21 Best Vibrators for Beginners, According to Experts
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.
They focus first and foremost on the most pleasurable spots inside your body, and they’re great for beginners because of their intuitive shape and functionality. G-spot vibrators, for example, feature slightly flared tips and curved shafts to help you find and tease just the right place. Anal vibrators, meanwhile, use their own flared tips to hit the P-spot or A-spot inside your anus; it’s no surprise they’re considered one of the best sex toys for men. (You can also pick up a vibrating dildo to use for both internal penetration and clitoral stimulation.) Keep in mind that any internal vibrator you use should have a handle or base to ensure you don’t accidentally lose it inside yourself.
External vibes are designed to stimulate erogenous zones like your clitoris, labia, perineum, and nipples; because they leave room for penetration, they’re some of the best sex toys for couples. On the handheld side, you can choose from bullets (compact, cylindrical devices that are usually about the size of a finger), palm vibrators (rumbly options that fit in your hand and work well for massage), and wand vibrators (larger devices with bulbous, extra-powerful heads). Wearables like cock rings and finger vibrators also fit in this category. If you prefer a more delicate touch, you can also opt for suction toys, which use pulses of air to stimulate the clitoris and mimic the feeling of oral sex. A word of warning: If a toy is advertised as being for external use only, it’s best to follow directions.
Finally, rabbit-style vibes stimulate you internally and externally at the very same time, leading to intense blended orgasms. The main shaft focuses on the G-spot while the smaller connecting arm acts as a clit vibrator. As pleasurable as the sensations may be, according to Queen, rabbits might be too intense for total newbies. “It can be really great,” she says. “But many people find it’s a lot to focus on all the body parts all at once while you’re also learning to enjoy the vibration.”
Meet our sex experts
- Carol Queen, PhD, a sex educator and staff sexologist at Good Vibrations
- Nan Wise, PhD, a neuroscientist, professor, and certified sex therapist
- Navy Bastiaans, a sexual health educator
- Micki Allen, a sex educator
- Amanda Chatel, a Glamour sex writer and toy tester
- Suzannah Weiss, a sex educator and Glamour sex writer
The best vibrators for beginners at a glance
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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