21 Best Vibrators for Beginners in 2024, According to Experts and Reviews

Let’s face it: The near-endless array of vibrators for beginners can easily become overwhelming—and then there’s the matter of what to do with them. To make your first-time experience as enjoyable as possible, and to help you widen your pool of masturbation tricks, we asked sex experts to tell us everything you need to know about how to use a vibrator—and what the best vibrators are for beginners with all budgets and bodies.

What should you look for in a beginner vibrator?First, consider the material. “Most quality vibrators are clad in silicone these days, which is a great material—it can be softer or firmer, but it’s nonporous and easy to clean,” says Carol Queen, PhD, staff expert at online sex shop Good Vibrations. Plus, it feels like skin and easily lends itself to waterproof vibrators, making it perfect for beginners.

Next, think about the sensation you want your vibrator to provide. There are buzzier options and more rumbly ones. “Buzzy vibes offer more of a high-pitched hum, comparable to the vibrations of an electric toothbrush, which focuses stimulation more on the surface,” explains sexual health educator Navy Bastiaans. Some people prefer rumbly vibrators because the vibrations are more low-pitched and go deeper into the body, which helps stimulate the outside and inside of the clit, hitting many nerve endings due to the frequency.

Another important factor is cost. Cheap sex toys are a great entry point for anyone early on in their experimental phase. (However, don’t be afraid to invest upfront in a luxury sex toy. It’s your body, after all.) Either way, beginners should look for vibrators that offer a range of speeds and modes to really find what they enjoy. Oh, and personal lubricant makes everything better, according to sex educator Micki Allen: “Lubes not only offer extra lubrication, but they also allow for different sensations and can really intensify your play.” When you’re using silicone toys, make sure to stick exclusively to water-based lube, since silicone- and oil-based formulas can degrade the material.

What kinds of vibrators are best for beginners?Vibrators are categorized by where they stimulate you: internally (like your G-spot or prostate), externally (like your clitoris or labia), or a mix of both at the same time. From there, you can further break them down into groups with specific shapes and abilities, including everything from super-simple bullet vibrators to more complex rabbit vibrators (more on these later). There’s no one-size-fits-all vibrator.