What health agencies say
- NHS (England) — says vaping is less harmful than smoking and that nicotine vapes can help people quit, but stresses you only get the full benefit if you stop smoking completely.
- WHO — says e-cigarettes as consumer products have not been shown to help quitting at the population level and that their emissions contain nicotine and other toxic substances.
- Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (2018) — tested heated tobacco sold in Korea, found nicotine levels similar to cigarettes and carcinogens, and said it was hard to call them less harmful than cigarettes.
The agencies differ, but they agree on one thing: if you still use nicotine, you have not quit nicotine. Whether to use a vape as a quitting aid is a decision to make with a stop smoking service or doctor, not alone.
Three tracking rules
| Your goal | Tick a day when | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Quit nicotine entirely | No cigarettes, heated tobacco or vape | Strictest, most accurate |
| Quit cigarettes first | No cigarettes | Note vape use in the memo |
| Using both (dual use) | Don’t tick | Cutting down is not stopping |
What matters is choosing one rule at the start and sticking to it. A rule that shifts day to day makes the streak meaningless.
Applying your rule in the app
Pin your rule in a memo
On day one, write “Rule: zero nicotine” or “Rule: zero cigarettes” in the memo. You can find that day again in the History tab.
Broke your rule? Tap “I smoked today”
On a day that breaks your rule, don’t cut the cigarette; tap “I smoked today”. The streak restarts, but earlier smoke-free days stay in your stats.
Be honest about money
If your rule is “cigarettes only”, the money-saved figure is inflated because you are still paying for vapes. See how to calculate money saved.
The app’s screenshots show sample amounts in Korean won (4,500 per pack is the app default), and the Settings sheet title is shown in Korean in the current English version. Enter your own local pack price; the calculation works the same in any currency.
FAQ
Can a stop smoking service help me quit vaping too?
Many services support people who vape. Ask your local service or quitline what they offer.
What about nicotine-free e-liquid?
This guide doesn’t judge it. Decide whether it is in or out of your rule, and talk to a professional about health questions.
Sources: NHS Better Health, Vaping to quit smoking · WHO, Tobacco: E-cigarettes
Quit Smoking Tracker
No sign-up, works offline, and your records stay on your phone. Free on Android, in English and Korean.