The best sex toys for women
Overview
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
When it comes to the ladies’ self-care practices, juicing, yoga, and mindfulness apps are all the rage. But here’s something that might surprise you: sex toys are the ultimate self-care purchase. They give you more than just a little buzz down below.
Orgasms release oxytocin, the anti-stress hormone that gets you warm and fuzzy when cuddling, while dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, also makes an appearance. It stands to reason, then, that “I need to get laid” is a thing that actually makes sense to say when you’re having a rough week.
Sex toys will give you that needed boost whenever you need it. And, hey, it’s empowering when you don’t have to rely on someone else. Though don’t forget: sex toys are great for spicing things up with a partner, too. Not only that – getting to know your body helps develop a positive relationship with yourself. After all, it’s the most important relationship you’ll ever have. So treat it to some sexy fun.
What are the different types of sex toys for women?When it comes to sex toys for women. there are plenty of options. To get you started, here are some of the most commonly bought sex toy types:
Clitoral massagers — Little handheld gadgets that target the clitoris and simulate oral sex with a sucking or blowing sensation, usually achieved by pumping air. Some of these don’t even need to make contact. This work by pulsing mini sonic waves towards the right spot.Â
Dildos and plugs — Dildos and plugs come in various shapes and sizes, and are simply used for straight-up penetration. Turns out there is a substitute for men.
Rampant rabbits — Rabbit vibrators are the go-to for simultaneous internal and G-spot stimulation. They may have two motors, which really ramps up the number of vibration modes and pleasure options.
Tech toys — We’re finding all kinds of 21st Century ways to get our rocks off. There are app-assisted sex toys on this list, and there are plenty more out there.
Vibrators — Still the undisputed classic of the sex toy world. For both an external and internal buzz, vibrators have multiple speed and vibration patterns to help you get off exactly how you want.
We’re sure you can find other types out there, but this is a good place to start.
Do women need sex toys?Whether you’re taking some “me time” right now, or just want something to spice things up with your partner, a sex toy can help you explore new sensations and reach new levels of pleasure. The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy asserts that 36% of women require sustained clitoral stimulation to orgasm. A sex toy could be the difference between an unfulfilled and satisfactory sex life.
What is the best sex toy for women?Not all sex toys are made equally: Your favourite could be an oral sex simulator or clitoral stimulation via sonic waves, or maybe something else entirely. Whatever your preference, there’s so much more available to you than those £10 high street vibrators. We’ve checked out everything on offer, and lined up a broad selection.
These are the best sex toys for women in 2024.
Note: For the purpose of this article, we are looking primarily at toys that are intended for use by people who are assigned female at birth, which means they are recommended with the same enthusiasm for anyone with a vagina regardless of gender identity.
If you’ve done a rudimentary search for best vibrators, you’ve likely seen Lovehoney’s Jessica Rabbit already. It’s a consistent top seller and shares its name with the sexiest cartoon character of all time. It’s also a cheap buzz.
It uses two flexible ears to thrum both sides of the clitoris. It also has a bulbous head and beaded shaft for stimulating those deeper, hard-to-reach spots. The idea is that it hits multiple areas for blended (i.e. massive) orgasms.
It’s 5 inches long, so not the biggest on the market — though it’s about the average penis size — but a water or oil-based lube is always recommended.
It has seven vibration patterns and three speeds, so you can literally use this every day for a month and still get a different buzz each time. And that means all sorts of pleasure possibilities to experiment with.Â
The Good
The Bad
Details
In the sea of vibrators sold online, trying to pick one that’s customisable yet inconspicuous enough to carry on your person can be tricky.
The Vesper stainless steel vibrator doubles as a necklace to discreetly take on the go. Loads of vibrators are technically portable, but there’s just something extra sneaky and sexy about walking into your local Tesco with a vibrator on your neck. But please, ladies, restrain yourself until it’s appropriate.
The Vesper necklace uses a single button to switch between steady low, medium, and high modes, plus a riveting pulsation mode.
It doesn’t have nearly as many options as other toys on offer, but you can use it literally anywhere without the worry of it falling out of your bag — so there’s not much to complain about otherwise.
The Good
The Bad
Details
You’ve probably seen “personal massagers” that are advertised for use on back and muscular pain. But trust us, there are many people using them as sex toys.
The Lelo Smart Wand is different because it was actually made for use down below, with vibrations made specifically for clitoral arousal and not for kneading a back ache. Though feel free to give your whole body a once over.
You’ll notice the difference when the Lelo’s tactile response function starts increasing intensity on its own — a much more natural progression than the traditional wand. Lelo refers to the pleasure as “eye-crossing”.
Whether you’re lying down, sitting, or standing, the Smart Wand Medium’s curved handle is comfy for long bouts of angled holding and short enough to stay out of the way. Like Lelo’s other toys, the Smart Wand rocks a metallic grip and looks luxurious. It’s an exercise in premium pleasure.
The Good
The Bad
Details
There are plenty of couple-friendly toys out there, but they’re mostly for up-close-and-personal play. Which doesn’t help long-distance couples much. Enter the upgraded We-Vibe Sync 2, a remote-controlled, app-enabled vibrator.
Select settings on the remote or with a tap of your phone. Whichever partner has the remote in their hand will control the internal and external intensity. Choose from pre-set vibes, or create a custom pattern.
There are motors on each end of the vibrator, which help massage both the G-spot (helped by a ribbed internal arm) and clitoris at the same time.
The material itself is bendable and was made to fit with any body type and sex position — because We-Vibe knows there’s nothing worse than slipping out of position. And if you aren’t long distance, this can be used together.
The Good
The Bad
Details
If you’re new to anal play, easing into it is a must. That’s where butt plugs come in. And the Butt Tingler is a great, slow-and-steady model to try first.
The Butt Tingler does exactly what it sounds like, offering two vibration speeds and three patterns to help you find the sensation that works back there. Reviewers love the pulsation mode, which will tickle areas you didn’t even know existed.
It sports a 3.5-inch tapered tip, while the gentle curves and cushy silicone make inserting the plug a smoother process. But lube is always a good idea. It’s not as cute as glittery and colourful plugs on the market, but that can come later.Â
The Good
The Bad
Details
The Satisfyer Curvy 2+ uses air-pulse technology, which emits pressure waves and tingling pulsations to massage around the clitoral area. This simulates the experience of oral sex. So what’s not to like?
With its curved design, you can then turn it around and use good old fashioned (and very intense) vibrations to stimulate the G-spot. Use the air waves and vibrations separately, or together for maximum pleasure.
You can control and customise the air-pulse waves and vibrations via an app, with 11 settings to choose from. You can even match the vibes to the beat of your Spotify playlists. And it does all this at a lower price point than some of its competitors — particularly good considering its app-based capabilities.
The Good
The Bad
Details
For ladies who just can’t up their minds, sex toy brand Lovehoney has a solution — an all-in-one First Time Vibrator Kit.
There’s something in here to tickle every fancy (and much more) with a selection of four vibrators. The set includes a classic style multi-speed vibrator, a G-spot stimulator with multiple speed and intensity settings, a single speed bullet vibe that you can stash in your purse, and a remote controlled love egg that packs a surprising punch in the panty area.
For less than £40 it’s a bargain — particularly for anyone trying their hand with a vibrator for the first time. The only real drawback is that these vibrators aren’t waterproof, so if you want some fun in the bath you’ll need to upgrade.
The Good
The Bad
Details
The Lelo Mini Bead Set is a combined pleasure-fitness system that helps improve circulation as well as strengthen the pelvic muscles and vaginal wall — and therefore increases responses to stimulation.
It comes as a set of six interchangeable weighted beads, giving you plenty of different options for Kegel exercises, helping you achieve greater climaxes. In basic terms, you pop the beads into your vagina and perform the exercises, which builds strength — not to mention your orgasms — over time.
A quick warning though: These can get loud. But that shouldn’t stop you from giving them a try. And there’s a reason we’ve features the brand again. They make some of the best sex toys around.
The Good
The Bad
Details
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she’s not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she’s almost definitely watching a horror movie, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” or “The Office.” You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming services, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.
Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable’s sister site, AskMen.
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she’s covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she’s now done for three years at Mashable.
She graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature. You can follow her on X @betallard and reach her by email at [email protected]. In her free time, you’ll find her playing her Switch, hanging with her cat Mila, or cooking something new in her kitchen.
Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
