Nicotine salts are engineered to be smooth at high strengths. That means you can vape 20mg or even higher without choking. The nicotine hits your system faster than freebase, which is why they're popular for satisfying cravings quickly. If you're coming off smoking, this is often the more comfortable bridge.

Freebase, on the other hand, is the traditional nicotine used in most e-liquids. At lower strengths (3mg, 6mg), it gives a noticeable throat hit that many vapers find satisfying. At higher strengths, it gets harsh, so you rarely see freebase above 18mg. The delivery is a bit slower, but for many, the ritual of a gradual buzz is part of the appeal.

For flavor, salts tend to mute subtler notes slightly because of the benzoic acid used to smooth the nicotine. Freebase allows for more precise flavor profiles, especially at higher wattages. If you're a flavor chaser with a sub-ohm tank, freebase is usually the better route.