20 of the Very Best Sex Toys for Couples

Type: Vibrator | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs. non-app compatibility: App compatible

“The ultimate couples toy,” according to Emily Morse, doctor of human sexuality and host of Sex With Emily on Sirius XM, is the Sync from We-Vibe, a Canadian company that celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. The wearable, C-shaped vibe is a favorite of Vanessa Marin, a licensed psychotherapist and writer specializing in sex therapy. The way it works is fairly straightforward. While one end is worn internally, the external part lies, if a female-bodied person’s wearing it, on the clit, explains Carolanne Marcantonio, a licensed master social worker and sex therapist based in Brooklyn, who is a fan of the Sync. “You can wear it during penetration for both G-spot and clitoral stimulation,” she says. That means you’re experiencing stimulation from penetration as well as from the toy, at essentially every possible angle. What makes the Sync especially user-friendly is that the angle of the toy is adjustable, so it bends to more comfortably fit the wearer’s shape. Plus it can be controlled with an accompanying remote (or an app if your partner isn’t in the same room), so you or your partner can adjust the settings without fiddling around with tiny buttons down there. While I am currently single, I have used some of We-Vibe’s other vibrators before and have always been impressed by the strength of the vibrations, the very smooth feel of the silicone, and the overall design.

Type: Vibrator | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

If the Sync seems too complicated and you’re looking for a simpler toy, several of the experts we talked to suggested small external vibrators with vibrations that get stronger as you squeeze them with your hands. The Minna Limon is one example, and it comes recommended by Marin. It’s made to respond to the strength of your squeezes — the harder and more intense you want it to vibrate, the harder you squeeze it, she explains. So it’s “very intuitive” and ergonomic since there aren’t any buttons to fiddle with.

Type: Vibrator | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: App compatible

For those who prefer strictly clitoral stimulation, sex expert and intimacy coach Davia Frost tipped us off to the app-controlled We-Vibe Moxie, which she calls “the best ‘panty vibe’ on the market,” thanks to its magnetic clip. The vibrator can be inserted into your underwear or underneath a pillowcase, and is held in place by a detachable magnet that attaches to the outside. “It’s a really strong magnet,” Frost says. And because it connects to the We-Vibe app via Wi-Fi, your partner can adjust the vibration settings from across the room — or across the world — directly from their phone.

Type: Vibrator | Material: ABS plastic | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

If you’re looking for an especially accessible couples sex toy, several of the experts we talked to suggested using a small external bullet vibrator that you can hold while having sex. Marcantonio says the We-Vibe Tango is “the smallest and strongest on the market.” It’s rechargeable and waterproof, and has a small button on the bottom that lets you try eight different settings of varying intensity. Since it’s about the size of your finger, you can easily place it on your clit during penetration, and it won’t get in the way, says Marcantonio. It’s versatile, too: “Anyone can use it — you can use it on the testicles, the inner thighs, nipples,” she says. “The sky’s the limit and the whole body’s covered in nerve endings, so we can really experience pleasure anywhere.”

Type: Vibrator | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

If you prefer something that keeps your hands free, Cooper recommends Dame Product’s Eva vibrator. The vibrator sits on top of the clitoris and has wings that tuck under the labia, she explains. And since you just press a button and it vibrates, you don’t have to hold anything in place while with your partner.

Type: Vibrator | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: App compatible

If you’re intrigued by C-shape vibrators, but you’re looking for something that can expand into different shapes, including a flat line, writer and sex-relationship expert Shelby Sells recommends the Crescendo from Mystery Vibe. Because it’s so adjustable, you can bend it in any number of positions to target any number of spots.

Type: Stroker | Material: Silicone, ABS plastic | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

The Lelo Hugo “has two motors and really strong, rumbly vibrations,” says Lateef Taylor, a pleasure-based sex educator and kink trainer, adding that it’s “aesthetically pleasing, remote-controlled, and anatomically well made.” Taylor says that it is great for those with or without prostates and is 100 percent waterproof. “It pulses and has different patterns, so it’s really versatile.”

Type: Air-suction | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

If traditional vibration isn’t your thing, Samantha Bard, co-owner of the Williamsburg sex shop and event space Shag, suggests the We-Vibe’s air-suction toy. The Melt “creates a smooth and seamless pulse” and is compatible with an app you can use “to customize patterns and share it with a partner who can control it from across the bedroom — or anywhere in the world.” The Melt uses pulses of air to mimic the sensation of oral sex and creates extremely deep orgasms as a result, compared to a standard vibrator, according to our experts. You can use the Melt alone, but sex blogger and toy critic Cy Smash told us it can be fun to try with a partner. “The fact that it is compact with a narrow rim” means it doesn’t take up too much real estate on the vulva, which Smash explains leaves “plenty of room for penetration.”

Type: Ring | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: App compatible

Morse loves the We-Vibe Pivot as well, which she describes as “kind of a twofer,” since it has really strong vibrations — you could just use it as a clitoral vibe, as well as a ring for partners with penises.

Type: Stroker | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

If you’re interested in something a little less intimidating than a cock ring, Lisa Finn, a brand manager and sex educator at Babeland, recommends a penis stroker from Fun Factory. In our roundup of best sex toys for men, the Manta was named one of the best strokers. “It’s unlike any other sex toy on the market,” says Finn. “The soft, velvety silicone head is contoured to flex around the penis, and is designed with ridges along the inside of the wings that hold lubricant in place for added sensation.” Its very slim profile makes it ideal to use with a partner, and Kit Richardson, buyer for the Museum of Sex and the MoSex Shop, adds that it’s perfect if you’re looking to “intensify a BJ.”

Type: Stroker | Material: Silicone | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

The Pulse from London–based Hot Octopuss is branded as the world’s first “guybrator.” A better way to describe it might be somewhere between a vibrating cock ring and a masturbation sleeve. The toy cups the penis, and, as Morse explains, “It’s not really a vibrator, but it oscillates on the underside of the penis, where there’s this really sensitive spot.” There’s also the Pulse Duo, which is designed for couples, where the base of the toy vibrates; that means a partner can simultaneously get stimulation by rubbing against the device as the male-bodied partner is getting pleasure from the oscillation. It’s a great device for foreplay or for partners who prefer nonpenetrative sex.

Type: Harness | Material: Nylon and velcro | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

A strap-on is, in some ways, the ultimate couples toy — and Frost likes harnesses from SpareParts, which “use velcro instead of those shifting buckles that just drive you crazy.” Its styles range from boxer briefs to panties — “for your aesthetics,” according to Frost — and all include inserts for vibrators as well as dildos.

Type: Pillow | Material: Microfiber | App compatibility vs non-app compatibility: Non-app compatible

Another nice option for those trying to get a slightly different perspective is a sex cushion, like the Liberator Wedge. “For a lot of women and men, there’s certain positions that can be really uncomfortable, but when you elevate your pelvis with this wedge, it can help make things a little easier,” says Morse. It can help with G-spot stimulation, make oral sex more comfortable, and assist with possibly awkward positions like doggy style, she adds.

Type: Chair | Material: Foam and microvelvet | App compatibility vs. non–app compatibility: Non–app compatible

And if you’re looking for even more elevation, Frost told us that she has her eye on this ergonomic chaise longue from Liberator. “It’s on the expensive side, but it’s a good option for those who are older or maybe have some disabilities because it allows you to be in various positions without contorting your body too much,” she tells us. It features a machine-washable cover and moistureproof inner liner — “So you can just hurry up and wipe it up,” says Frost — and comes in a variety of colors, like this Porto red. Plus the middle pillow is removable, “so you can get into this nice groove to masturbate or practice some self-love.”

Type: Candle | Material: Shea Butter, jojoba oil, soybean oil | App compatibility vs. non–app compatibility: Non–app compatible

Megan Fleming, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in sex therapy and marriage counseling, told us that if you want to try temperature play, a massage-oil candle can be a fun way to start. “It’s a product that I really love,” she says. “When you light the candle, it becomes massage oil, and it has a spout so you can pour it easily. But pour onto your hand first so you don’t burn your partner.” Marcantonio also recommended massage-oil candles and says that JimmyJane makes candles that smell great and are even moisturizing. “It’s a lot of fun because you can build a whole experience — if you’re using a blindfold and have already lost one sense, then warm wax being dripped on you can feel especially good,” she says. Just take note: “The oil is only for external use. It’s not lube,” says Marcantonio.