9 Best Dildos for Solo and Partner Play, According to Experts
If you search for dildos online, you’ll find an endless scroll of phalluses of all textures and sizes. Sure, you could buy the first one that pops up, but we’re here to help you be a more discerning shopper. We spoke to sex experts and educators to help you pick one that’s actually worth your time (and dollars).
A dildo is basically a penis-shaped sex toy that can be inserted or used to stimulate the vagina or anus. If you’re a beginner to sex toys, you might be tempted to reach for vibrators, but experts actually recommend dildos as an excellent sex toy for those starting out too. “The primary benefit is that they give you more options for solo pleasure, pleasure with a partner, and total control,” Heather Shannon, LCPC, a certified sex therapist and host of the podcast Ask a Sex Therapist, tells SELF. Many can hook into strap-on harnesses so you can go hands-free with your partner, and if it’s just you, a dildo is a great way to enjoy penetration on your own.
“Dildos are so much more versatile than they get credit for,” Shadeen Francis, LMFT, an AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells SELF. “They can be phallic or fantastical [in shape], solid or flexible, and can come in every length, girth, and degree of curve.” Many are portable and don’t need batteries, while others vibrate and thrust. Some can suction onto shower walls, some have hollowed-out insides that cradle bullet vibrators, and some even have dual ends (or two heads facing the same direction, for double the penetration).
What should you consider when shopping for a dildo?
First, figure out how you want to use the dildo. If you’re curious to try anal sex or pegging for the first time, choose a dildo that has a shorter, slimmer insertable length to adjust to the sensation, Shannon says. To experiment more with feeling stretched or full, opt for a dildo that’s on the longer, girthier side.
Next, decide how realistic you want the dildo to be. There are many intensely lifelike dildos, down to the veins and varying shades. If that’s not for you, there are also brightly colored, glittery options, as well as ones that look more like abstract sculptures. Regardless of your choice, if you plan on sticking a dildo up your butt, make sure it has a flared base so it doesn’t get stuck, and always opt for nonporous, body-safe materials like medical-grade silicone, stainless steel, and lucite.
The best dildos
Below, we’ve rounded up the best dildos according to experts and buyers, all of which are body-safe.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- Babeland1
Best Overall Dildo: First Mate Firm Core Dildo
If you’re in the market for a classic, lifelike, anal-safe dildo, this one comes recommended by Carol Queen, PhD, who works at the sex- toy store Good Vibrations. “It’s dual density, so the exterior layer is softer and squeezable, and the interior is firm—sort of like, well, a penis,” she tells SELF.
- Insertable Length: 7 inches
- Diameter: 1.6 inches
- Lovehoney2
Best Budget-Friendly Dildo: Lovehoney Ignite Mini Dildo
The slim, purple Ignite is the most compact on our list. It’s anal-safe, thanks to its flared base, and is just $20—making it a not-too-intimidating choice for beginners. It’s a favorite of Francis’s for how comfortably it fits inside various orifices.
- Insertable Length: 4.5 inches
- Circumference: 2.25 inches
- Lovehoney3
Best Dildo for G-Spot Stimulation: Njoy Pure Wand
Three experts praised the Njoy Pure Wand, an elegantly arched stainless steel toy that looks more like a facial tool than a penis (a pro if discretion is a concern). “Curved toys can be great to stimulate sensitive internal nerve bundles, like the G-spot or prostate,” Francis says. Its bend also makes it easier to angle when slipped inside, Megan Fleming, PhD, a psychologist and AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells SELF.
- Insertable Length: 8 inches
- Diameter: 1.5 inches on one end; 1 inch on the other
- Lovense4
Best Vibrating Dildo: Lovense Gravity
Not only does this dildo vibrate, but it thrusts too—both of which are features that can be app-controlled from anywhere by you or a partner (a real plus for anyone in a long-distance relationship). It has a notably strong suction base as well, says Fleming, in case you want to stick it on a surface for some hands-free fun.
- Insertable Length: 5.12 inches
- Diameter: 3 inches
- Babeland5
Best Double-Sided Dildo: Vixen Creations Peacemaker Double Dildo
A double-sided dildo is great because it offers internal stimulation for the wearer and the receiver simultaneously. Queen recommends the Peacemaker in particular, which has a realistic end and a hooked purple end that sits inside the vagina, creating a kind of strapless strap-on. “It’s designed to really feel like an extension of the body,” she says.
- Insertable Length: 6.5 inches
- Diameter: 1.875 inches
- Fun Factory6
Best Weighted Dildo: Fun Factory Bouncer
The Bouncer’s rippled shaft contains three weighted metal balls that rotate in circles with your body’s movement to create an “extra pleasurable sensation,” says Shannon—and buyers agree: “If you’re sensitive to vibration, this toy is great,” one Fun Factory shopper writes. “The balls inside the toy create a low rumbling when in motion—allowing me to last longer, since a constant buzzing doesn’t get me to the finish line too quickly!”
- Insertable Length: 6.69 inches
- Diameter: 1.57 inches
- Good Vibrations7
Best Dildo for Temperature Play: Le Wand Arc
“For a new sensation, try playing with a toy that has some weight to give it some added pressure,” says Francis. She likes the Le Wand Arch, which is a little under two pounds. You can switch between the ribbed, bulbous end on one head and a flattened tip on the other, and because it’s made of stainless steel, it’s excellent for temperature play. “It can be warmed and cooled easily,” says Francis. “Just test it on your inner wrist first to make sure it’s not too intense in either direction.”
- Insertable Length: 8 inches
- Diameter: 1.44 inches
- The Pleasure Chest8
Best Dildo for Pegging: Pegasus Curved Dildo (with Harness)
Want to give pegging a go? Shannon suggests the aptly named Pegasus, a vibrating, remote-controllable dildo that has a shaft made of bendable silicone that’s curved enough to hit the P-spot or G-spot. It’s small in size, comes with a harness (so you don’t have to deal with buying your own), and is totally waterproof for shower play.
- Insertable Length: 5.5 inches
- Diameter: 1.5 inches
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- Unbound9
Best Waterproof Dildo: Unbound Pogo
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
