These are the 19 vibrators you need for every kind of orgasm

Sex toys are portals into completely unchartered territories of pleasure and if you haven’t tried one yet, we’re going to need you to correct that pronto. Even if you have tried one, or several, allow us to remind you that there is a whole world of wanking out there for you to explore — so don’t settle for just one type of toy.

Perhaps the most widespread sex toy out there is the vibrator. Big, small, gentle, powerful, jack-hammer loud, and whisper quiet: these masturbation motors come in a smorgasbord of colours, sizes, and varieties — and there’s (at least) one out there for everyone.

Yup, that’s right, although vibrators have until this point been mostly embraced by people with clits (and thank god, we needed something to make us come…) there are options out there for everyone, no matter your body type, or where you fall on the gender and sexuality spectrums.

So strap in (ahem), because we’re about to tell you everything you need to know about vibrators, including some tips on how to use them, like, insanely well.

What are the benefits of using vibrators?

This is not a safe space to knock manual masturbation — repeat: fingers are still magical tools for stimulating pretty much any part of your body. But just because our digits are nature’s gift, it doesn’t mean we need to stick with them.

You won’t catch us cooking with fire just because it’s more ‘natural’ (unless we’re after a scrumptious wood-fired pizza, or whatever). Here is where we ask you to throw out all assumptions that one kind of masturbation is better than another, because vibrators can do something no human being can do (that is, pulse, thrust, rotate, buzz, suck, and thump in completely different ways).

1. New sensations

“Sex toys can deliver sensations you just can’t recreate with fingers,” explains Samantha Marshall, in-house sex director and head of brand at Smile Makers Collection. “Whether it’s a suction or tongue-like vibrator that mimics oral sex, or simply something that saves your wrist during longer sessions, vibrators can help you reach intensity levels that would otherwise be hard to access.”

2. Sexual discovery

Not to mention using a vibrator during solo play can help you figure out what kind of stimulation you like, and where — on your own terms. Because it can sometimes be difficult to do that in the heat of the moment with a partner present.

“It’s not just about penetration or even just the genitals; solo play can be a chance to discover overlooked erogenous zones, including areas like the anus, which are often only explored with a partner,” Marshall continues.

3. Confidence

“Beyond physical sensation, vibrators can really support confidence,” says Marshall. “Solo sex gives you space to explore your pleasure on your own terms, helping you understand your desires and communicate them more clearly in partnered sex. This is especially important when it comes to clitoral stimulation, which is essential for orgasm for most people with vulvas.”

In case the whole indulging in feeling good in your body sitch isn’t enough to convince you of the miracles of vibrators, masturbating also comes with tons of health benefits like improved sleep, stress, and mood. (But being so for real, you’ll never catch us masturbating *just* to boost our immune system.)

Types of vibrators

Let’s take a moment to be thankful that we live in an era where the magic wand is not the only variety of vibrator on the market (love you, magic wand, but you’re not for everyone). While sex toys have been around since essentially the dawn of time (we’re talking rock dildos, à la our ancestors), vibrators are still a pretty new addition to our romping rituals.

But there’s no shortage of innovation in the sex tech space, so there is a vibrator out there for everyone. “Vibrators come in every shape and size imaginable, and there are endless ways to use them on different erogenous zones all over the body,” says Marshall.

“Some are made for internal pleasure, targeting areas like the G-spot. Others are for external play, focusing on the clitoris or other outer-body erogenous zones. Then there are dual vibrators that combine both, or toys that bring completely different sensations, such as suction or plugs.”

While we can by no means categorise all the wonderfully whacky toys out there on the market, the main kinds of vibrators are:

• Clit vibrators
• Magic wand vibrators
• Rabbit vibrators
• G-spot vibrators
• Thrusting vibrators
• Vibrating cock rings
• Vibrating butt plugs
• Prostate massagers and penis vibrators
• Panty vibrators

What to consider when shopping for a vibrator

Considering there are so many vibrator options out there (Lovehoney alone has over 600), it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To help you find your next buzzy bestie, we’ve rounded up some tips of what to consider while shopping.

1. Stimulation

“While recommendations can be helpful, rather than going straight for the bestseller or the vibrator your friend swears by, it’s worth considering whether that type of stimulation will actually work for you,” says Marshall. “Pleasure is such a personal experience, and what works for someone else might not be your perfect match.”

“If you are not sure where to start, a vibrator quiz can be a great way to pause and think about what you really want. Many of us were never taught to think about our pleasure in sex ed, so prompts like, ‘Do you already masturbate?’ or, ‘How do you like to be touched?’ can help you narrow down your preferences in terms of shape, size, and sensation.”

2. Materials

We hope we don’t have to tell you this twice, but anything that goes near your genitals should only be the highest quality. In case you didn’t already know, the sex toy market in the UK is entirely unregulated, so while we’re all for bargain hunting to make sure you get the best bang for your buck (literally) from your vibrators, we would steer you away from buying dupes on sites like Temu and Shein.

Instead, make sure you’re buying your vibes from reputable sex toy retailers (like Lovehoney, Ann Summers, and Bondara) that are transparent about their materials sourcing and manufacturing processes. Look for vibrators made from silicone or ABS plastic, ideally, as these are body-safe and non-porous, so easy to clean.

“Soft silicone that is phthalate free is comfortable and hygienic,” notes Marshall. “If cruelty free matters to you, look for food-grade silicone rather than medical-grade, as it is just as safe but not tested on animals.”

Other options include jelly, PVC, or soft plastic — although these might be harder to clean, and accumulate bacteria over time.

3. Features

Now for the most fun part of buying a sex toy — the features. This is where you get to decide whether you want a vibrator that’s more simple, or as high tech as they come.

“Like the Goldilocks rule, not too few and not too many vibration modes tends to be best for beginners, as it gives you enough choice to find the sensation you like without feeling overwhelmed or endlessly clicking through modes,” says Marshall.

But if you’re a more advanced vibrator lover, you might want to opt for a toy with multiple stimulation types (i.e. suction and vibration, or thrusting and vibration), as well as plenty of modes, and even app controllability for added fun.

“Other useful considerations include super silent operation, waterproof design for easy cleaning and bath-time fun,” adds Marshall. “Rechargeable toys are also worth prioritising for convenience.”

4. It’s meant to be fun!

Despite everything we’ve just said, don’t overthink it! Sex toys are meant to bring you pleasure — so go with one that gets your attention. “Choose a vibrator that feels like an invitation to explore,” says Marshall.

“The right toy will spark curiosity and encourage you to try new pleasure sensations. Bonus points if it comes with a user-friendly guide that includes anatomical diagrams and the correct language, as understanding your body is one of the most powerful ways to enhance your experience.”

How we tested the best vibrators