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11 long distance sex toys to level-up your LDR, according to our team of sex writers
Trust us, you need these toys for your next FaceTime sex sesh...

Long distance relationships can be more than a little tricky. Whether it’s different time zones, awkward FaceTime dates (which trigger serious lockdown dating flashbacks) or the weight of perennially yearning for your SO, there are so many hurdles to navigating an LDR.
Not to freak you out buuuut (!) a survey of 1200 people in the US and Europe by Superdrug Online Doctor revealed that while 91% of respondents had attempted a long-distance relationship, around half of those ended in a breakup.
The good news? Turns out that a naughty FaceTime or two may well be the key to a successful LDR. The couples who enjoyed a touch of ~ phone sex ~ were more likely to stay together. But long-distance sex doesn’t begin and end with phone sex — far from it.
In fact, there are a whole load of tech-y sex toys, often controlled via apps, which mean that virtual sex sessions don't have to be restricted to sexting — they can even include remote-controlled orgasms, programmed by your partner even if they're not in the room!
And while app-controlled toys are a great way to make it feel like you and your partner are getting freaky in the sheets together once more, more regular toys can also be a lot of fun... Using a vibe while video calling your boyf/girlf/themf can be a great way to take things to the next level.
Must-have long-distance sex toys to shop now
How to choose the right long-distance sex toy for you
As Dr Melissa Cook, a sex therapist at FunWithFeet explains, finding the right toy is crucial. “There are many designed for long-distance play, including app-controlled devices,” she says.
The benefits of app-controlled toys
A range of toys can be used for long-distance play but — take our word for it — those controlled by an app should be high up on your list. “App-controlled toys are great for adding an element of surprise and variety to long-distance relationships,” Cook explains.
“With these toys, one partner controls the other’s toy remotely, resulting in a daring and playful experience packed with anticipation,” she adds.
Using other toys
There are loooots of benefits to app-controlled toys but often they do have one negative: they can be a biiiit spenny. So, if these tech-charged vibes are out of your price range, don't fret — you can enjoy simpler toys too, you just need to know how to use them. (The old adage 'it's not what you've got, it's how you use it' still rings true.)
“One of the biggest benefits of incorporating sex toys into long-distance relationships is that it helps to maintain intimacy, however far away you are from each other,” says Cook.
You might want to use your fave rabbit while on a FaceTime call with your partner, or let them know that you're playing with a G-spot toy while you're texting them. “When an experience with a sex toy is shared via video call, for example, it helps partners to feel more connected and closer while reducing feelings of loneliness,” Cook explains.
How we test the best long-distance sex toys
With a team of sex toy aficionados at our disposal, we tapped three testers — sex writers who all have vulvas but identify across a spectrum of sexuality, gender identity and age.
Being sure to start by reading the instructions in full, examining the toy, its box and any included extras (if they exist), we sent off our testers with some water-based lube and let them get down to business.
While climaxing isn't the be-all and end-all of sex, our volunteers aimed for an orgasm, testing every pattern and feature en route and roping in willing partners and FWBs in the process.
Best long-distance sex toys at a glance
- Best luxury toy: LELO TOR 3 Vibrating Cock Ring,
£139£104.25 - Best app-controlled toy: We-Vibe Jive 2 App Controlled Rechargeable Love Egg Vibrator, £119.99
- Best rabbit vibrator: We-Vibe X Lovehoney Nova 2 App Controlled Rechargeable Rabbit Vibrator,
£119.99£74.99 - Best sex machine: The Cowgirl Cone App Controlled Ride On Sex Machine, £274.99
The 11 best long-distance sex toys in 2024
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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