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The best sex machines for every budget
Sex machines might seem intimidating but they can be a whole lot of fun

We know a thing or two about sex toys at Cosmo HQ, but even we can admit that sex machines are a little more on the ~ambitious~ side. With powerful thrusting mechanisms capable of being operated hands-free, they give a truly next-level experience.
So, if you’ve been looking to indulge in some of your kinkier sex fantasies, sex machines could well be a great investment. And, seeing as the dating vibes are so off right now, could it really be such a bad idea to outsource your pleasure to a high-tech mechanical lover?
If your interest is piqued, here’s what you need to know about sex machines, plus our pick of the best ones out there...
Best sex machines at a glance
What is a sex machine?
First up, let’s get one thing clear: if you’re looking for discreet sex toys, look elsewhere! Sex machines aimed at women and people with vulvas are hulking great pieces of kit and for good reason: they’ve got lots of power, and they aren’t quiet. Also known as ‘fuck machines’ (pardon our French), they usually work like a turbo-charged thrusting vibrator in that they are designed to give serious hands-free sex sensations, mostly penetratively.
They work by attaching different dildo or suction attachments to a mechanical device that simulates partnered sex via hydraulic thrusts and motor-powered vibrations. But not all sex machines need to penetrate. Some of the saddle-style gadgets like the famous Motorbunny come with plenty of attachments, like grinding mats and clitoral stimulators for external-only kicks.
And there are lots of different shapes and styles of sex machine too. Some are designed like a chair or saddle that you can sit on or straddle, and others blow up like an inflatable bed so that you can lie back and let the machine do its thing — these are also great if limited space or discretion is an issue for you; simply deflate and store.
Types of sex machine:
Ride-on
As the name suggests, these are the types of sex machine you straddle like a horse, explains psychotherapist and sexologist Ness Cooper. These come in the form of plug-in and non plug-in toys.
“Some ride-on sex machines are plug-in, allowing for the rider to experience vibration intensities similar to construction machinery (fun fact: some ride-on sex machine motors were originally based on the motors used in construction and building equipment” Cooper tells Cosmo.
Unsurprisingly, these intense vibrations can make for a wild ride for your partner if you’re stimulating them at the same time as straddling the toy, Cooper says, or they’ll get a thrill from watching you grind your way to orgasm.
Hand held
Not all sex machines require you to develop a saddle sore, though. “Magic wand vibrators can come into the sex machine realm, due to how intense the vibrations are,” Cooper says — and the same goes for any hand-held thrusting vibrator that simulates penetrative sex.
Thrusting
But, if you’re not down with having to hold your penetration tool in place while you get off, there are also hands-free thrusting sex machines. “Often thrusting sex machines will have limited vibration options,” Cooper explains. “However, they can be great for those who wish to explore different types of penetration, either solo or partnered. Thrusting sex machines can be great for couples to role play threesomes and double penetration.”
Why use a sex machine?
So why bring a sex machine into your bedroom? Well, first there’s the obvious: if you’re a big fan of internal stimulation and penetration, it’s a great addition for solo sex. Then, thanks to its more intimidating appearance, it can become a fun and kinky element to some BDSM and role-play scenarios.
“Sex machines can be a great way to explore multiple partnered sex in the form of role playing,” explains Cooper. “There are specific fantasies which involve sex machines, meaning that some people are able to feel an increase in libido and sexual possibilities due to being able to access their sexual fantasy.”
“There is a fetishism side to sex machines for some, and this can also include BDSM relationship dynamics during sexual play.”
If BDSM isn’t your cup of tea, sex machines also open up a whole new world of low energy sexploration, Cooper adds. “They can also help reduce fatigue, as many are hands-free,” she says. “Some find it liberating to use a sex machine due to the ability to explore different sex positions during solo play.”
How do I find the right sex machine?
Fuck machines have an array of options that allow you to be fully in control of your pleasure, including pressure, speeds, positions, and thrusting styles. However, these machines aren’t the most affordable of sex toys and the models currently on the market can be a bit hit or miss, depending on your preference for sensation, so you should make sure you take the time to find the right one for you.
We advise swotting up on the functionalities that each machine has to offer (ask yourself: Does it have enough speeds? Does the dildo attachment look like something I would buy as a standalone toy?), and consider whether the toy will be able to offer the angles or flexibility that you might be looking for. Would you rather sit or lie down when using a sex machine, or would you prefer a smaller, more versatile version that you can position any which way?
Finally, you want to avoid landing yourself with a faulty, unsafe machine: safety first, people! “Be careful when purchasing a sex machine from another country as the power consumption may not match your plug sock and this can lead to fuses blowing or even short circuiting your household electricity,” Cooper notes. “There may also be large importation fees.”
We recommend buying from a trusted retailer: sites like Bondara and Lovehoney have great options and list reviews from real people so you can read what the sex machine experience is actually like in real life.
Best sex machines to shop in 2025
We’ve scoured the web to bring you a curated list of the best sex machines to start you off, across a range of budgets and styles. Some are on the pricier side, so we’ve even taken the liberty of arranging them by price (low to high) — just for you!
Honey is the Senior Sex and Relationships E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health and Men’s Health. She covers shopping guides and reviews of the best sex toys; deals events — including Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday; and sex, dating, and LGBTQ+ trends.
Her journalism career started in 2020 when she started Sextras, a podcast and digital magazine about sex and relationships. Find Sextras on Spotify or Substack, where she writes and chats about everything from positive masculinity and how to practise sex magic, to why the latest kink or porn category is blowing up.
She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London, and previously reported for HR magazine. Her features also appear in Glamour, Refinery29, The Independent, and more.
When she's not asking everyone she meets invasive questions about their sex and dating lives, you'll find Honey singing around her flat, teaching herself a new craft, or working her way through a new '90s/'00s box set with her flatmate.
Lois Shearing is Cosmoplitan's Former Senior Sex and Relationship Writer. They have been writing about sex, sexuality, gender, politics, and relationships for almost ten years. Their writing on these topics has appeared in Mashable, The Independent, Metro, The Advocate, and Byline Times, among others. In 2021, they published their first book, Bi the Way with JKP. They are currently working on two other books, set to be published in 2024. In a previous life, they worked as a content marketer and content writer for various tech start-ups. They continue to be interested in the tech sector and its impact on our lives, relationships, and work, with particular regard to the ways AI will shape our relationships in the future. Outside of work, they are deeply passionate about queer community organising, and run the only support resource for bisexual survivors of sexual violence in the UK: the Bi Survivors Network. You can find them on Instagram and X.
Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK’s Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.

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