On the hunt for the best sex toys? You’re in the right place as, luckily for you, we know some of the industry’s top sex experts who know which toys are actually worth your money.
Whether it’s one of the best sex toys for couples to use with your significant other or a vibrator to use for solo pleasure, there’s a toy for everyone. Whatever your preference, fun fact for you: the sex toy industry is seriously lucrative, making as much as £12 billion yearly, with sex toy sales rising by 13% last year in the UK alone.
Let’s be real – sexual wellness and the way we view self-pleasure have slowly but surely shifted over the past few years. No longer taboo or off-limits, sex is now being medically recognised as a key way to improve focus, boost mood and reduce stress.
Research from Indiana University shows that 50% of women use one of the best vibrators regularly, but if that’s not you, you might need a helping hand with knowing where to start. The following vibrators, dildos, rabbits, and toys are the toys that sex experts genuinely use themselves, crowned the best because, after rigorous testing, they provided the best O’s.
Don’t miss our guides to the best dildos, best lubes, and best condoms, while you’re here, but for now, scroll the top picks from our independent board of certified pros, including:
- Scotty Unfamous, an award-winning erotic romance author and sex influencer.
- Aleece Fosnight, board-certified physician assistant specialising in sexual medicine and CEO of the Fosnight Centre for Sexual Health.
- Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert for sexual wellness brand Lovehoney.
- Jordan Dixon, clinical psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist at The Thought House.
- Cecile Gasnault, brand director of sexual wellness brand Smile Makers.
- Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist who has a background in sex and relationship coaching and has reviewed sex toys for over ten years (including professionally as a prototype tester).
- Barbara Santini, psychologist, sex therapist and relationship adviser at Dime Piecela.
What to consider when buying the best sex toys for women:
- Type of sex toy: There are tonnes to choose from, from bullet vibrators, to rabbits, to dildos for pegging, and more. Top tip: think about what turns you on and opt for a toy that sounds like it’ll do just that.
- Water resistance: Make sure you opt for a waterproof toy that’s usable for shower sessions if that’s your kind of thing.
- Noise level: Live with flatmates? It’s worth considering whether your toy will be noisy, or whether it’s best to opt for a quiet vibrator, instead.
- Energy source: Make sure you know whether your toy is battery-powered or rechargeable, the latter being better for the environment.
- Price point: Finally, make sure you set yourself a rough budget before you start shopping. Would you rather grab a bargain or invest in one of the higher price point toys?
Best sex toys, according to the experts
Best oral sex stimulators
1. Lelo Sona 2
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Waterproof
- USB charger
Reasons to avoid
- Mid-range price point
- Can be noisy
Best for: What promises to be a world-first clitoral suction sex toy guaranteeing orgasm without a long, frustrating build-up.
What the experts think: Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist who has a background in sex and relationship coaching and has reviewed sex toys for over ten years, loved that the toy is waterproof, easily rechargeable, and made from skin-friendly silicone, too – plus, noted that it’s one of the first sex toys in her ten years of testing to make her really enjoy patterned settings.
Read Cooper’s LELO Sona Cruise 2 review, here.
2. Satisfyer Pro 2 Deluxe
Reasons to buy
- Clitoral suction
- Water-resistant
- USB chargeable
- Affordable price point
Reasons to avoid
- Can be difficult to charge
- Can be noisy
- Not the longest lasting
Best for: A clit stimulator that uses suction technology and promises some seriously good orgasms.
What the experts think: Jordan Dixon, clinical psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist at The Thought House, says: “Many clients I work with have spoken to me about the Satisfier Pro 2 Deluxe and how it feels like the closest thing to receive really good oral sex, saying it induces such an orgasmic state that they experience multiple orgasms within minutes.”
3. LELO Sila
Reasons to buy
- Clitoral suction
- Water-resistant
- USB chargeable
Reasons to avoid
- High price point
- Noisy
Best for: If you’re after a softer sex toy, this SILA from LELO promises to please you with gentle sonic waves and a large mouth. Switch through eight pleasure settings and enjoy it being fully waterproof, too.
What the experts think: Scotty Unfamous, an award-winning erotic romance author and sex influencer, says: “This is one of the best clitoral suction vibes on the market.”
“The Sila has a large mouth that not only accommodates more clitoris sizes but also stimulates your clitoris both internally and externally, without making direct contact. This is possible through LELO’s SenSonic technology, to gently bring you to a mind-blowing orgasm.”
Read Cooper’s Lelo Sila review, here.
4. Rose sex toy
Reasons to buy
- Clitoral suction
- Water-resistant
- USB chargeable
- Low price point
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
Best for: This toy went viral on TikTok for a reason – it’s really pretty and has rose petal leaves that act as part of the clitoral suction toy. Neat.
What the experts think: Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist, says: “Pretty, comfortable to hold and easy to use, this viral toy is worth a try. While it isn’t the most powerful clitoral suction toy, I’ve tried and does make fairly loud techno-like noises, mind – you were warned.”
Read Cooper’s Rose sex toy review, here.
Best wand sex toys
5. Bedgeek Wand
Reasons to buy
- Easy to use
- Quiet
- USB chargeable
- Affordable price point
Reasons to avoid
- Non-waterproof
Best for: A wireless vibrating wand you can use anywhere that comes in discreet packaging, too. While most wands come with a long cable that requires a nearby plug socket, this cordless sex toy for women is chargeable and can therefore be used anywhere you like.
What the experts think: Scotty Unfamous, an award-winning erotic romance author and sexfluencer, says: “Whether you’re a beginner or you’d like to expand your toy collection without breaking the bank, the Bed Geek wands are a great way to go.”
“They’re surprisingly quiet considering how powerful they are, with a wide variety of settings that you can use all over your body – plus, they’re travel friendly, too. Great quality at a great price point.”
6. Doxy Extra Power Massager
Reasons to buy
- Effective
- Simple to use
Reasons to avoid
- Non-waterproof
- Can be noisy
- Not wireless – plugin
- Higher price point
Best for: Old school Sex and the City-style orgasms where you stimulate your clit with powerful vibrations. Yep, it’s 30 percent more powerful than the once-famous Hitachi wand (the one Samantha raved about back in the day) and has incremental speeds and pulsations, so you can keep increasing the pleasure until you reach climax. Importantly, it also has a long cable–nearly 3m long–which means you don’t need to worry about losing power while you’re using it.
What the experts think: Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationship expert, said: “With Doxy products, it is all about that one important word: POWER. They are not for the faint-hearted or for the more inexperienced sex toy user.”
“Doxy’s are for users that know they need to really feel the force to get off. You’ll get scintillating pleasure through the soft silicone head. Plus, fun fact: Doxy was the first to pioneer the wand vibrator, which is now one of the most important sex toy categories. For many users, they are the oldest and still the best.”
7. Lovehoney Extra Powerful Multispeed Magic Wand
Reasons to buy
- Powerful
- Simple yet effective
Reasons to avoid
- Not water-resistant
- Can be noisy
- Non-wireless – plug in
Best for: A real all-rounder from a trusted brand. With over 3,828 reviews and a solid 5-star rating, you know this one’s a good’un.
What the experts think: Aleece Fosnight, board-certified physician assistant specialising in sexual medicine and CEO of the Fosnight Centre for Sexual Health says: “Nothing beats a full body massager. Utilising this long cord, rechargeable massager on the glutes, inner thighs, and lower back with a partner (or on your own) is the perfect way to warm up the core and pelvic floor muscles for sexual play.”
“Plus, with the soft silicone massager, it is safe to position on the genitals when you’re ready for more orgasmic bliss.”
Read Cooper’s Lovehoney Magic Wand review, here.
Best vibrators
8. Dame Kip vibrator
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- Quiet
- USB rechargeable
Reasons to avoid
- Mid range price point
Best for: A soft silicone toy that’s also waterproof and spans five different power settings. Plus, this Kip is available in lemon or lavender colourways, is easy to hold from many angles, has rounded edges and a soft silicone touch providing vibration with pinpoint accuracy. Even better, it’s USB rechargeable (no batteries) and comes in a travel-friendly package. Perfect for those impending staycays…
What the experts think: Aleece Fosnight, board-certified physician assistant specialising in sexual medicine and CEO of the Fosnight Centre for Sexual Health says: “Dame’s Kip is bite-sized but with a punch. The sleek, soft silicone offers an ergonomic design for easy dexterity that can easily be used anywhere, even the shower as it is waterproof, and small enough to stow away in your luggage for a trip.”
“Plus, you have five speeds and five intensities to find the perfect fit to match your body’s needs.”
9. Mantric Rechargeable Bullet Vibrator
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- Quiet
- USB chargeable
- Affordable price point
Best for: A simple, easy-to-use beginner’s toy ideal for any scenario. This powerful bullet sex toy is a Lovehoney favourite for a reason. It doesn’t vibrate, it throbs. Inside is a weighting mechanism, along with the motor, and this makes it seem like it has a mind of its own.
What the experts think: Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationship expert, says: “A bullet is the perfect starter sex toy. Discreet, not at all scary, and small enough to be carried in a handbag if you never want to be without it.”
“Bullets are all about clitoral stimulation and zoning in on your sweet spot and they provide wave after wave of pleasure. This Mantric bullet is at the luxury end of the bullet market because it looks super-classy and it delivers in spades. It will pay for itself in pleasure very quickly.”
10. Lovehoney G-Kiss Fluttering Clitoral & G Spot Vibrator
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- USB rechargeable
- Affordable price point
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
Best for: A rabbit toy that’s good for both clitoral stimulation, penetration, and hitting your g-spot, too. You’ll get twice the stimulation, thanks to the additional rabbit-style ears, plus it focuses on the two most important intimate areas. It’s also waterproof, so there’s the option for shower play.
What the experts think: Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationship expert, says: “This toy is essentially two-of-the-price-of-one and enables the user to cocoon their sweet spots in gorgeous sensations.”
“It is really clever – a slimline bulb internally rests against the G-spot, while its tickler flutters against the clitoris for dual-point intimate pleasure. All that fun and super affordable, too – what’s not to like!”
11. The Artist
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- USB rechargeable
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- Mid-range price point
Best for: The newest dual vibrator from Smile Makers and a first-of-its-kind sex toy.
What the experts think: Cecile Gasnault, brand director of Smile Makers, says: “Design the pleasure experience you want through UI/UX, ergonomics, and technology. You can finely adjust the intensity of the vibration mode by intuitively squeezing sensors on the handles rather than flipping through pre-set levels plus, you can flip through 9 pulsating effects that create feelings of movement.”
“An exciting feature is that you can control the internal and external heads independently, choosing from four different modes for the two heads. And lastly, the angle between the two heads can be adjusted to create an intimate fit.”
12. Lelo Enigma
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- USB rechargeable
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- Higher price point
Best for: Boasting dual stimulation – that’s clitoral and g spot stimulation, FYI – and eight vibration patterns, the LELO toy promises to do what many of the best sex toys before couldn’t, offering both external and internal stimulation.
What the experts think: Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist who has a background in sex and relationship coaching and has reviewed sex toys for over ten years, says: “I used the LELO Enigma with my partner in the bath. It’s waterproof and we found that allowing them to control the sex toy meant that they were able to keep it in just the right position for clitoral stimulation. We found the design really simple for couple play – the controls aren’t too complicated for a sex toy novice to use, either.”
Read Cooper’s LELO ENIGMA review, here.
13. Smile Makers The Firefighter
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Battery powered
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- Mid-range price point
Best for: A silicone sex toy that is designed for clitoral stimulation. It also has a variety of shapes on its surface area, great for varying your sexual pleasure.
What the experts say: Ness Cooper, sexologist, says: “It was simple to use, great for testing out different sex positions, and made me orgasm fairly quickly. Plus, the thin flame edges were different to anything I’d tried before. I particularly liked that the vibrations feel different in different parts of the flame, as it means when you direct particular parts onto your body, you can enjoy a variety of intensities.”
Read Cooper’s The Firefighter review, here.
14. Smile Makers The Billionaire
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water resistant
- Quiet
- Battery powered
Reasons to avoid
- Mid-range price point
Best for: A high-end, luxury sex toy with powerful yet silent vibrations that is great for those who want to explore either penetration or external play.
What the experts say: Ness Cooper, sexologist, says: “As soon as I pressed the emoji patterned button (yep: love) on The Billionaire’s base, I was impressed by how powerful yet quiet the vibrator was. I liked that the toy was made from silicone as it glided over my body well.”
“Exploring the vibrations over various erogenous zones, I noticed that there is a little bit of give in the classic vibrator shaft. This means you can apply more pressure to your sweet spots than with more run-of-the-mill vibrators.”
Read Cooper’s The Billionaire review, here
Best Vibrating Eggs
15. Dame Pom Vibrating Egg
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Water-resistant
- USB rechargeable
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- Mid range price point
Best for: A next-level vibrating toy that our resident sex toy tester has coined one of the best ever.
What the experts think: Ness Cooper, sexologist, says: “When I tested the Dame Pom, I orgasmed super quickly, and the toy resulted in a really intense climax. I’m now a Dame Pom convert – so much so that I’ve been using it more than my previous old-time favourite pebble sex toys.”
Read Cooper’s Dame Pom review, here.
Best sex toys: Smile Makers The Poet
16. Smile Makers The Poet
Reasons to buy
- Vibrates
- Medium noise level
- USB rechargeable
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- High price point
Best for: A suction sex toy that uses air pulse technology. It comes with three different-sized attachments and has multiple ways for you to control the pulsations. It’s also the first ever suction-style sex toy that enables you to control vibrations via squeeze alone.
What the experts say: Ness Cooper, sexologist, says: “Playing around with the various attachments, the middle one hit the spot for me. I enjoyed having the variation and being able to work out what felt good for me and my body.”
“I reached orgasm very quickly thanks to the squeeze technology and found it very easy to use. One thing to note, though: when you accidentally loosened your grip, the intensity will lessen.”
Read Cooper’s The Poet review, here.
Best Dildos
17. Lifelike Lover Realistic Suction Cup Dildo 7-inch
Reasons to buy
- Waterproof
- Quiet
- Low price point
Reasons to avoid
- Doesn’t vibrate
Best for: A realistic(ish) looking dildo that doesn’t need charging.
What the experts think: Barbara Santini, psychologist, sex therapist and relationship adviser at Dime Piecela, says: “One of my favourite sex toys is a realistic dildo due to their versatility in stimulating the clit or g-spot and real sensations. They are highly body-safe as they are made of premium materials, plus they’re easy to use, clean, and store.”
Best Kegel Balls
18. Lelo Kegel Balls
Reasons to buy
- Waterproof
- Quiet
Reasons to avoid
- Mid-range price point
Best for: People keen to try kegel balls (and strengthen their pelvic floor) who haven’t tried them before. You don’t need to have watched the film or read the book to get some pleasure out of these jiggle balls. While you’re enjoying the sensation of them moving around inside you, you’ll also be giving your pelvic floor muscles a serious workout.
What the experts say: Scotty Unfamous, an award-winning erotic romance author and sexfluencer, says: “A good set of kegel balls can make a huge difference to your sex life. They tighten your pelvic floor muscles which helps you feel more during penetrative intercourse, have stronger orgasms, and are also a great way to kickstart your arousal.”
19. Fifty Shades of Grey Pleasure Balls
Reasons to buy
- Water resistant
- Quiet
- No charging needed
- Low price point
Reasons to avoid
Doesn’t vibrate
Best for: When you orgasm, your pelvic floor muscles pulse, and the stronger those muscles are, the more control you’ll have of your orgasm, giving you more powerful sensations. With a handy tag to make getting the balls out easier, these balls are like a sex workout in your pocket.
Fancy investing in another Fifty Shades sex toy or reading up on bondage for beginners, while you’re here? Introducing, the Spreader bar. Oh yep.
What the experts say: Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationship expert, says: “These balls are definitely not for beginners looking to strengthen their pelvic floor. They have a combined weight of 221g which gives a full and heavy sensation suited to experienced kegel ball users. They are easy to wear and can be removed thanks to a stronger silicone retrieval cord.”
“Studies show that toning the pelvic floor consistently boosts sexual happiness and leads to more intense orgasms as we age. Kegel balls are a great way to improve sexual satisfaction.”
Best Hands Free Sex Toys
20. Dame Eva
Reasons to buy
- Hands-free
- External vibrator
- Can be used during various sex positions
- Great for those not into penetration
- Three vibration intensities.
Reasons to avoid
- Long charge time (takes four hour to charge for one-hour of play)
- Doesn’t fit all vulvas
- Can be loud
Best for: Ever tried a hands-free sex toy before? Trust us on this one – you’re in for a treat. The powerful clitoral vibrator has three vibration settings and promises to sit neatly over your clitoris, stimulating your clit as you’re penetrated.
Fun fact: it’s the first fully hands-free sex toy out there (previous iterations required insertion into the vagina or attaching to your underwear).
What the experts say: Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist, says: “This toy made me feel sensations I’d never felt before. While it can take some getting used to (and patience while you make sure it stays in place), the Dame Eva feels pretty liberating and magical when it works. Plus, I love the fact that you could use it in lots of different ways, meaning the fun doesn’t end if it doesn’t fit your vulva – for example, you can use it as a finger vibrator, too.”
“Sure, it took some getting used to, but it’s a genius bit of kit that’s definitely worth your patience. It gets my seal of approval, that’s for sure, as it’s also an option for those who want to try sex toys but aren’t looking for penetration (read my Lovehoney Vibrating Love Egg review, here – another great non-penetrative option).”
Read Ness’ full Dame Eva review for more details, here.
Don’t miss our guides to the best dating sites, best sex apps, best condoms, best sex toy advent calendars, and best lubes, while you’re here.
What are the health benefits of using a sex toy?
So what’s the big deal, aside from it feeling, well, really rather good? You may be surprised to hear that the health benefits of using a sex toy are multi-faceted.
A bit like trying one of the best sex games or best sex positions, studies suggest that investing in (and experimenting with) a sex toy can, for women, ease body aches and menstrual cramp, assist with relaxation and deep sleep, and reduce night sweats.
Plus a 2019 Harvard study found that sex toys can help ease vaginal atrophy, vulval or vaginal pain, and vaginal tightness.
Alongside the reams of health benefits of getting intimate with a toy, they can also have a positive impact on your emotional well-being. Reports show that using a vibrator can help promote confidence, happiness, and relaxation. The dream deal.
This article was syndicated from Marie Claire UK
