Are Vapes Better Than Cigarettes? Vaping vs. Smoking Which is Safer for Your Lungs? Think vaping is the "healthier" option? Think again. Both smoking and vaping come with serious risks to your lung health, To Vape or Not to Vape? St. Thomas Medical Group Toki Let's be real, what's the difference between vaping versus smoking cigarettes? We know that vaping contains no tobacco and far less chemicals than cigarettes but the keyword here is 'less'.