Sex toys for women: which type suits you?

There are hundreds of sex toys marketed to women, but most can be sorted based on a single question: should the toy stimulate externally, internally, or both? Once you know the answer, only a few types remain to choose from—and only then does it make sense to compare models.

Externally, toward the clitoris, there are three main types: clitoral stimulators that use air pressure, small vibrators like bullet and finger vibrators, and massager wands with a large vibrating head. Internally, there are G-spot vibrators and dildos. Rabbit vibrators and some air-pressure products do both at the same time. In addition, there are portable toys like panty vibrators and vibrating eggs, which are often used together with a partner.

If it’s your very first toy, the clitoris is an easy place to start, and sex toys for beginnersgoes through how you take your first step. Here we go through each type, what it does, and which models have clearly published specifications.

A clitoral air-pressure stimulator has a small opening that is placed over the clitoris. Instead of vibrating against the skin, it creates pressure waves in the air, which provides a suctioning or pulsing sensation without direct contact with the clitoris itself. The feeling is different from vibration, and the one who thinks vibration is too intense directly on the clitoris is usually curious about it.

What sets the models apart is above all the fit and the operating time. Womanizer Premium 2comes with two stimulation tips in sizes S and M, so you can choose the one that closes best. Womanizer Next has fourteen intensity steps and three depth levels. Both are stated to have 240 minutes of runtime.

Air pressure doesn't suit everyone—some prefer vibration. The difference is explained in clitoral stimulator or air pressure vibrator, and how you use it is stated in how do you use a clitoral stimulator. More models can be found in the guide to clitoral stimulators.

A small vibrator is the most versatile first choice. It's easy to hold, easy to position exactly where you want it, and easy to take with you. A bullet vibrator has a rounded tip that is placed against the clitoris; a finger vibrator sits on your finger so that your hand does the work; a panty vibrator is held in place by your underwear.

We-Vibe Tango X is just under ten centimeters long and has eight intensity levels and seven patterns. Svakom Echo is a finger vibrator with a warming function up to 38 °C and one of the few models where the manufacturer publishes a sound level: up to 50 dB. Lovense Ferri is attached with a magnet on the outside of the panties, weighs 35 grams, and can be controlled via the app.

The sound level is hard to compare, since few manufacturers publish measurement values. Do you want something discreet? Read quiet vibrators, More about portable models can be found in trosvibrator-guiden, and more small models in the guide to mini vibrators.

A massage wand, or wand, has a large rounded head on a long handle. The head spreads the vibration over a larger area than a small vibrator, which many find more comfortable when they want powerful but not point-by-point stimulation. The wand also works for regular muscle massage, and it’s easy to use together with a partner.

We-Vibe Wand 2 is 270 × 55 millimeters, has ten intensity steps and a flexible neck, and is completely covered in silicone. Massage wands are bigger and heavier than other vibrators, so think about storage and whether you want to take it with you. More about how they are used is in how do you use a massage wand, and more models in the guide to massage wands.

A G-spot vibrator has a curved shaft that is inserted vaginally and presses against the front wall, where the G-spot area usually sits. The bend is what sets it apart from a straight vibrator. We-Vibe Rave 2 has two motors and a bendable housing so the angle can be adjusted. Womanizer OG is unusual in that it directs air pressure to the G-spot instead of vibration.

A rabbit vibrator combines an inner shaft with an outer arm against the clitoris, so that both are stimulated at the same time. We-Vibe Nova 2 has a flexible outer arm that is designed to stay in contact with the clitoris, and two motors that are controlled independently.

How you find the right area is in finding the G-spot, and the differences between rabbit models in rabbitvibrator-guiden. More models are in the guides to G-spot vibrators and rabbit vibrators.

A dildo doesn’t vibrate — it provides fullness and pressure, and you control the rhythm yourself. That makes it simple, quiet, and without a battery that runs out. Dildos come in silicone, glass, and metal, in realistic and fantasy shapes, and with or without a suction cup for hands-free use.

Size is the most important choice. Compare the insertable length and diameter, not the total length — how you read the measurements is in What size dildo should you choose. Want to know more about the attachment? It’s in dildo with suction cup, and about glass are glass dildos safe?. The difference from vibrators is explained in the difference between a dildo and a vibrator.

Between a dildo and a vibrator, there is the thrust vibrator, which moves back and forth by itself. It is described in Thrust vibrator: how it works.

1. External, internal, or both? That determines the product type. If you’re not sure, start with external — a small vibrator or a clitoral stimulator is easy to explore with and gives you a quick feel for what you like.

2. Vibration or air pressure? Vibration feels like buzzing against the skin, air pressure like suction or pulsing. Sensitivity differs a lot between people, and it’s not unusual to like one of them a lot and not at all the other.

3. How should it be controlled? Buttons on the product, a remote control, or an app. An app provides more patterns and makes it possible for a partner to control it, but buttons are faster to use.

4. Does it need to withstand water? IPX7 means the product can be submerged one meter for 30 minutes according to the IEC 60529 standard. More about it in Waterproof sex toys.

5. How long does the battery last, and what cable is needed? Runtime varies from about one hour to several, and many models are charged with a magnetic cable that only fits that particular product. Store the cable together with the toy.

Buying by number of modes. Twenty patterns sounds like more than five, but most people find a few favorites and use them. The intensity range and how the toy sits against the body matter more than the number of programs.

Choosing something too big. Applies to both vibrators and dildos. A smaller model is easier to position correctly, easier to store, and easier to take with you, and you can always move on to something bigger.

Reading the runtime incorrectly. Manufacturers often list runtime at the lowest setting. Lovense, for example, states up to 236 minutes for Lush Mini but 63 minutes at the highest setting. Check whether a range is given.

Forgetting about the material. A cheap toy in a porous material can’t be cleaned completely and may become sticky over time. Silicone, glass, and metal last longer and are easier to take care of. How long different toys usually last is listed in how long does a sex toy last.

Choose a toy made of silicone, glass, or metal if you can. They are non-porous, which makes them easy to keep clean, and many manufacturers state that their silicone is free from phthalates, BPA, and latex. Porous materials like TPE and PVC can only be cleaned on the surface. More in safer materials in sex toys.

Use water-based lubricant for silicone toys—silicone-based can damage the surface. If you use a latex condom, you should avoid oil-based products, which damage latex. The full guide is in which lubricant should you choose.

Clean the toy before and after every use and let it dry completely. Use a condom if you share it. Only use anal toys if the manufacturer states that they are made for that, with a flared base. Stop if anything hurts, and contact healthcare if you experience problems. Care, material by material, is listed in how to clean sex toys.

If you want a toy that works for most people, an air-pressure clitoral stimulator or a small vibrator is the safest first choice. If you want power and simplicity, the massager wand is the right option. If you want stimulation inside and outside at the same time, the rabbit vibrator is the form that makes that possible, and if you want control without a motor, a dildo made of silicone or glass is the right way to go.

No matter the type: read the manufacturer’s specifications before you buy—material, dimensions, water resistance, and run time—and compare the same things between models. The entire range is in the category vibrators, and if you want to use the toy together, there is Which sex toy is best for couples?.