The amount of vibrators on the market is overwhelming — almost as overwhelming as the number of lists telling you which one is the best.
In truth, there's no singular "best" vibrator out there, as everyone has different tastes. Someone who loves a suction vibrator may think a wand is overhyped, and vice versa.
Scouring the internet, asking sex educators, and looking at bestsellers on Babeland(opens in a new tab) and Adam & Eve(opens in a new tab), however, led me to some of the most popular sex toys on the market. Vibrators of varying designs popped out as being the most functional or the best bang for its buck (literally) or the best blended orgasm.
I've compiled a list of what I believe to be the top 10 vibrators, according to the people of the internet — and then I tried them for myself.
Hitachi Magic Wand Rechargeable(opens in a new tab), $135
Who recommended it? The Magic Wand is one of Babeland's top sellers(opens in a new tab) and it's recommended by their brand manager and sex educator Lisa Finn, as well as by Wirecutter and The Strategist
Features: It's a cordless take on the classic Hitachi vibrator that offers approximately three hours of use when fully charged.
For sex toy aficionados, this toy's popularity comes as no surprise. The Magic Wand has been a mainstay for over 50 years, and now there's a more convenient cordless version. The design is so recognizable and iconic that people have even made merch(opens in a new tab) for it. "It's been referred to as the Cadillac of Vibrators — and with good reason," said Finn.
"This powerful and versatile toy is perfect for external stimulation anywhere on the body — from the clitoris, the shaft of the penis, the rim of the anus, to back massages, nipple play, and more — either for solo or partnered play," she said. The Rechargeable is Finn's favorite of Magic Wand's offerings to recommend because it is cordless and features a smooth silicone head and quieter motor.
In addition to being fawned over by sex educators, the Magic Wand Rechargeable reigns as Wirecutter's top vibrator pick. Granted, I don't think everything Wirecutter says is doctrine (they hailed the Zumio, a sex toy I didn't vibe with at all, so to speak). But Wirecutter is far from the only place to praise the Magic Wand Rechargeable: Finn said the wand has been a top seller for iconic sex store Babeland since they opened doors 27 years ago.
Given this track record, I had high expectations for the Magic Wand(opens in a new tab) and it handedly met them. I hesitate to say wands are foolproof orgasm machines because every body is different — but for my cis woman self, that was certainly the case.
There's no fuss and no sophisticated design, but who cares? The Magic Wand is durable and reliable, with multiple settings that'll achieve the sought-after orgasm it's known for. Given its size and the lack of a travel pouch, the wand isn't the best toy for travel — but for a solo or partnered date at home, it's perfect (dare I say, magic).
Satisfyer Pro 2(opens in a new tab), $50
Who recommended it? The Satisfyer Pro 2(opens in a new tab) is an Adam & Eve top seller and also has the stamp of approval from my Mashable colleague Jess Joho, who deemed it the best budget suction clitoral stimulator. The Strategist and SELF recommend it as well.
Features: The Satisfyer Pro 2 offers 1.5 hours at full charge via USB and is also waterproof.
This toy is a clit sucker, meaning that it provides suction stimulation for pleasure as opposed to vibration. As I stated in my review of BuzzFeed's Air Vibe, I'm not a huge fan of clit suckers. The Satisfyer Pro 2(opens in a new tab), however, is so well-loved that I couldn't exclude it from this list because of my own biases.
For someone who prefers more traditional vibrations over suction, the Pro 2 delivers. Its shape is perfect for maneuvering and finding the perfect spot, which I struggled with trying more "blobby" suckers like LELO's Sona 2(opens in a new tab). Not only did I have more fun with the Pro 2, but it's nearly half the cost of the Sona 2 — and the second-cheapest vibe on this list — at $49.95. It's also pretty quiet until you reach the higher intensities.
A downside, which could be due to the lower price point, is that it doesn't come with its own pouch. This is easily DIYable, however, so don't let that deter you if you want an inexpensive clit suction vibe in your life.
Maude Vibe(opens in a new tab), $45
Who recommended it? The Maude(opens in a new tab) is my personal favorite, and was Joho's pick for best budget vibrator (and formerly Wirecutter's, but they recently swapped it out for the Satisfyer Purple Pleasure(opens in a new tab)).
Features: This model offers 2.5 hours of use when fully charged via USB. It is water-resistant and comes with canvas pouch for storage and travel.
As mentioned, Maude's Vibe(opens in a new tab) is my own favorite vibrator. It's the only one from this list I already owned before embarking on this journey, if that's any indication. The Vibe is the cheapest vibrator on this list at $45 (followed by the Satisfyer Pro 2(opens in a new tab) at a close $49.95), but that's far from the reason why it's so beloved.
This vibrator is small and actually quiet, which makes it perfect for solo or partnered use. As Joho mentioned, it's also great for beginners. One of my favorite things about Maude's Vibe is that there's no fuss. There's one button, serving to both the on/off switch and to increase/decrease the intensity. Maude has three intensities and one pattern, a smooth persistent buzz. It's a reliable vibrator with an unassuming yet modern look, and it's never let me down.
Womanizer Premium(opens in a new tab), $199
Who recommended it? The Premium(opens in a new tab) is on Adam & Eve and Babeland's lists of top sellers. Gigi Engle, ACS, a certified sexologist and author of All The F*cking Mistakes: a guide to sex, love, and life, recommends the Womanizer Liberty. (Wirecutter and SELF recommend the Classic, while The Strategist recommends the Premium.)
Features: The Premium offers two hours of use when fully charged via USB. It is waterproof, comes with a travel pouch, and there are five color choices (black, red-gold, white, blueberry, raspberry).
Finn confessed that the Womanizer(opens in a new tab) isn't technically a vibrator, but judging from her recommendation and that of many lists, no one cares. "If you’ve read any articles on sex toys recently, you've probably heard about 'suction'-style toys, sex toys that use air pulsation to deliver targeted pleasure," said Finn. "Womanizer is the OG brand of this style of toy, and they do it right."
Yes, the Womanizer is a suction toy, meaning it's not this writer's favorite. Regardless, I found that the Womanizer Premium is user friendly and powerful, especially on the higher notches. Its shape is easy to handle, and it's not bad to look at either. With 12 intensity levels, there's something for everyone, and I didn't get near the top intensity in order to climax.
Engle agrees, saying of the Womanizer Liberty (a less expensive alternative to the Premium with half the intensity levels), "The Womanizer looks like a decorative piece of modern art. You could literally leave it in the living room like a sculpture and I would bet money no one would know the difference."
If you're looking for a more luxury version of the Satisfyer Pro 2, consider the Womanizer.
Le Wand Rechargeable Vibrating Massager(opens in a new tab), $170
Who recommended it? Le Wand is the winner of Cosmopolitan's "Sexellence Award" for Most Powerful Toy. Gigi Engle and The Strategist both recommend it, as well.
Features: Le Wand(opens in a new tab) provides enough power for three hours of wireless use when fully charged via its outlet charger. It comes with a travel pouch and you have three color choices (white, black, and gray).
"This is my favorite toy in the world," Engle told Mashable. "It's like the Magic Wand, only sexier...It's the one toy I really can't live without. It gets the job done every single time. I call it 'Old Faithful.'"
After using Le Wand(opens in a new tab) myself, I can see why Engle is so fond of it. With 10 vibration intensities and 20 vibration modes (all laid out in the user guide that's included in the package), there's something for everyone with this toy. It's easy to maneuver from mode to mode (just press the middle "wave" button) and increase/decrease the intensity (just press the plus or minus button).
Le Wand is cordless and boasts a charge time of three hours, tied with the Magic Wand as the longest charge time on this list. It's also the only wand that comes with a travel pouch, which is a major plus.
While it does its job and does it well, Le Wand is one of the louder toys on this list. In the Guide to Wand Use that comes with the toy, a "fun fact" about Le Wand is, "Some wand massagers can be louder than other vibrators, but more modern options have been designed to be nice and quiet." That was definitely not my experience with Le Wand, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment. With its forceful motor coupled with its sleek look, it was actually one of my favorites.
We-Vibe Tango(opens in a new tab), $59
Who recommended it? Babeland's Lisa Finn and The Strategist both recommended it, and it was a runner up for Wirecutter.
Features: The Tango(opens in a new tab) offers 90 minutes of use when fully charged via USB. It's waterproof, comes with a travel pouch, and you have a choice of pink or blue.
"How do I love this toy? Let me count the ways," said Finn. "But really, this tiny body-safe ABS plastic clitoral vibe packs an, [in my opinion], unmatched punch when it comes to power, and the angled tip delivers pinpoint vibration right where you want it."
We-Vibe's Tango(opens in a new tab) is an upgrade to the standard bullet vibrator. It's charged via USB so you don't have to worry about batteries, for one. Its fuchsia version could be mistaken for a tube of lipstick at just 90 mm (~3.5 inches) long and 20 mm (~0.8 inches) wide. To boot, the Tango manages to fit eight settings into its compact body.
The Tango was the best bullet vibrator I've tried. The flat lipstick-like surface felt better than the typical rounded edge, and it had more versatile vibrations than a standard bullet. I'd also much rather carry a charged Tango around than futz with batteries.
"The only downside would be if you don’t like that super-concentrated strong vibration, this toy might be a bit too intense," Finn warned. The Tango is for someone who wants the ease of a small vibrator with the intensity of a larger one.
We-Vibe Nova 2(opens in a new tab), $149
Who recommended it? Babeland's Lisa Finn and The Strategist are fans.
Features: The We-Vibe Nova 2(opens in a new tab) can go for 90 minutes fully charged via USB. It is waterproof, has a travel pouch, and it is also app-compatible for customizable vibration settings and partner play.
We-Vibe's Nova 2(opens in a new tab) is a newcomer that's worth the hype, according to Finn. "The Nova 2 is an example of a 'rabbit' that took that 'rabbit' idea and threw it out the window in order to make a dynamic dual-stim design that really moves with the body to provide constant stimulation to both hot-spots," she continued.
The Nova 2 does look like a redesigned rabbit, with an almost-circular curve of its clitoral stimulator. The G-spot end is longer and more bulbous.
While the Nova 2 is designed to contour to your body, it unfortunately didn't really work with mine. The stimulators are too close for comfort. Every time the G-spot stimulator was inserted, the curved clit stimulator landed on my pubis (above the clit), and it was too uncomfortable to contort it down.
If anything, this proves there's a need for different style rabbits for different bodies. Just because the Nova 2 wasn't a winner for me doesn't mean that'll be the case for you. If other rabbit vibrators haven't been satisfactory, maybe Nova 2's design will be.
Dame Pom(opens in a new tab), $95
Who recommended it? It's been praised by The Strategist and SELF.
Features: Dame's Pom(opens in a new tab) works for two hours when fully charged via USB. It's waterproof, has a travel pouch, and you can choose between a jade or plum shade.
The Pom is meant to fit in the palm of the user's hand (get it?), making it compact and easy to control. The toy can bend for general or targeted clitoral stimulation with a pointed edge that juts out in the top of the toy. This tiny but mighty blob from sexual wellness brand Dame has five intensities and five patterns, laid out in the user manual — which isn't something I can say about every toy.
As the Pom is small and quiet, it's perfect for either solo or partner play. I've only experienced the former given the current circumstances, but its lack of noise gave me peace of mind as I don't live alone.
At merely 3.25 inches long, Pom is also well-suited for travel (and comes with a pouch to boot). I found the Pom's bendable body and pointed edge perfect for targeting the clit; it was easy to bend the toy and experience more intense sensation, or to ease off and enjoy more leisurely. Don't let its shape and size fool you, though: The Pom(opens in a new tab) is as powerful as other vibes on this list.
Doxy Original Massager(opens in a new tab), from $120
Who recommended it? It's praised by The Strategist and was a Wirecutter runner up.
Features: Doxy's Original Massager(opens in a new tab) is quite customizable, including four choices of wand colors (pink, black, purple, and white).
The Doxy Original is the most affordable wand on this list at $119.99. It can cost around $15 more, however, if the user chooses a gold collar as opposed to silver or matte black. The collar is just one element of the Doxy that can be customized. You can also select the colors of the body, buttons, and head.
The personalization is just one reason to love the Doxy, though. According to their website, the Doxy Original Massager(opens in a new tab) is 30 percent more powerful than Hitachi's wand. Its large head and buttons make it easy to maneuver and change settings. I can't test for whether the Doxy is exactly 30 percent more powerful, but it nonetheless had the same "foolproof orgasm" vibes — literally and figuratively — as other wands.
Unlike the two other wands on this list, however, the Doxy needs to be plugged in when you're using it. That shouldn't be too much of a problem given that the cord is ten feet long, but it doesn't have the same freedom a cordless toy has. At the same time, you never have to wait for it to charge.
The Doxy also didn't come with a user guide (at least mine didn't), so I had to watch a video to find out that the Doxy has two modes: vibration and pulsing. Unlike Le Wand's wand, it also didn't come with a storage pouch.
Je Joue Mimi(opens in a new tab), $89
Who recommended it? The Strategist and the Wirecutter (which named it a runner-up) are both fans.
Features: The Mimi(opens in a new tab) works for two hours when it's fully charged via USB. It's also waterproof, and you have a color choice of lilac, fuchsia, black, or purple.
My Je Joue Mimi, in lilac, looks like a beautiful periwinkle egg. Most comparable to the Pom on this list, Mimi is a tad cheaper and has two more vibration patterns for a total of seven. Interestingly, Je Joue's website(opens in a new tab) contradicts itself by saying it has six or seven patterns, depending on where you look; the booklet that arrives with the toy says six, as well. I confirmed seven.
The Mimi also boasts five intensities. The top of the toy is great for precise clitoral stimulation, while the wider end provides more general vibration to the vulva.
Unlike the Pom, Mimi can't bend and doesn't come with its own pouch. The toy is 3.5 inches long, however, so you can easily find your own and travel with it.
They may all have the same goal, but each vibrator on this list is unique. They're different styles, shapes, specifications, and costs. Hopefully, there's one (or more!) that is just right for you.
