So you want to buy your first vibrator — or replace a crappy old one. It seems like a daunting task, we know! There are a ton of options out there. But it’s not as difficult as it seems. We will walk you through some considerations to make the experience fun and stress-free.

When choosing your first vibrator, a lot depends on which part of your body you want to stimulate. Do you want clitoral stimulation only? Penetration? Perhaps you want a dual stimulator, like a rabbit, for simultaneous penetration and clitoral stimulation? Deciding on this front will narrow the field right off the bat!

If you’re not sure what you want to explore, an insertable toy that doubles as a clitoral vibe (and has multiple speeds) tends to be the most versatile. Examples of this include - Lovelife Cuddle and Dame Arc. When considering insertable toys, always keep size in mind. For your first vibrator, you don’t want to end up with something bigger than you can handle! So measure whatever you generally use for insertion — both girth and length — and use that as a guide. 

Here are other things to consider!

Types of Stimulation

Understanding which types of stimulation you prefer can be helpful as well. Do you like direct and pinpoint stimulation, more broad stimulation, or the option for either? Pressure or a light touch? Are you pretty sensitive, or do you crave a lot of stimulation at once? It’s okay if you’re not sure about these questions, as some vibes have a whole range of vibration intensities and options that won’t lock you into just one way of using them. Besides, you’ll learn more about what you like once you find a good toy to experiment with.

Vibrator Materials

Some shops still carry toys made of questionable and potentially unsafe materials — but not us. This is why we advise you to employ extreme caution if you're going to buy toys on Amazon as many products sold there are known to contain toxic materials. By shopping with us, you’ll know that whatever toy you choose will be body-safe and phthalate-free. There are two non-porous vibrator materials to choose between: plastic and silicone. Plastic is hard and smooth; it transmits vibrations very well and provides excellent pressure if you want it. Silicone is a soft plush material. However, different manufacturers utilize silicone in different ways. Fun Factory and many of the Tenga Iroha toys, for instance, are quite squishy. Silicone-coated toys from LELO are velvety but tend to be quite rigid.

Budget Vibrator

Your budget will likely come into play early on in your search for the right vibe. In general, battery-operated toys are cheaper than rechargeable ones, but they require you to purchase batteries often. Options with multiple modes that are $35 and under include: Fun Factory Ocean and Classique Pride (which comes with a cute rainbow carrying case).

Rechargeable toys may cost more upfront but could save you money in the long run. Our favorite budget-friendly rechargeable vibrators include Dame Dip ($35), Maia Bari Bullet ($26), and Luv Plus ($49). 

If you’ve already experienced the untimely death of a cheap toy, it may reassure you to know that many of our vibes come with warranties. We also carry a few vibes that plug into the wall, and those range in price from $79 to $184

Size & Style

Almost all vibrators can be used for clitoral stimulation, so if that’s what you’re after, there are a lot of options in terms of size, shape, and power source. There’s everything from the 3-inch Maia Jessi Trippy Bullet to the 13-inch Magic Wand. Obviously, some toys are more discreet than others! If you’re looking for a vibe that can blend into its surroundings, check out the Tenga Iroha Lipstick or Crave Vesper(a gorgeous slim bullet vibrator that doubles as a necklace). 

Mini vibes are a popular choice for beginners because they are small, discreet, and easy to hold. Corded bullets like the Bnaughty are especially simple to operate, as you control vibrations using the power pack. Want recommendations? A good, dependable mid-range mini vibe is the Psyche Power Vibe. A few staff favorite rechargeable mini vibes are the We-Vibe Touch X or any of the Mini Marvels.

Different Vibrator Sensations

Some toys are exceptional at enhancing certain masturbation techniques. For instance, if you like rubbing your clitoris with your finger, some vibes can add buzz to your usual routine. The Dame Fin and Play With Me Finger Vibe actually straps to your fingers. While Mini Marvels Marvelous Teaser is designed ergonomically to be held between your fingers.

If you know what kind of sensation you enjoy against your clitoris, there are some unique vibes to consider. If you like flickering or tapping, the Marvels Marvelous Flicker offers a multitude of exciting sensations. Prefer a gentle yet highly arousing back-and-forth motion? Try the Eroscillator 2 Plus. If you like mild suction and oral sex, consider air-flow toys. Want your clit to be surrounded on both sides? The Rabbit Bullet and Duet Flex can do that.

Wands are a special category of vibrators. These powerful clitoral toys are characterized by their shape, which was originally meant to help relieve back and neck pain. Today, they are used for pleasure as well, they vary in size and have different power sources. Some, like the Magic Wand Rechargeable, have large heads and strong vibrations that provide deep, penetrating stimulation on a large surface area, which some people love. Others, like the Shibari Mini Halo, are smaller but just as powerful. One perk about wands is that many can accommodate attachments, turning them from solely clitoral vibes into insertable and dual-stimulation ones.

On the other hand, if you’re very sensitive or you’ve previously tried a strong toy and didn’t enjoy it, we carry vibes with softer, milder vibrations, such as the Iroha Zen or Bcute Pearl. You may also enjoy the low rumbly settings on Je Joue’s Rabbit or G-Spot Bullets.

Orgasmic Potential

If you’ve never had an orgasm, you’ll probably want a toy with a large range of vibration strengths so you can play around and discover exactly which level you like. The LELO Loki, Pillow Talk Sassy, and Fun Factory Volta are perfect for this purpose.

A lot of vibes with long shafts can be used both internally and externally. These toys are awesome options for a beginner, as they allow for the most amount of experimentation. The Lovelife Cuddle or Romp Hype are both nice options that won’t break the bank.

On the hunt for a vibrator you can use during partnered sex? You’ll want one that’s small or thin enough to fit between two bodies. Vibes with longer shafts, like the Bgee, are good for this purpose, as they can reduce the strain on your hand and fingers. Or you could try the couples-oriented We-Vibe Chorus.

If your main concern is exploring your G-spot, then you’ll want a vibe with a pronounced and/or curved head. For example, the LELO Gigi 2, Dame Arc, and Maia Misty. Learn more about picking out the perfect G-spot toy in our guide.

And how about the two-in-one toys? The Romp Reverb offers airflow suction and G-spot vibration. The downside to these toys is that they are anatomy-specific, and their abundant stimulation may feel overwhelming to beginners. The upside is that when a rabbit vibrator really works for you, it can become your go-to toy for life. One small and easy-to-handle dual vibe is the Miss Bi. Money Bunny is also a nice introductory rabbit. Get the in-depth low-down on dual vibes in our guide.

It’s up to you!

There’s just one final factor you should consider when choosing your first vibrator: aesthetics! Your sense of style will probably guide you anyway when you’re browsing our shop, and be sure to listen to it! You’ll be much more likely to use a toy that you find visually appealing.

Still feeling boggled? Come to our recurring class, The Joys of Toys!, in which we cover everything you need to know about delving into the big wide world of sex toys.