9 best vibrators for solo pleasure

Best: Overall

• Type: Clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 11
• Dimensions: 16.5cm x 6.5cm x 4.6cm

A few years ago, various different sex toy companies started to claim that they had created a “totally new” type of sex toy. The assertions were met with some healthy scepticism but it transpired to be true. These pulsing or "sonar" vibrators really are something totally new. Many brands have their own version of the pulsing vibrator, the sensation of which is similar to experiencing oral sex.

The satisfyer pro is a reasonably priced example of this new sex tech. The design is a little more basic than in the higher-priced toys and it’s not quite so ergonomic. But, in terms of performance, it’s astonishingly impressive and costs less than £30. Plus, it’s quiet enough to be used in a shared house.

Best: For multiple orgasms

• Type: Clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: ABS, silicone
• Vibration modes: 12
• Dimensions: 15.5cm x 5cm x 3.5cm

Another example of pulsing technology but this time at the other end of the price spectrum. The Womanizer premium isn’t cheap – but it’s extremely impressive. It's almost silent, beautifully designed and pretty much guaranteed to hit the spot. If you’ve struggled to achieve multiple orgasms before, this might well be the answer. Users report having an entirely different, far more intense, type of orgasm once they started using this (or similar toys).

Best: Bullet vibrator

• Type: Clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Phthalates, latex and BPA
• Vibration modes: 8
• Dimensions: 22cm x 7cm x 2 cm

The tango bullet is the classic of the bullet genre, a perfect gift, and destined to be kept for years to come and eventually replaced if it wears out. It’s got a round, generous vibration, rather than the thinner and sharper sensation that some cheaper bullets produce. Plus, it’s gloriously quiet and quick to recharge.

Best: For couples

• Type: Vaginal and clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 8
• Dimensions: 8cm x 4.5cm x 3 cm

The tiani could work for masturbation but it’s more aimed at couples. You wear it internally, so it follows the line of your body and stimulates your clitoris during penetrative sex (the vast majority of women can’t orgasm from vaginal penetration alone) and enables you to reach a climax during sex – quite possibly mutually with your partner, if simultaneous orgasms are something you’re aiming for. Lots of brands have mimicked this design but Lelo is the original and the best. It’s a full, rolling vibration and the tech is reliable enough that you can change settings at the touch of a button during sex.

Best: For stimulation of the entire vulva

• Type: Clitoris
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 7
• Dimensions: 9cm x 6cm x 3.5 cm

Smile Makers launched a couple of years ago and is well known for being sold on Gwyneth Paltrow’s brilliantly bonkers Goop website. Its other toys are named after fantasy companions – the fireman, the surfer, the tennis coach.

The ballerina is something a bit different. It’s designed to stimulate the whole of your vulva, not just your clitoris. This would be a great buy for someone who has grown tired of their usual toy but doesn’t like anything too intense on their clitoris. It’s not super silent but could easily be covered by a Spotify playlist.

Best: For different intensities of vibration

• Type: Clitoris
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 11
• Dimensions: 9.5cm x 2cm x 1 cm

You can buy any number of bog-standard bullets for around £10, and they may or may not work for you. If you’ve outgrown the cheap toy you purchased before masturbation became your regular hobby, this would be a great next step. It still does all the basics, but the unusual shape means that you can have different intensities of vibration depending on how you use it.

Best: For g-spot stimulation

• Type: Vaginal
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 10
• Dimensions: 15cm x 5 cm

Looking to get fully acquainted with your g-spot? This affordable yet powerful vibrator is a compelling option. It has ten settings and the kind of fulsome vibration that you would expect to find in a much more expensive toy.

Best: For combining with penetration

• Type: Clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 7
• Dimensions: 11cm x 3 cm

Lots of people prefer indirect stimulation when they’re masturbating. The Felix has two prongs, which you place either side of your clitoris, similar to the rabbit ears on a rampant rabbit, but in a smaller package. This is a great toy to involve in your sex life with another person and to combine with penetration. It's not quite as quiet as some of the others we tested but would be impossible to hear from the next room if you were under the duvet.

Best: For using in the bath

• Type: Clitoral
• Waterproof: Yes
• Material: Silicone
• Vibration modes: 10
• Dimensions: 7.5 x 2 x 2 cm

Another way to change up your masturbation routine is to try doing it somewhere other than your bed – a prime option being the bath. Vibrators that are safe for bath use are also great if you live in a shared house, especially if you don’t have a lock on your bedroom door or just need some extra privacy. This bullet packs quite a punch for its size and price and is totally water safe.