The Best Sex Machines for Solo, Couple, or Long-Distance Playtime
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Sex machines are one of those devices that sound a lot more intimidating than they really are. If you’ve heard of them, it might have been in an eye-catching endcap at the adult toy store next to the more typical vibrators you’re there for. However, they can be an exciting addition to your sex life or an accessibility tool for people who can't do all of the manual labor that sex requires. But which do you buy? You definitely do not want to buy a thrusting machine of poor quality. Don't worry, I tested an array with a few partners to find the best sex machines that are safe yet stimulating.
Be sure to check out our other sex-related buying guides, including the Best Sex Toys, Best Vibrators, and Best Clitoral Suction Toys.
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Why Would You Want a Sex Machine?
Sex is a very human activity that doesn’t seem to mesh well with something that can be described as a “machine.” However, there are several reasons why a full-size machine might be appealing as a way to either augment your sex life with a partner or enjoy yourself on your own.
- Accessible adventures. It’s unavoidable that sex takes a lot of physical work. It’s also unavoidable that, over time and for a variety of reasons, human bodies sometimes struggle to do physical work. If you have a physical disability or chronic injury/pain, sex machines can help perform some of the labor sex requires, leaving you and/or your partner(s) free to connect in less strenuous ways.
- Stimulating specificity. Everyone’s body is different and not everyone experiences pleasure in the same way. One person might enjoy penetration, while another person can only have an orgasm via clitoral stimulation. Some people are highly sensitive to the slightest touches, while others require intense sensations to reach their pleasure peak. Sex machines can offer a variety of sensations that are difficult to achieve with more typical sex toys.
- Exciting experimentation. Novelty is a mainstay of many healthy sex lives, and for most people it’s hard to get much more novel than a sex machine. Not only is the idea of using a sex machine novel in itself, but many of our picks provide a lot of creative options for having sex in positions or dynamics that aren’t possible otherwise.
- Photograph: Motorbunny
Best Sex Machine Overall
Motorbunny BuckThe Motorbunny Buck (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is my favorite sex machine I’ve tested. It’s a saddle-style machine that also features a penetration component. Most rideable machines rely primarily on vibration to be stimulating, but the Buck is the only one I’ve encountered that can thrust and vibrate simultaneously. If that were all it could do, it would be enough to earn top marks, but there’s so much more to this device.
Motorbunny sells a wide selection of attachments that can tailor the machine to your desires. I’ve tested this machine with partners who prefer penetration and partners who are more partial to clitoral stimulation, and the Buck had tools and configurations to satisfy everyone. It comes with a right-angle wedge so you can use this machine while lying on your back or your hands and knees, in addition to the default upright riding position, which one partner found to be a godsend for her back. Along the bottom, there are four bondage eyelets (two on each side) for attaching ankle and wrist cuffs, or even creating some interesting shibari ties. And that highlights what I like so much about the Motorbunny Buck. Even in little ways, it’s designed for experimentation and creativity. Rather than doing one thing well, it does almost everything well. It comes with a price to match, but if you’re going to spend four figures on a sex machine, then it’s hard to find anything more satisfying.
Motorbunny sells a travel backpack ($269) with a large section that fits the saddle perfectly, and a fold-up top section to store all the odd-shaped attachments you’d want to avoid bending to fit into a small pocket. I’ve tried this bag and it’s made of durable materials, and even has a removable velcro logo so you can carry the machine incognito.
- Photograph: Lovense
Best Thrusting Vibrator
Lovense GravityCalling the Lovense Gravity a “sex machine” might be a bit of a misnomer, but it’s worth including on this list because it’s a great halfway point between a more traditional vibrator and a proper sex machine. It’s a small, handheld dildo with an array of strong vibration patterns and the simple magnetic charging contacts that most Lovense vibrators come with. What sets it apart is its built-in thrusting motor. It’s not the most powerful, but it can provide a solid amount of automated penetration without much effort. In my testing, the Gravity could perform between 100 to 130 thrusts per minute, though if it met much resistance, the motor slowed down and could grind a bit. You should always use plenty of lube, especially with a device like this.
Since this is a handheld vibrator, you’ll have to provide most of the resistance, though it does come with a large suction cup for mounting to a wall or surface. This suction cup wasn’t overly sturdy, but it’s serviceable. If you’re iffy on sex machines, the Lovense Gravity is a great place to start and the best thrusting vibrator I’ve tried.
- Photograph: Lovense
Best Thrusting Machine
Lovense Mini Sex MachineThe popular perception of sex machines (thanks mainly to porn) is usually a dildo on the end of a long rod attached to a motor. That visual might be intimidating, but Lovense made it downright cute with the Lovense Mini Sex Machine (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A smaller, compact version of its flagship product, the Mini has a powerful motor in a small package, with easily adjustable legs that allow you to position the device at the best angle.
Most sex machines—including Lovense’s larger flagship sex machine—are large and heavy, and can be cumbersome to set up, but the Mini reduces almost every pain point, including the price. At $399, it’s the least expensive machine you’ll find on the market without sacrificing much power. In my testing, it could reach up to 280 thrusts per minute, though its low weight meant it was a little more likely to slide on smooth surfaces. That trade-off is worth it for the portability though. The whole machine comes in a box about the size of a toolbox, with a convenient handle. I highly recommend holding on to this box for storing or transporting the machine, but even if you choose not to, the machine’s parts are small enough to fit inside an Ikea-sized cube cubby, and at 7 pounds, it's light enough to carry wherever you want.
The Lovense Remote app also adds many features ideal for long-distance couples. You can control the speed and pattern of thrusts from anywhere in the world, and built-in text and voice/video call features let you do it all from one app. You can even create and share a Zoom-style link to let someone take control of your device and set the link to expire after a set duration or a certain number of uses.
- Photograph: Lovense
Best Upgrade Thrusting Machine
Lovense Sex MachineLovense’s original sex machine is larger and more powerful than the Mini, but it has some attractive features to offset the extra weight (and cost). The motor on this machine can exceed 300 thrusts per minute, so if intense penetrative stimulation is your thing, this upgrade might be worth it for you.
The Lovense Sex Machine also supports two rods, one on each end so multiple people can use the machine at the same time. It comes with two interchangeable dildos. One is a typical 5.43 inches, while the other is a larger 6.3 inches. Lovense sells additional attachments, so if two people want to use the machine but both prefer the same size attachment, you might need to buy an extra one. That aside, it comes with everything you need for two people to play together. The full-size sex machine weighs about 25 pounds, compared to the 7 pounds for the Mini, but that extra weight is a perk. The machine stays firmly in place, no matter what surface it’s on or how high you turn the motor. It supports more positions, including pointing the machine straight up, but the legs require an Allen wrench to adjust, so it takes a bit more setup than the Mini.
It's a bit of an investment compared to its smaller sibling. However, it’s worth mentioning that Lovense also has a fairly robust software suite for content creators if you plan to make that investment literally.
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Photograph: urbazon/Getty ImagesWhat to Look for in a Sex Machine
Before You Buy, Discuss Your DesiresSince people’s needs will vary, it’s important to have an idea of what you hope to get out of a sex machine before you buy one. There are a lot of different factors you can consider based on how you experience the most pleasure.
- Vibration. There are plenty of sex toys on the market that vibrate, and many sex machines are no different. Even if you’re not a fan of penetration, vibrating sex machines can provide intense stimulation and, in some people, achieve orgasms that are different (or not usually possible) from typical sex toys. Saddle-style devices like the Motorbunny excel at this type of vibration.
- Penetration. If you prefer the feeling of penetration, sex machines have a lot to offer for you. Whether you prefer vaginal or anal penetration, it’s good to have some sense of how much penetration you enjoy, what sizes you prefer, and how deep you like penetration to go. This is important because many sex machines can be customized with stroke length, attachment size, and how powerful the motor is.
- Positions. Many sex machines can be customized for different positions, but it’s a good idea to imagine how you plan to use a machine before committing to buying one. If you prefer to lay on your back, you might need a different device or different adjustments than if you prefer sitting upright or being on all fours.
Photograph: LovenseHow We Tested
It’s always difficult to objectively test sex toys because everyone has different preferences; what’s pleasurable for one person might be deeply upsetting to someone else. While neither I nor anyone can objectively test for every body type, I am polyamorous and have partners who are generously willing to volunteer to help try out whatever I happen to be testing.
When testing with partners, I take care to note what types of stimulation they prefer and test a sex machine’s performance at those specific tasks (it would be unreasonable, for example, to judge a machine that excels at penetration harshly because someone who doesn’t enjoy penetration tried to use it). When possible, I also look at more objective factors, including:
- Motor strength and speed. The motors in sex machines can provide vibration, thrust, or sometimes both. In devices that simulate penetration, the stroke length and speed can also be critical factors.
- Resistance and stability. Penetrative machines have to be stabilized to provide enough resistance so the motor doesn’t just push the device away from your body. When testing sex machines, I examine how easy it is to put them in a stable position that’s comfortable for the user.
- Customizability. Since every body is unique, how well a sex machine can conform to your comfort is of paramount importance. Devices that are only fun if you squat in a particular position or arch your back in just the right way will lose points over machines that can be adjusted to fit your favorite positions.
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