However, in Europe, there are Zyn products unavailable for sale in the US. So, as more US consumers seek to obtain these products from European retailers, eyes are being opened to the wider brand selections also.

 

Standard mint options are still a crowd favorite in most countries, including the US. Mint flavors typically harbour a faster nicotine hit than most combination flavors. There has been plenty of discussion on social media platforms as to why that is, but is generally seen as part and parcel of mint flavors. 

 

You will find nicotine pouches with the most simple mint flavors, through to the whacky and wild flavor profiles such as Jalapeño. One thing is for sure, if you expand the brands outside of Zyn, there is something for everyone.


 

Pouch Composition & Quality

One of the most overlooked factors contributing to pouch satisfaction is the pouch composition. In brand selection, you will find some brands favor a dry pouch, and some more moist. In my experience, drier pouches take a little longer to hit than the moist (depending on the strength, of course). But, if you took a Pablo Ice Cold and compared it with a Pablo Frosted Mint, despite them being exactly the same strength and brand, the Ice Cold is much stronger. The hit from more moist pouches can be overwhelming at some strength levels. So that is something to consider when selecting your strength and brand.

 

The pouches themselves are made from different papers, and as an experienced user, I can clearly tell the cheaper pouches. Zyn, for example, uses a drier pouch composition. The problem is the grainy feel against the gum, which, on loading, can be uncomfortable in comparison with something like a VELO product.

Brand & Reputation

While many may consider brands that are more well established to potentially offer better products, that is simply not the case. There are hundreds of brands now and tens of manufacturers that have entered a crowded marketplace. Although reputation may be important in some industries, with nicotine pouches I have found word of mouth to be the most accurate source of information. In London, for example, Nordic Spirit have massive advertising campaigns on city buses, buildings, and billboards. Apart from being on the shelves in virtually every major convenience store in the UK, Nordic Spirit have the worst reputation among enthusiasts.

 

Price, Value & Availability

Price should always be a factor in any purchasing decision, unless you are wildly rich, and stupid. The cost of nicotine pouches, for frequent users, can rack up pretty quickly. Prices in Europe and the US are pretty similar, even with the conversion of currency. The value proposition in the brands, however, can differ greatly. In previous years, it was typical that the higher the nicotine content, the higher the price. That has changed somewhat, especially in Europe, where prices are more stable across products as brands compete for audience and sales.

 

Availability in products is especially important, in particular in the US. The infamous “Zyn Shortage” that plagued the US in 2024 has caused a raising of eyebrows for many European brands. As such, the availability of huge European brands such as Pablo, Cuba, Supreme and Iceberg has stretched across the pond. Now, US consumers can enjoy some of the best, and strongest nicotine pouches from Europe with a seamless 2/3 day delivery time.


 

Zyn Competitors Under The Microscope

It is one thing to compare a brand to another brand; it is another to get granular with the different products. It seems only fair that products should be compared against other products, as even within a single brand, there are differences. According to my buying guide, some differences can significantly impact a user's experience. As someone who has used nicotine pouches for so many years, I have become familiar with nuanced differences that can make or break your experience. Zyn has a huge range of flavours globally, which makes it difficult for those in the US to obtain certain flavours. To me, it seems counterintuitive to release flavours in the East that are not available in the West. Therein lies the source code to the infamous Exotic Zyn myth, where US citizens search for Zyn from around the world unavailable in the US.

Zyn Black Cherry 6.5mg vs VELO Cherry Ice 10mg

The Black Cherry Zyn has notoriously done pretty well in the Western markets for Zyn. Black cherries make you think of a deep, ripened flavour, with rich presentations in taste. For me, the Black Cherry Zyn is anything but rich in taste. The nuanced flavour is only tasted at the back of the throat, through the minimal drip that occurs from the pouches. I found that you taste more cherry flavour as you take the pouch out than you do throughout the load. Against the VELO Cherry Ice, the Zyn product falls short in two major categories for me: flavour and composition. 

 

VELO has a better presentation of cherry, which I would surmise comes from the infusion of mint (ice) that delivers a fresher taste to the mouth. Zyn opts for different style pouches in terms of composition depending on flavour - why is beyond me. The Black Cherry opts for slimline, thin pouches that are grainy to the touch. VELO opts for its standard fluffy pouch that sits more comfortably on the gum.

 

Winner

VELO Cherry Ice 10mg

Buy Black Cherry

Buy Cherry Ice

Zyn Cool Blueberry 11mg vs Killa Blueberry 13mg 

Zyn Cool Blueberry is a nice addition to the Zyn lineup. At 11mg, the strength is in alignment with the strength expectations in Europe, where light pouches typically are viewed to be around the 10mg to 15mg mark. In the US, 11mg is on the higher end of the strength scale. Most Zyn products' nicotine release is gradual, as opposed to being sharp or aggressive. The Cool Blueberry tempers the 11mg of nicotine strength with a fluffier pouch than the usual, and what seems like a thicker paper around the ingredients. The flavour is a little more pronounced than that of the Black Cherry, and many more of the fruit flavours. I would go as far as to say that this is one of the best fruit flavours in the Zyn lineup.

 

Killa Blueberry comes in at 13mg, although compared to the Zyn Cool Blueberry, the hit is significantly less noticeable. Killa fans would probably be upset with me talking about the strength of a Killa product, but, for me, this is one product that NGP Empire (the manufacturers) has got wrong. The strength is all but silenced by the overbearing and inaccurate flavour of Blueberry. Zyn has gone a lot further in recreating a life-like representation of the popular fruit. The flavour is a confusing mess; sometimes you can taste blueberry to some extent, but for the most part, it tastes artificial and inaccurate.

 

Winner

Zyn Cool Blueberry

Buy Cool Blueberry

Buy Killa Blueberry

Zyn Icy Blackcurrant 14mg vs CUBA White Blackcurrant 16mg 

Zyn Icy Blackcurrant, for me, is one of the best nicotine pouches from Zyn so far. The blackcurrant flavour is pronounced, well-balanced, and lasts throughout the load. Blackcurrant is one of the flavours that most nicotine pouch brands have experimented with, with varying degrees of success. Zyn has infused the blackcurrant with a sharp mint that offers freshness to the taste, tempering the fruit flavour well. At 14mg, this is one of the only Zyn pouches that I found offered a kick that was accurate to the strength level, at least to what I would expect. I have to admit that I was surprised by the Icy Blackcurrant as the pouches are not of smooth composition but do reflect more the fluffier style of nicotine pouch, which is normal in Europe. I would say that the composition of the Icy Blackcurrant is somewhere between the Black Cherry and Cool Blueberry. The combination of both compositions, in my opinion, is a wise move that makes for a comfortable and tasteful nicotine pouch.

 

CUBA White Blackcurrant comes in at 16mg. Anyone who knows the CUBA brand will know that the accuracy of strength in the pouches is second to none. The 16mg hits faster and harder than any pouches at this strength level. So, although the strength of the nicotine is around the mid-strength mark, the first few minutes will seem a little rougher on the system than other pouches. Some like that feeling, some don't. I feel that with the CUBA White Line flavours, some flavour inaccuracies are apparent that do not exist in the Black Line. Blackcurrant is one of them. The flavour is somewhat subdued and tastes strained. It is almost as if the flavour is there, but it never quite comes through. It is a bit of a shame as the CUBA White Line is a fantastic line of nicotine pouches but, in this flavour, there are better representations.

 

 

Winner

Icy Blackcurrant Zyn

Buy Icy Blackcurrant

Buy White Blackcurrant

Zyn Deep Freeze 11mg vs Pablo Gold Frosted Ice 17mg 

Zyn Deep Freeze is one of my favourite Zyn pouches. The slimline pouches are comfortable in composition, as Zyn opted for my preferred, fluffy pouch. There is something about the way the fluffier pouches sit in the gum; they are so much more comfortable than the likes of the Black Cherry, with the grainy, thin pouches. I think the nicotine takes a little longer to hit, even with the mint flavour, which usually has a faster nicotine uptake time than the fruit flavours. But the mint is smooth and tasty, with a decent nicotine kick after a couple of minutes. 

 

The Pablo Gold Edition was a surprise addition to the Pablo lineup in 2025. If I were reading between the lines, I would say that NGP Empire, Pablo manufacturers, realised they were missing a slice of the market. Pablo products, until the Gold Edition, were available only in 50mg. The Gold Edition bridged the gap between Pablo and lower-strength users. The initial flurry of sales came in, but the growth of the Gold Edition has not seen the hockey stick uptick we expected. At the lower strengths, there is a lot of competition, and Pablo has hardly cleaned up with the release. However, the Frosted Ice flavour is among the best mint flavours at this strength level. The 17mg hits more like a 10mg to 12mg, which is why I have compared it with the Zyn Deep Freeze. The flavour is incredible though, and lasts and lasts throughout any load time I have tried. What it loses in strength accuracy, it gains in flavour.

 

 

Winner

Draw

Buy Deep Freeze

Buy Frosted Ice

Sourcing Zyn Alternatives for Long Term Enjoyment

The Chinese have made plenty of counterfeit nicotine pouch products in the past 24 months. Zyn is one of the brands that is often copied poorly out of China. You should check the cans before you purchase, especially when buying snus online or shopping at small convenience stores. The United States is a huge market for nicotine pouches that continues to grow in both domestic brands and importation of European brands. With so many products to choose from, it can be a minefield choosing something that suits you. Zyn is under pressure from British American Tobacco products VELO in the US. FDA approval was one step to solidifying market share in the US, but the pouch market has so many options. Whether you are into fruity flavours, minty flavours, light pouches, or insane strengths, there is something available for you.

 

I have my personal preferences, but I enjoy trying new pouches. I would always recommend trying a range of different products and ordering a sample of different pouches from Zyn when you order. You will find that there is definitely something out there that will resonate better with your palate and your tolerance for strength. 

 

Until next time guys!