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.
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Photograph: Motorbunny
Best Sex Machine Overall
Motorbunny Buck
The 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.
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Photograph: Lovense
Best Thrusting Vibrator
Lovense Gravity
Calling 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.
