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BackgroundElectronic cigarettes (ECs) and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are non-combustible nicotine delivery devices being widely used as a partial or a complete long-term substitute for smoking. Little is known about the characteristics of long-term users, their smoking behaviour, attachment to smoking, experience of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, or their views on these devices. This study aimed to provide preliminary evidence on this and compare users of the different products.MethodsUK participants were recruited from four naturally occurring groups of long-term (≥6 months) users of either EC or NRT who had stopped or continued to smoke (N=36 per group, total N=144). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and smoking characteristics, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, smoker identity and attitudes towards the products they were using.ResultsAdjusting for relevant confounders, EC use was associated with a stronger smoker identity (Wald X2(1)=3.9, p=0.048) and greater product endorsement (Wald X2(1)=4.6, p=0.024) than NRT use, irrespective of smoking status. Among ex-smokers, EC users reported less severe mood and physical symptoms (Wald X2(1)=6.1, p=0.014) and cravings (Wald X2(1)=8.5, p=0.003), higher perceived helpfulness of the product (Wald X2(1)=4.8, p=0.028) and lower intentions to stop using the product (Wald X2(1)=17.6, p