Smoking methods
Smoking methods compared: cigarette, cigar, shisha, vape & IQOS
Updated 10/8/2026
Not every smoke break is the same. Types differ in how they work and how long they last – yet most contain nicotine and are addictive.
Cigarettes & roll-ups
Tobacco is burned. A cigarette usually takes just a few minutes – which is why many short breaks add up over a day.
Cigars & cigarillos
Cigars are smoked slowly and can last an hour or more. Cigarillos are in between. Here minutes say more than counts.
Pipe & shisha
Long sessions are common with pipes and shisha, often in company. Shisha tobacco is heated rather than burned directly.
Vape, disposable vape & IQOS
E-cigarettes vaporise a liquid; IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it. Nothing is lit – which is why Smoke with me says “Take a puff”. These products usually contain nicotine too.
What they all share
Nicotine can be addictive in any form. If you want to cut down, the app's settings link to addiction support services.