Vibrators 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Personal Massagers

You want to try a new sex toy, and someone told you to get a vibrator. You went online and searched “buy a new vibrator,” thinking it would be easy.

The next thing you knew, you were inundated by an avalanche of vibrating dongs, rabbits, wands, and other rumbly toys you’d never heard of.

The days of buying a simple, AA-battery-operated vibrator are long gone. But that’s not a bad thing.

Today, there are hundreds of different vibrators to choose from, each with its own special pleasure powers. The only problem? It can be hard to find the one that’s right for your body and your pleasure.

That’s what this guide is for.

We’ll give you a quick look at all the most popular types of vibrators today, from simple bullets to techy sonic vibrators.

You’ll learn how they work and which pleasure zones they target so you can choose the right one for your needs.

We’ll also recommend some of the best overall vibrators according to our experts and online reviews.

By the end of this beginner’s guide to vibrators, you’ll know exactly which vibrator to choose.

Note: This guide focuses on vibrators for vulvas/vaginas (though it includes a few penis-friendly couple’s vibrators too).

If you’ve got a penis and you’re looking for male vibrators, vibrating cock rings, prostate massagers, and vibrating strokers, you’ll find loads in our Sex Toy Gift Guide for Men.

Vibrator Basics (in 30 Seconds)

Who’s got time to become a vibrator savant? Do less reading and more vibrating with this quick 30-second guide for beginners.

👉 Vibrators are electronic sex toys that stimulate your erogenous zones with vibrating sensations. Most vibrators are made for people with vulvas.

👉 There are dozens of different kinds of vibrators and thousands of different vibrator products to choose from.

👉 There are vibrators for clitoral stimulation, G-spot play, full penetration, and anal play. Some vibrators, such as rabbit vibrators, pleasure multiple zones at once!

👉 Vibrators produce different types of vibrations. Most produce buzzy vibes, but wands have rumbly vibes,  air suction toys stimulate with pulses of air, and sonic vibrators use sound waves.

👉 Vibrators are totally safe when used and cleaned properly.

👉 Vibrators are fun to use alone or with a partner. In fact, couples vibrators are among the most popular sex toys.

👉 The best type of vibrator for a beginner is a bullet vibrator. We recommend the VeDO Boom. 

👉 Always use a water-based sex lube with your vibrator, especially if you’re using it for penetration.

Keep reading if you want to learn more about the different kinds of vibrators and how each one pushes your pleasure buttons.

What is a Vibrator?

Let’s start with the basics. What is a vibrator, anyway?

Simply put, a vibrator is a sex toy that vibrates. It contains a small motor that’s powered by a battery. When you turn it on, it comes to life like an electric toothbrush.

Today, most vibrators are powered by a rechargeable battery, like your phone.

When you place the vibrator against your sensitive parts, it stimulates them much more than a finger or a normal toy could. This makes it easier to have an orgasm.

Most vibrators have buttons that allow you to change their settings. You can choose the intensity of the vibes, the pattern, and sometimes even the temperature of the vibrator.

This makes it easy to find the perfect level of intensity for your body.

Generally, higher-end vibrators have more settings and features, including a greater range of vibration intensity. So, if you’re extra sensitive, you may want to choose a premium vibrator.

If you’ve had trouble climaxing in the past, you have to try a vibrator. I’ve known women who hadn’t had an orgasm in years. When they found the right vibrator, it took minutes.

With some toys (such as wand massagers), you barely need to move at all. Just rest the vibrator on your clit and let it do the work.

This is a lot easier than giving your fingers and wrist a workout, and climaxing is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to do all the work yourself.

Top Vibrators to Try Now

Ready to try a vibrator? You’ll learn more about each type of vibrator later. But if you’re ready to browse now, these are our top picks.

My colleagues and I tested all of these toys (we’ve worked with sex toys for years), and I scoured online reviews to see what others had to say.

All of the following vibrators are produced by trusted brands whose products undergo intense testing for safety.

If you want a vibrator to keep you safe and curl your toes as they’ve never been curled before, choose one from this list.