Choosing the best vibrator for women can be a minefield. From bullet, to suction, rabbit, remote-controlled and more, we’ve handpicked our favourites below
Talking about sex and masturbating is still a largely taboo subject yet a global report on self-pleasure has found that 78% of adults globally touch themselves regularly – including 78% of British women – so finding the best vibrator for women may be a more pressing need than many may assume.
There are myriad benefits of having an orgasm, whether it’s achieved from sexual intercourse or masturbating, and this includes better sleep, better relationships, and better skin. You can read more about this in our guide to What is masturbation and why is it so good for you and your skin? guide.
There are almost countless vibrator sex toys to choose from, though, and that’s before you even factor in dildos. So we wanted to break down some of the taboos surrounding this subject from what you may want to consider, to whether a bullet, suction, rabbit, remote-controlled or another type of vibrator will best suit you.
We also want to point out that only because we discuss vibrators in the scope of masturbating, that’s not to say these can only be used for self-pleasure. If you and your partner are willing, sex toys can be a great addition to sex.
FURTHER READING: The health benefits of masturbating
Now you’re armed with knowledge about multiple types of vibrators, you’ll likely have a better idea of which one(s) you want to try. For the past three months, we’ve been putting a selection of sex toys to the test to help you narrow down these choices.
With all of these toys, we recommend you clean them properly after every use. This is to avoid bacteria forming on them, which could result in thrush or a nasty infection. The Adults Toy Shop sells the Loving Joy Toy cleaner and it’s only £3.99. Alternatively, use a gentle soap or baby shampoo. Many of these vibrators are waterproof.
FURTHER READING: Vibrators 101: Everything you need to know about different vibrator types
£54.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: This top entry in our list of the best vibrator for women may seem a little pricey but it comes with a whole load of features, making it much better value than others in this list. Not only does it act as a regular clitoral vibrator, with 10 vibration levels to choose from, it also has a suction feature.
Place the soft silicone head on your clitoris and the Alive Midnight Quiver will use suction to stimulate it to orgasm. If you’ve never tried a suction vibrator before (we hadn’t before we used this) it’s a game-changer. We don’t need a partner anymore! (This is an exaggeration but it’s a close second…)
There are 10 suction levels to choose from and we recommend you make your clitoris wet to enhance the experience. It can take a little bit of manoeuvering but once you catch it right, you’ll know – immediately. It’s a fantastic alternative to the vibrators we’re used to and creates a completely different sensation. A very welcomed one.
What’s more, it’s waterproof, meaning you can effectively clean the head and shaft after each use, and its rechargeable via USB. No hunting around for batteries! The one downside is that it’s quite noisy, and when it’s in suction mode, this noise can sound a little odd so it may not be one for when you’re trying to be discreet…
Buy now from The Adults Toy Shop
£6.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: There is so much to love about this bullet vibrator. For something so small, it’s incredibly mighty. It only comes with one speed, controlled via a one-touch button on the top, but this makes using it incredibly simple. Don’t be put off by this lack of variety, either. It’s very powerful and can get you to orgasm in less than a minute if you’re in the mood and you get the position just right.
It’s made from a starch-based bioplastic called Biofeel, which means the Gaia Eco Bullet is the world’s first biodegradable and recyclable vibrator. It’s also tiny, so you can fit it in your handbag, discreetly take it on holidays or weekends away, and if anyone happens across it (like, heaven forbid, your kids) it’s not immediately obvious what it is.
We’ve had a lot of fun with this, which is why it’s our Budget Buy in our list of the best vibrators for women. It’s also great for more precise anal and nipple stimulation, and we’d happily pay a lot more than £6.99 for it.
It takes a single AAA battery, which isn’t included, but the battery lasts a while. We’ve replaced it once in three months and we use it once or twice a week. You can tell when it needs replacing because the power will drop and you may take longer to reach orgasm.
Buy now from The Adults Toy Shop
£99.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: Yes, £100 for a vibrator is a lot of money but the Svakom Ella Egg really is the best vibrator for women with smart features, which is great for solo play or when you’re in a couple/threesome or so on.
Whether you’re using it alone, with someone else (or multiple other people) you can control the 10 different intensities through an app, via the egg itself, or via the retrieval cord (which is fused to the egg meaning you can’t pull it off by accident!).
It’s powerful enough to use on your clitoris but is designed for vaginal stimulation, and is so quiet you can even wear it out to dinner, or similar – allowing your partner to control it, and your orgasm, remotely.
Made from soft, body-safe silicone with a ribbed texture to increase internal stimulation, the Ella Egg can be inserted and “worn” all day. And when it’s time to up the ante, you can switch to Climax Mode.
We recommend you use a water-based lubricant – we recommend Loving Joy again – to make the Ella Egg more comfortable to use. You’ll also find this enhances the sensation.
Plus, it’s charged via USB so you don’t have to take batteries with you.
Buy now from The Adults Toy Shop
£12.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: If you’ve never used a G-spot vibrator before, this is a great place to start.
Many G-spot vibrators tend to cater to both vaginal and clitoral stimulation. This means they’re shaped like the letter C (in order to hit both spots), but this can be tricky to get into position and can feel uncomfortable if you don’t get the angles quite right.
The Slim G-Spot Vibrator is, instead, purely for vaginal stimulation and has a slim shaft and small, soft, curved head, making it super comfortable to use, and familiarise yourself with.
It comes with a range of intensities and vibration types and you can control these while the vibrator is inside, by twisting the base. The base is long enough to make this easier than it sounds.
You can, of course, use this vibrator on your clitoris but it’s not as effective as some of the others in this list – namely the Eco Bullet. It’s certainly powerful enough to get you aroused which then makes your G-spot swell and makes it easier to locate once the vibrator is inserted.
It takes two AAA batteries which aren’t included.
Buy now from The Adults Toy Shop
£39.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: Chances are if you’ve ever seen, or used, a Rampant Rabbit or similar rabbit-shaped vibrator, you’ll know that they’re far from discreet…they tend to be large and the rabbit ears are typically part of an attachment on a large vibrator or dildo.
The Greedy Girl Bullet Rabbit Vibrator combines all the pleasure of the bunny ears (the sensation is similar to that of a tongue in terms of pressure and softness) but in a bullet form. It’s a little more obviously a vibrator if someone was to find it, compared to the Eco Bullet, but it’s still discreet enough to store away in a draw or bag.
There’s even a travel lock feature so it doesn’t actually start vibrating in your handbag or suitcase, giving the game away.
There are three-speed settings, and seven vibration patterns. Plus this bullet vibrator is rechargeable via USB. This is part of the reason why it costs so much more than the Eco Bullet but performs just as admirably
Buy now from The Adults Toy Shop
£32 | Buy now
Nasty Gal If you want to get more bang for your buck – or orgasms for your money – then we recommend buying a vibrator set like the 3-piece Sleek Tapered Bullet Vibrator Set from Nasty Gal.
As its name suggests, there are three different-sized bullet vibrators in this pack. This includes a small, metallic bullet which is great for precise clitoral stimulation.
Next up is a classic bullet vibrator with a streamlined shaft and matte finish.
Finally, the third bullet is the largest of the lot – making it better suited for internal as well as external use. This bullet has a curved tip to help you target the G-spot.
You can use them all solo, or mix it up and use one on yourself and another on your partner during sex. The possibility for pleasure is endless.
Buy now from Nasty Gal
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
