From bullets to rabbits to wand vibrators, our sexual wellbeing expert demystifies what’s available, and rates her top 16 models (she tested 53)
Icould write here about how almost a fifth of women surveyed by Durex said using a sex toy was the most dependable way for them to climax. Or I could point out how Kinsey Institute research suggests regular masturbation can help relieve and prevent symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal atrophy. I could even tell you that studies demonstrate a significant correlation between intimate toy ownership and greater satisfaction – not only with sex but also with life itself.
But the potted version is that orgasms and erotic pleasure are glorious, and top-class toys can help you savour more of both. So here are the best vibrators available. Scroll to the bottom to find out how I selected these vibrators from the 53 I tested for this piece.
Why you should trust me
I’m a multi-award-winning writer, broadcaster and educator with more than two decades of experience specialising in sexual wellbeing and culture. I’ve worked as an expert independent research and development consultant for more than a dozen adult product companies; I’m a board member of the Vagina Museum in London; I’m a campaigner for sexual health and gynaecological charities, including Terrence Higgins Trust and the Eve Appeal; and I helped write many of your favourite characters’ lines about dildos, douching and desire in the hit Netflix series Sex Education. All this means I’m well qualified to assess whether these devices have been crafted decently.
I’m also a freelancer who works from home. I’ll leave it at that.
Types of vibrator
Asking, “What’s the best sex toy?” is a bit like asking, “What’s the best tool?”: a plethora exists, and selecting the most suitable one is influenced by what you want it to do. Here, I’ve examined three popular styles of vibrators.
Bullets
Small, versatile vibrators for external use only. They’re primarily designed for targeted clitoral stimulation but can be used to tickle nipples, glide up the insides of thighs, or take on a tour practically anywhere on the body (except inside the anus – that’s not safe).
Wands
Large vibrators with broad heads, again for external use only. Wands deliver the most powerful vibrations over a wide area – this sector is where you’ll find the most bone-shaking master blasters on the market. Fantastic for people who need intense stimulation, and good for deep body massage, too.
Rabbits
These vibrators have two parts: an insertable shaft, designed to stimulate inside the vaginal canal and excite the G-spot, and an external head that stimulates the clitoris. This “dual stimulation” is intended to provoke a “blended orgasm”: a climax induced by mixing multiple forms of simultaneously delivered sensation.
The best bullet vibrators
Best bullet vibrator overall:
We-Vibe Tango X
The original Tango came out about 15 years ago, and it’s consistently remained so high up in expert rankings that by this stage it might have altitude sickness.
Why we love it
Its Goat status is justified: while many bullets offer “buzzy”, high-frequency vibrations that don’t travel far into the body, the Tango is satisfyingly “rumbly” for its size, providing additional lower-frequency stimulation that carries deeper into tissues and awakens more nerve endings. It packs a lot of oomph into its small size.
This latest incarnation features a silicone grip to make it less slippery to hold, while the business end remains hard and glossy. There’s nothing to muffle the vibrations: they’re full-on and focused, which is exactly what tickles many people’s pickles. Others may find the feeling too “sharp”, however.
Three separate buttons to increase/decrease power and change pulse patterns make it easy to find the exact output to suit you. There’s excellent variety between the settings, the lowest of which is more a brisk twitch than a vibration. Plus, a travel lock means you won’t have to trot out the “it must be my electric toothbrush!” line when your handbag starts humming.
It’s a shame that … the magnetic charger can be accidentally knocked off its connections, but it’s more hygienic than a lead that needs to plug into a hole in the toy.
Speeds: eight
Vibe patterns: seven
Power: rechargeable
Run time: two hours
Charge time: one hour and 30 minutes
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: two years
Best bullet for innovation:
Hot Octopuss AMO
Another tiny yet mighty toy that, given its petite dimensions, is a powerful rumbler. Hot Octopuss is a skilled inventor: its suite of ingenious toys includes Pulse – the world’s first “Guybrator” that can induce orgasms from a flaccid penis as well as an erect one, proving a boon for cancer survivors, disabled people and others with erectile difficulties.
Why we love it
AMO’s ingenuity is in the way it’s sculpted, with a pointy tip for pinpoint pleasure; a broader head on the opposite side for more diffuse vibrations; and a fin-like profile for nestling lengthways between labia. It’s made of silky silicone, which – unlike tougher plastics – won’t hurt or slide around if you press down on it to apply extra pressure.
It’s a shame that … the battery life isn’t better, and the payoff of the inventive contours is that the AMO can’t be inserted into strap-ons, dildos or other toys that rely on a standard-shape bullet.
Speeds: six
Vibe patterns: five
Power: rechargeable
Run time: 40 minutes
Charge time: two to three hours
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: one year
Best sustainable bullet:
Love Not War Maya
If you want to feel the earth move without harming the planet, Love Not War is your friend with benefits. Its Maya bullet is made from recycled aluminium in a hydroelectric-powered factory, and minimally packaged in a brown cardboard box printed with soy ink.
Why we love it
Seven different screw-on heads are sold separately to convert the bullet into, say, a rabbit or a G-spot probe. Interchangeable efforts I’ve tried in the past have suffered from insufficiently strong motors, so they haven’t been able to successfully transmit vibrations throughout each attachment, especially longer/larger ones. Love Not War is mounting an admirable battle against that challenge, however.
It’s a shame that … at more than £50 a pop, amassing a collection of heads will cost you a pretty penny – although the brand will plant a tree for each one sold.
Speeds: four
Vibe patterns: seven
Power: rechargeable
Run time: one hour
Charge time: two hours
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: Love Not War will repair toys to keep them alive for as long as possible
Best soft and sensual option:
Smile Makers The Firefighter
Bullets are often designed to treat the genitals like a game of darts: if the clitoris is the bullseye, they aim to hit it dead on. The Firefighter instead approaches stimulation more like a curling match: gently brushing, sweeping and edging towards a climax.
Why we love it
The fluttering, flickering flame-shaped head will suit those who prefer a slow, delicate buildup before switching to the more traditional, targeted “pointy finger” part of the toy.
It’s a shame that … it only comes in pink. The Surfer, another Smile Makers bullet, is a refreshingly unusual zesty orange.
Speeds: four
Vibe patterns: two
Power: rechargeable
Run time: three hours
Charge time: two to two-and-a-half hours
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: two years
Best budget bullet:
The Rocks Off RO-90
Rocks Off makes a whole shooting range of cheap-and-cheerful battery-powered bullets. Take your pick of pointed, rounded, angled or lipstick-shaped tip; select a slick gloss, powdery matt or silicone finish; and choose from more colours than the fabric of Joseph’s Dreamcoat, including one that changes from purple to pink in response to body heat.
Why we love it
It’s a fair amount of bang for very few bucks. I singled out the RO-90 as my best budget buy because the AAA battery it takes is much easier to source than the N-size variety inside the smaller RO-80 model. The slightly longer shaft makes it better suited to use for penetrative play, too, if that’s your bag.
Hats off to Rocks Off as well for its four-year collaboration with disability charity Enhance The UK to develop a truly accessible toy range, Quest. A 5% share of sales from that collection goes back to the charity.
It’s a shame that … single-button controls mean you have to cycle all the way through speeds/pulses to change them. I also question how the shiny metallic finishes might stand up to long-term cleaning.
Speeds: three
Vibe patterns: seven
Power: 1 x AAA battery
Run time: three hours 30 minutes
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: two years
The best rabbit vibrators
Best rabbit vibrator overall:
Je Joue Hera Flex
The Hera Flex is such a good problem-solver, it could probably win an algebra contest. Since everyone’s anatomy is different and distances between vaginas and clitorises vary, a frequent dilemma with rabbits is that once the shaft is inserted, the external stimulator doesn’t quite rest on the right spot. Many toys are too rigid to allow sufficient bending and angle adjustment to solve this issue.
Why we love it
This Je Joue genius solves that: it’s as flexible as a yoga master and both parts of it are poseable, allowing you to easily customise how it curves to fit your bits. Another irritating rabbit habit is that the “ears” intended to tickle either side of the clitoris can pinch, poke or catch against sensitive flesh, depending on how your body happens to be built. Here, the Hera is a hero once more, replacing the traditional bunny head with a plush, spongy, smooth “thumb”. If you’re someone with a more frilly clitoral hood or labia that gets painfully pulled by rabbit ears, this could be a real thumbs up. A quality, thoughtfully re-engineered rabbit reboot.
It’s a shame that … there’s a bit of a jump between the first two power levels. A steadier climb would be preferable. The squishiness of the Hera Flex won’t suit folks who prefer firmer pressure on their hotspots, either. But as so often in the world of sex toys, that’s rather like saying, “people who prefer raspberries shouldn’t choose this banana”; it’s a question of taste, rather than a product being bad.
Speeds: five
Vibe patterns: seven
Power: rechargeable
Run time: one hour
Charge time: one hour and 30 minutes
Warranty: one year
Best for temperature titillation:
Lovehoney Glow Bunny
If you just want to use this toy as an old-school rabbit, it’s a solid choice … but it also has new-fangled tricks up its sleeve.
Why we love it
The temperature-play plate on the top of the shaft heats to 38C in less than two minutes, feeling almost like a warm tongue, and swiftly cools to 18C, giving a whole new meaning to “Netflix and chill”. I imagine the cold setting could be particularly enticing during sweltering summer nights, and it works nicely for nipple play, too.
It’s a shame that … the power is perfectly acceptable, but not perfect for the power-hungry.
Speeds: three
Vibe patterns: four
Power: rechargeable
Run time: one hour
Charge time: three hours
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: 100 days
Best for air pulse stimulation:
Womanizer Duo 2
Admittedly, this looks more like something Star Trek’s Captain Picard should be at the helm of than a conventional rabbit. Rather than stimulating the clitoris with vibrations, the Duo 2 uses pulses of air to create a throbbing, sucking effect. Womanizer was the first to introduce this technology to the adult market in 2014, when it represented one of the most groundbreaking innovations in years.
Why we love it
The firm continues to be a pioneer. This toy boasts multiple proprietary features, including “Smart Silence”: it will only turn on when in contact with skin. This means the battery life is preserved, and you don’t have to fumble to switch it off in a panic if your intimacy is interrupted.
An Autopilot mode alternates between surprise pulse patterns and intensities to prevent masturbation from becoming predictable, while the Afterglow setting helps you gradually wind down post-climax, rather than simply switching off.
It’s a shame that … the shape takes getting used to, and there are now more intuitive (and affordable) suction and vibration rabbit toys available. That said, I believe the Duo 2 is worth mastering due to its god-tier-level exclusive features.
Speeds: 14
Vibe patterns: 10
Power: rechargeable
Run time: two hours
Charge time: two hours
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: five years
Best for an innovative shaft:
Satisfyer Air Pump Bunny 1
Satisfyer is known for two things. First, making excellent-quality, more affordable “dupes” of aspirational high-end sex toys – almost like an Aldi version of Lelo and co. Second, and in contrast to the first, rolling out vast multitudes of its own novel inventions, including this Air Pump Bunny.
Why we love it
It sports an inflatable shaft that can be enlarged by up to 15mm in diameter at the touch of a button, producing a “filling” sensation that some find mind-blowing. This could be just the ticket if your orgasm is intensified by the presence of a girthy internal toy, giving your vaginal muscles something to clench around as the waves of climax hit (more common than is discussed), especially if you need to build up to having something wide inside you. Magnetic charging, smart buttons and a walloping 15-year warranty show this toy is more than just hot air.
It’s a shame that … it makes a noise like a car tyre inflator while it’s pumping up, and sounds like your vagina is sighing mournfully as it deflates. Put the stereo on, because this toy’s noises make for an inappropriate and distressing lovemaking soundtrack.
Speeds: five
Vibe patterns: seven
Power: rechargeable
Run time: one hour
Charge time: two hours and 30 minutes
Waterproof: yes
Warranty: 15 years
