Curious About Using a Vibrator for the First Time? Start Here

When I bought my first sex toy, I didn’t know that vibrators for beginners was even a category. I simply asked my roommate what she owned (the Lelo Gigi), bought the same model, and then clumsily figured out how to use it without doing any research. I didn’t know what I was doing, that there were actual types of vibrators with different sensations, or that lube is crucial (lesson learned there). Fast forward, and I’m now a full-time shopping editor who’s reported on and tested sex toys for the last five years. The world of sex toys has exponentially expanded, with all sorts of clit-sucking, G-spot-tickling, penis-pumping vibrators available to shop. Thankfully, I now have a much better understanding of them, of how much pleasure the best vibrators can provide during masturbation and sex, and which are actually worth your time. To help you figure out the right one for you, I’ve assembled an expert- and tester-recommended list of the very best beginner vibrators—including some of my favorites (cough, the Lelo Sona 2 Cruise).

The best vibrators for beginners, at a glance

How we tested vibrators for beginners

1. Best Overall: Lelo Sona 2 Cruise

• Type: Suction vibrator
• Use: External only
• Material: Body-safe silicone, ABS plastic
• Modes: 12 intensity levels
• Battery: 2-hour USB-rechargeable battery with 2-hour run time
• Waterproof: Yes
• Return policy: Lelo offers refunds within 14 days on unused, unopened products.

In her Lelo review, sex educator and Glamour writer Suzannah Weiss calls the Sona 2 Cruise the best vibrator she’s ever tried. The suction vibrator has a long hood that fits around the clit and stimulates the entire vulva with airwaves. Its vibes ramp up from soft to intense with an unusually wide range of intensities (12, in a world where other vibes only offer three). “The Sona creates a prolonged climax after a sensual buildup, the kind of luxuriously drawn-out orgasm that has you feeling tingly minutes later,” Weiss says. “I’ve tried touch-free vibrators like this before, and let me tell you, damn. It’s totally revolutionized my orgasm.”

I’ve owned the Sona for over a year, and though it is more expensive than some other air pulse vibrators, its quality and results make it worth the investment in my book. I like that the toy never makes actual contact with my body. Other vibes I have, like my Maude Vibe (more on that later), actually touch the clit and wear it out more quickly. Not so with the Sona, which I think is gentle enough in sensation for a beginner but really strong when you want it to be—which you really might, once you’ve gotten used to it. Another standout aspect is the clit sucker’s unique cruise-control setting (a Lelo speciality). With this feature turned on, the toy automatically increases its intensity the closer it’s pressed to my body—and decreases as it moves away. I don’t have to fiddle with buttons to adjust intensities while I’m masturbating (or when a partner uses the toy on me)—not something I really want to think about when in the heat of the moment.

• Why we love it: Wide range of intensities; touch-free; cruise-control setting; good value
• What could improve: May feel too strong for some; expensive

2. Best G-Spot Vibrator: Lelo Gigi 2

• Type: G-spot vibrator
• Use: Internal and external
• Material: Body-safe silicone, ABS plastic
• Modes: 8 intensity levels
• Battery: 2-hour USB-rechargeable battery with 4-hour run time
• Waterproof: Yes
• Return policy: Lelo offers refunds within 14 days on unused, unopened products.

Carol Queen, PhD, a sex educator and staff expert at Good Vibrations, recommends the Gigi 2—an all-time favorite among Glamour readers—because “it has something for everyone.” The vibrator has a flat, sloped head that’s broad enough to cover more area once slipped inside the vagina, spreading deep sensation through the vulva and up to the clit. In her review, sex writer and Glamour toy tester Amanda Chatel praised the Gigi for how it easily its curved body hits the G-spot. “When it comes to G-spot orgasms, Gigi 2 delivers more than the other G-spot stimulators of the dozens I have,” she says. “It’s even made me squirt a few times.” The bestseller is meant for internal stimulation, but you can also use it externally to stimulate your clitoris—I owned this vibrator in my 20s, and that was how I used it. I liked that it functioned as a massager first, so I could warm up with clitoral orgasm before penetration. With eight vibration settings and a four-hour battery life (wild), it’s a versatile toy that lets you start off slow while you figure out what type of orgasm you like.