This guide provides everything you ever wanted to know about vibrating wand massagers!

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Ahhh, the wand massager vibrator: queen of queens, king of kings, and ruler of the orgasmic world for everyone who is neither or in between!

“But why would I want something so big?” and “It looks like a microphone!” are comments we hear often from customers who are new to wands. The initial hesitancy makes total sense and often stems from a place of not knowing why wands have the design they do and how they work. The size alone can make wands really intimidating to new users; size was a factor that kept me from purchasing one years ago, too.

On the recommendation of a friend, I bought a compact wand, which satisfied me for a time, but I soon found myself ready to move up to the full-size, real meal deal with more oomph. I'm both proud and slightly embarrassed to say that I now own not one, two or three but nine—nine!—wands. Hi, I’m a wand massager addict.

Are Wand Vibrators Meant for Insertion?

Unlike other vibrators, they are not meant for insertion, vaginally or anally, and are instead specifically made with a larger head so that it’s easier to hit your most sensitive external spots, namely the clit. Still, their wide head form factor also works great for other erogenous zone stimulation like the perineum (aka “taint”).

Think about it like this: have you ever used a bullet with a tiny head and tried to make it hit your clit or perineum and it kept moving off the exact spot where you needed it so you could just get there already? While it’s true that a smaller surface area can stimulate a more specific spot easily, it also makes it harder to maintain contact due to the reduced size.

Wands are designed with larger heads (even the mini ones) so it’s easier to hit your bits. That way—even if it moves a little bit—the large, flat head will still provide clitoral or perineum stimulation and you won’t have to work quite so hard to get it back in the right place.

Wand massagers range in size, weight, design (straight or curved handle, number of buttons) and power; they also come in battery-operated, rechargeable and in plug-in varieties, all of which have their own pros and cons. Let's not forget, they also work as a body massager for sore muscles.

A Plug-In vs. Rechargeable Wand Vibrator?

Hate the idea of being tethered to an outlet while using a toy? Then a rechargeable wand might be the best option for you. However, one of the biggest benefits to using a plug-in style wand massager is that it gets constant and consistent power, whereas a rechargeable wand–like any rechargeable toy–will begin to lose some amount of power during usage.

Of course, the loss of power with a rechargeable toy isn’t typically noticeable until the toy is down to the last 10%-20% of its battery-life depending on the model. Some wand sex toys will indicate when their battery life is low by flashing, but others don’t and sometimes it’s not apparent until it’s already happening. For this reason, it’s great to have a plug-in wand available as a backup, just in case your rechargeable fave dies right in the middle of a juicy sesh!

What About Size? It Matters!–but not for the reasons you’re thinking

Of course, there’s the question of size. Having a full-size powerful wand vibrator typically means it has more power, whether it’s rechargeable or plug-in, because the design allows more space for a larger motor and offset weight (the part that makes a toy more “rumbly” and corresponds to low-frequency vibration patterns). However, full-size wands don’t tend to be the most travel friendly. For this reason, it’s great to have a medium-size or compact wand if you want to take your sex toys on the go, whether it’s a quick weekend getaway with friends and lovers or a play party at the local dungeon. Little mini battery-operated wands are a great travel option for someone who wants something that is a little larger than a bullet with more surface area.

Straight vs. Curved Wand Handle Designs

If you have hand or wrist issues, weight and ergonomic design may also be deciding factors for you. A lot of wands are heavy due to their design, the size of the motor and offset weight, and sometimes even the materials of the toy.

While wand massagers with straight handles are the classic design, curved wands are becoming more and more popular as they put less strain on the hands and wrists. However, a lot of fun products meant to pair with and integrate wands are designed for wands with a straight handle, such as wand harnesses and belts like the Aslan Forge Forced Orgasm Harness or position aids like the Wanda Magic Wand Toy Mount and the Axis Magic Wand Toy Mount by Liberator. With the Liberator products, any model from the official Magic Wand family works best (trust me, I’ve tested it out with very mixed results).

More or Less Features: How many options is too many?

Most full-size wands, especially those with vibration speeds and patterns, have a three-button setup, meaning you can easily toggle up and down in power intensity and pattern. This combination of vibration modes means you can have tens (if not sometimes hundreds) of different combinations of powerful vibrations to play with.

This might sound like overkill, but it’s really great to be able to lower the power, change the pattern, then up the intensity again very quickly and easily. But for some folks, a single button where the wand cycles through the intensities and/or patterns is much simpler and it’s all they need. This is something to bear in mind when looking at the design of the item: what is going to work best for you?

Everyone knows and loves what some consider the best wand vibrators on the market, the OG of wands—the Magic Wand family. Here’s a quick breakdown on the differences between the four models:

The Original Magic Wand (formerly known as the Hitachi) is a tried-and-true classic, having been on the market and pleasing folks for decades. With a vinyl vibrating head and two low and high settings which vibrate at 5,000 and 6,000 RPM (rotations per minute) respectively, the Original Magic Wand keeps things simple for folks who don’t want too many vibration modes or settings. The Original Magic Wand is a plug-in model and modestly priced at $64.95.

The Magic Wand Rechargeable is, as its name suggests, the rechargeable model in Magic Wand's family! It has eight vibration modes, including four levels of intensity (from 2,700 to 6,300 RPM) and four patterns along with a larger, soft, non-porous silicone head. It has a lot more combinations and flexibility for people who want to experiment with patterns. It has an automatic shut-off feature and will turn off after 20 continuous minutes of use to preserve battery life as well as a plug-and-play feature, which allows you to plug it directly into a power source and use it (though it will not charge during use). The charge time and run time (battery life) are both about three hours. The Magic Wand Rechargeable is priced at $129.95 for all the bells and whistles.

Tiny but mighty, the Magic Wand Mini is the newest addition to the Magic Wand family! This rechargeable model combines the best wand features of the larger models, such as the silky smooth silicone head and all the power of its super strong motor (up to 6,000 RPM, making it nearly as strong as the full-size Rechargeable!) in a compact size. With 3 levels of intensity, user-friendly buttons and priced at $75.95, it’s the perfect little travel companion!

The Magic Wand Plus is something of a hybrid between the Magic Wand Rechargeable and the Original Magic Wand: it has the bulbous head of the Magic Wand Rechargeable and four intensity settings (though no vibration patterns), and is a plug-in model just like the Original Magic (Hitachi) Wand. It’s the perfect middle of the road option for someone who wants a plug-in wand with a little more variety and flexibility than the Original for only $15 more!

Now that we’ve spilled all the tea on the different members of the OG wand massager family, let’s talk about some other wand vibrators and massager options!

Another brand that has become a staple in the wonderful world of wand vibes is the incomparable Le Wand. Known for combining sleek design, beautiful color choices, and quality motors, Le Wand makes a variety of sex toys and several of the best wand vibrators out there. The original Le Wand massager is a full-size, rechargeable wand with a soft silicone head, bendable neck and a rumbly motor that is also gentle enough for someone very sensitive.

Where one of the Magic Wand's powerful vibrations might be too aggressive, Le Wand steps in. With 10 vibration speeds and 20 patterns, the combinations are literally endless. Do the math, and that’s 200 options!

The Le Wand OG comes in three colors: a pearl white, metallic grey, and matte black. The charge time and run time are both around 3 hours, depending on how high of a setting you’re using. This item isn’t splash-proof or waterproof, so it’s not recommended for use in the bath or shower play.

In the last few years, Le Wand has paired up with femme artists to create unique, limited edition Feel My Power wand massagers for Women’s History Month! This year’s Feel My Power limited edition design showcases artwork by Los Angeles designer and illustrator Kelly Malka.

Le Wand has now expanded their line to include the Le Wand Petite–a smaller version of the original that is now splash-proof and safe to use in the shower!–as well as the full-size Le Wand Plug-In model! Le Wand’s Plug-In model would be a great option for someone who finds the Magic Wand or Doxy plug-in models too aggressive, even at the lower settings. Even better, they make their own line of silicone head attachments for both the full-size and petite models, with everything from a Loop stroker attachment for penis owners (or for sex positive, gender-affirming play while using a ‘strapless’ strap-on dildo!) to Curve attachments meant to hit the G-spot or P-spot as well as Texture Covers for more targeted stimulation.

The Lelo Smart Wand 2 is a great marriage of form and function with its curved ergonomically shaped handle, super lightweight design, totally waterproof build, beautiful gold accents and insanely rumbly vibrations. It has 10 levels of intensity which you can apply to all 10 vibration patterns, allowing for literally 100 combinations of pattern and speed. The Lelo Smart Wand 2 has a curved design, flexible neck and light weight makes it less taxing on the wrists.

Overall, it’s very ergonomic. The head of this wand is very similar in size and shape to the Magic Wand's, making it easy to use both universal attachments and attachments specifically designed for "Hitachi" style Wands. This is more of a luxury option and perhaps not the one most folks would go for straight out of the gate. That said, Lelo's 10-year guarantee is a selling point. If you decide to go with a Lelo toy, we strongly recommend that you register your new sex toy first thing on their site–even before you charge that puppy up–as you may not be able to take advantage of the 1-year warranty or 10-year guarantee without registering the product. The Lelo Smart Wand 2 is one of the best wand vibrators on the market. It became my personal go-to wand and has stayed at the top of my list for over a year.

Doxy is arguably the mother of all brands just in terms of RPM (rotations per minute, aka "horsepower"), with intensity levels ranging from 3,000 to 9,000 RPM. Woah, mama–that’s an intense ride! The Doxy models have, on average, 30% more power than their plug-in counterparts from other brands.

The Doxy Die Cast Wands feature a hefty metal body and silicone head, while their lightweight model, the Doxy Massager, has a body made of ABS Plastic and a medical grade PVC head. The Doxy #3, their petite plug-in option, has a silicone head that can be unscrewed for easy cleanup or be replaced with one of their attachments.

No basic, glitter-loving queer (me) can resist the sweet, sweet siren call of the Doxy #3’s Disco Black handle set with iridescent sparkle. These wands are very strong and might not be the perfect match for someone who is sensitive or wants a gentler experience. If you’re used to a very strong rechargeable wand, the Doxy #3 is a great, smaller sized plug-in option, while the Doxy Die Cast and Doxy Massager models are some of the strongest wands on the market and are the ideal pairing for someone who really wants to up their wand game!

The Dame Com Wand is a great wand for both beginners and experienced users alike with its silicone body, curved design, and rumbly motor that is gentle at the low settings and strong at the high ones. At only 10.5 inches in length, it’s a more compact body massager for those who want to take their massager on the go! This powerful wand is designed with the silhouette of the body in mind and has a curve in the handle design towards the head, offering more control, and making it super easy to hit the spot with minimal effort. It has 5 intensity settings and 5 vibration patterns, making it a bit more user-friendly for someone new to wands who might be overwhelmed by a sex toy with a lot of settings.

The Swan Wand is a unique wand because it’s double-ended. The larger end is meant to be used externally as a traditional wand while the smaller end can be used for internal stimulation. The Swan Wand has is a very strong and powerful vibrator, yet the gentle, sloping ergonomically curved handle is easier on the wrist. The curve of the handle also makes the insertable end great for P-spot or G-spot stimulation! The Swan Wand is now available in a compact, USB rechargeable, travel-friendly size, the Mini Swan Wand.

The PalmPower Massager and the PalmPower Massager Rechargeable are some of the best affordable and introductory compact wands available. The original PalmPower Massager is a plug-in and they recently created a rechargeable option. These wands have only one button and a variable intensity (as opposed to distinct intensity “levels”). It's super easy to operate, you simply hold the button to turn up the power! To turn down the power, you just turn the wand off and on to start again from the lowest setting. If you want a strong, compact wand with a silicone head and steadily increasing intensities, this is the wand for you! PalmPower also has their own PalmSensual Attachments for their compact wands.

The Femme Funn Ultra Wand is one of the best wand massagers with its rechargeable, compact wand option from their namesake line. This wand features a flexible head designed for mind blowing orgasms and a completely textured silicone surface. The texture sets it apart from other compact wands. The Ultra Wand, courtesy of Femme Funn, has a two-button setup: one allows you to cycle through the 10 vibration patterns and the other–the Boost Button–gives you a jolt of power right when you’re on the edge! The Boost Button is an iconic feature of FemmeFunn products and is integrated into many of their products.

The Romp Flip is an affordable, waterproof, rechargeable compact wand option with a flexible head and an easy two-button setup. One button turns the toy on and off, and the other allows you to cycle through 4 intensities and 6 patterns of rumbly vibrations. It has a 60-minute run time and a 180-minute charge time. Don't let its low price point fool you. The Romp Flip is now available as part of the Romp Pleasure Kit, which also includes the best-selling Romp Juke (vibrating cockring) and the Romp Free (air-pulse stimulator)!

The FFIX Wand, is a tiny but mighty battery-powered mini wand, courtesy of Femme Funn's affordable FFIX line! This little wand massager packs a big punch for a pocket-sized toy. With only one button, it’s super easy to control the 10 pulsation functions. Made of ABS plastic and silicone, the wand is non-porous and is splash-proof.

Dispelling wand massager myths and handing out some pro tips!

Have you ever heard that you can be “numbed” by a sex toy or lose sensation as a result of using a vibrator that’s “too strong”?

While you can’t be “numbed” by a toy, the myth isn’t totally wrong in the sense that you can become accustomed to specific types of sensations, and as a result those sensations can become less exciting, both mentally and physically. For this reason, it’s great to keep mixing things up.

Switch things up by trying out an air-pulse stimulator (more commonly referred to as suction toys, mimicking oral sex) or using your fingers for external stimulation. This will keep things fresh in your body and brain!

Don’t be afraid to use a wand during any kind of penetration, front hole or back! While it may seem like a big toy to use in the bedroom with a partner, it will be so much easier to hit your sensitive bits, like with perineum or clitoral stimulation using a larger toy, than trying to find it with the teeny tiny head of a bullet.

We strongly recommend you don’t leave your full-size wand vibrators charging overnight. If it says the charge time is 2, 3 or 4 hours in the product’s instruction manual, believe it! Over-charging a wand can ruin or even completely burn out the motor. While it’s okay to leave smaller toys with a USB rechargeable cord charging overnight, we don’t recommend doing this for the strongest vibrator wands.

If the wand is either waterproof or splash-proof, make sure the charging port and the surrounding area are completely dry before plugging it in to charge. You can shock yourself or potentially damage the toy if the charging port is still wet.

Are you looking for more wand massagers or attachments? Head on over to our wand massager page for an even larger selection.

J. Carter is a nonbinary, masc-of-center queer writer and creative in Los Angeles. They hold an MFA in screenwriting from USC and a BFA in Fine Art with a focus in photography from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. They have been an active member of the queer and kink communities in Los Angeles since 2018 and have been facilitating workshops on sex, kink, and pleasure since 2020.