Sex toys are the kind of thing you may not think you need until you have them. And once you do, you don’t know how you ever lived without one (or two or three). So if you find yourself in the market, we’re here to guide you toward the best of the best — including not-so-obvious vibrators, more-obvious dildos, and toys for couples to use together even when they’re miles apart. We’ve organized this list of Strategist-approved sex toys into three price tiers to help you find something great, whether you’re buying your very first vibrator or looking to invest in something worthy of adding to your extensive collection. And if you’re searching for the best lube to go with your new toy, we have a list for that too.
Best sex toys under $50
Though initially thrown by the cone-shaped design of this vibrator that doesn’t look like a vibrator at all, Strategist testers loved the Vibe for its surprising efficiency and ease of use with a partner. It’s a no-frills, high-powered (a.k.a. very buzzy) device that’s fairly unisex in color and form, and it comes in pretty packaging. It’s also subtle enough that you could leave it on your nightstand.
Another simple yet powerful option is this Sportsheets mini vibrator, which happens to be one of the things musician Phoebe Bridgers can’t live without. “It’s a non-intimidating choice, whether you’re a beginner or not — I’m not,” she says. “I’ve tried others that are bigger and more exciting-looking, but then I try to shove one into my bag and it turns on at weird times.”
If you’re looking for a sneaky (and cute) little bullet vibrator that doesn’t look like a vibrator at all, this lipstick-shaped toy from Tenga is your best bet. We heard about it from Davia Frost, a sex expert and intimacy coach, who is a big fan of all Tenga toys, especially this one. The tip is made of body-safe silicone with a small divot to cup your clitoris or nipple. To increase the intensity of the vibration simply turn the dial at the bottom.
For something with a more traditional shape, try the Dip, Dame’s latest launch. The Dip is supersoft and simple to use, with just one button to turn it on and cycle through the five intensity levels. “I really loved the ergonomic design: The vibe felt good in my hand and was easy to handle,” says one of our testers, who notes that she found it was best used externally or for shallow G-spot penetration. “While the lower settings weren’t quite strong enough for me — I had to use the upper two settings the entire time — I think this is a good beginner option for first-time buyers,” she adds.
Suction toys use pulses of air and pressure waves rather than traditional vibrations on the clitoris. There are many of them on the market, but the prices are usually around a hundred dollars or more. Since the sensation isn’t for everyone (some women find it too intense), it makes sense to start out with an affordable option in case you don’t love how it feels. This one is cheaper than most but still has a reputation of being very enticing. Jacq Jones, sex educator and owner of Baltimore’s Sugar shop says “One of my co-workers had to make rules for herself on how often she could use the Satisfyer.”
You might not guess from its appearance but this cute little egg is actually a wildly popular beginner-level penis stroker. Bard recommends it to customers because it’s “incredibly discreet, super-cute, and a really good gift.” Each Egg is ribbed inside, and although they’re designed to be single-use, Bard says that if you regularly wash an Egg with soap and water, you can extend its lifespan.
Recommended in our roundup of best butt plugs, the Teazer is one of the top picks for beginners. According to Archie Bongiovanni, a sexual-health educator and events coordinator at the Minneapolis store Smitten Kitten, the slim silicone plug, which features seven optional vibration speeds, is ideal for those who are “brand new to anal play and want to play in insertion but not girth,” they say.
In our search for the best sex toys for men, we spoke with experts who suggested this stroker, created in collaboration with adult-film star, producer, and trans advocate Buck Angel, that was specifically tailored for trans men. The strategic design gives an effect more similar to stroking as opposed to a more clitoral-focused toy.
Vibrating rings are like two toys in one, benefiting both the wearer and the partner. The experts we surveyed about sex toys for men say this option is great for beginners because it’s affordable and enjoyable whether it’s used solo or during intercourse.
Best sex toys under $150
When we spoke to experts about the best vibrators, this was deemed the “gold standard” of bullet vibrators, according to sex-toy reviewer Betty Butch. “Unlike a lot of bullets, the Tango’s vibrations aren’t buzzy — they’re strong and thump-y,” she says.
The Magic Wand has been a categorical favorite since it was first marketed as a muscle massager back in 1968. It’s “the Cadillac of vibrators,” according to Archie Bongiovanni, sexual-health educator and events coordinator at the Minneapolis store Smitten Kitten. The Magic Wand has a well-deserved reputation for getting the job done, and the power of its deep, rumbling vibrations is unmatched.
When we asked women to test a handful of design-focused vibrators, one of them described the Gigi 2 as “the yacht rock of vibrators.” (Which is to say, it’s got many fans.) With a flat tip and a curved shaft, this vibrator is designed to maximize contact with the G-spot, but it could easily be used for external stimulation, as well. As another tester noted, “It’s very friendly — I could also imagine using it on a dude who likes butt stuff.”
This high-design vibrator from Dame was a favorite among testers with more sensitive bodies. They describe the Fin as soft — “like expensive silk” — with a relatively low-powered motor, and the loop-y design means this vibrator is easy to tether to your hand during solo or couple play.
Frost recommends this wearable vibrator for couples and anyone who enjoys strictly clitoral stimulation. She calls it “the best ‘panty vibe’ on the market,” thanks to its strong magnetic clip. The vibrator can be inserted into your underwear or underneath a pillowcase and is held in place by a detachable magnet that attaches to the outside. “It’s a really strong magnet so if you’re into humping and stuff like that, you can connect it to something,” Frost says. And because it connects to the We-Vibe app via Wi-Fi, your partner can adjust the vibration settings from across the room — or across the world — directly from their phone.
While this Aneros toy might seem antiquated when compared to some of the more high-tech, silicone-clad prostate toys on the market, Andy Duran, educational outreach coordinator at sex-toy retailer Good Vibrations, told us it “just links up perfectly, anatomically, to press the prostate.” Kit Richardson, buyer for The Museum of Sex and the MoSex Shop, is another fan, saying, “Whenever anyone’s looking for a beginner anal toy and they have a prostate, I gear them toward Aneros.”
When we tested this highly covetable Goop vibrator, our tester was “pleasantly surprised to find that this vibe actually delivered a deep, full orgasm — and on several occasions more than one.” Plus, design-wise, it’s a “stunner” compared to other wand vibrators, and it has the “silkiest-feeling silicone.”
The weight and curve of this versatile dildo from Njoy make it ideal for G-spot stimulation, while the flared base allows easy access for anal stimulation. It can also be heated up or cooled down, thanks to the stainless-steel construction. (If you’re looking for something made of silicone or glass, instead of metal, we also found a bunch of other non-vibrating sex toys that you can enjoy.)
The brand nJoy is perhaps most famous for its stainless-steel Pure Wand above, but the brand also makes a great anal plug. The teardrop shape makes it easy to insert and, like its big sister, provides a lovely weighted sensation once inside.
For a high-tech ring, Je Joue is a favorite for its rumbly, powerful vibrations and stretchy, fits-most design. This ring, in particular, is incredibly versatile: While the wearer gets the benefits of blood-flow restriction, your partner will feel that vibration on their body during intercourse. And if you wind up not loving the stimulation from the vibrations, you still can use the toy as a vibe or ring on its own.
Of all the non-vibrating sex toys that were recommended to us, the Shilo is one of the most realistic-looking. They also come in a range of skin tones, are made from posable, latex-free silicone, and, as you can see, it’s very anatomically correct.
Several experts we’ve spoken with praise the We-Vibe as the ultimate couples sex toy. It’s multifunctional, since it bends to fit the wearer’s shape, and easy to use. (It’s even easier if you pair it with the accompanying app so that you or your partner can easily adjust the settings without fiddling around with tiny buttons.) Plus, according to Emmy Williams, manager of Narcisse NYC, “the fit of the toy and the vibration patterns can be customized for your preferences to a near limitless degree.”
One of the best-designed stroker toys around, the Manta is a great investment if you want to intensify your masturbation routine or sex with a partner. “It’s unlike any other sex toy on the market,” says Lisa Finn, a brand manager and sex educator at Babeland. “The soft, velvety silicone head is contoured to flex around the penis, and is designed with ridges along the inside of the wings that hold lubricant in place for added sensation.”
“This toy is an experience in itself,” says Frost of the Womanizer Premium. Though it’s an external toy, she tells us that the sensations she gets using it are deep. “I really feel that internal stimulation. Like if I close my eyes, it’s almost like I’m feeling this sucking sensation throughout the whole mechanism of the clitoris.” One difference between the original Womanizer and the Premium is that the Premium comes with an extra attachment that makes it more comfortable for those with an extended clitoris. It has 14 different intensity levels that you can manually switch between, or you can set it on autopilot mode and let it alternate in surprising patterns.
Best sex toys under $250
The Lelo Hugo “has two motors and really strong rumbly vibrations,” says Pleasure-based sex educator and kink trainer Lateef Taylor. The two-sided silicone toy is extremely versatile and equally great for those with or without a prostate. “It also pulses and has different patterns, so it’s really versatile,” they say.
If you’re seeking a thrusting toy, Bellesa’s Thrust has a powerful motor and a ring of swirling beads at its base that adds additional stimulation. It also features a rabbit-style clitoral vibrator in addition to the internal arm, with a stingray-shaped attachment that offers plenty of contact around the clit.
If you’re seeking a toy with lots of intensity, Womanizer’s Duo 2 not only delivers the external air-pulse stimulation the brand has perfected but also has a G-spot vibrator you can use to achieve blended orgasms. The toy also features a nifty Afterglow setting: After climax, one short press of the minus button will set the toy back to its lowest setting to ride out the end of your orgasm without getting oversensitized.
If you’re looking for something truly versatile, try the Crescendo from MysteryVibe. It’s extremely adjustable — with 16 different settings to explore — and you can bend it in any number of positions to target any number of spots, including the G-spot, P-spot, perineum, and clitoris.
Whether you’re curious about anal play or experienced, sex educator Dirty Lola suggests giving this trio of textured vibrating anal plugs, designed by Zoë Lingon, a try because they’re “colorful, fun, and each of them create different pleasurable sensations.”
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