Vibrators vs dildos. These are the differences just in case you were wondering.

Like a kid in a candy shop, walking into a sex toy store can be a mind-boggling experience, filled with enough spandangled devices and endless choices that could fill a Willy Wonka factory.

Heck, some items may even include candy! (Chocolate body paint, I’m looking at you.) 

So when it comes to picking a product, how on earth are you meant to make a decision when you don’t even know what’s right for you?

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Well, luckily our mates at NORMAL, the sexual wellness brand, have pulled together a comprehensive guide on the two most common sex toys. 

Dildos and vibrators. Because while they may both be designed to replicate a willy, they’re entirely two different toys. 

So, what’s the difference?

Well, obviously that a vibrator, you know, vibrates and ideally has plenty of speed and strength settings for you to play with.  

“While dildos are most commonly used to stimulate internal erogenous zones, a vibrator can be used internally or externally to stimulate pretty much any sensitive area,” according to NORMAL. 

For example, the clitoris, G-spot and prostate, and don’t even get me started on the joys of a vibrating cock ring. Really, the styles and purposes of vibrators are endless for both vulva and penis owners. 

A dildo on the other hand – because why not have one in each – is usually a phallic-shaped object, modelled on an erect penis, and is used for penetration and internal stimulation. 

And here’s a fun fact I’m not sure we needed. The dildo is the oldest sex toy in the world, experts legit found one in Germany dating back 28,000 years. It was made from stone, wood, leather and actual camel dung and aren’t we all glad that we’ve moved on since then. 

Today they can be made of silicon, plastic, glass, latex, steel and even crystal just in case you need to get your manifestations on while you’re getting off. 

The many types of vibrators.

After making a few guest appearances on Sex and the City in the late 90s, the Rabbit vibrator has got to be the most well-known. 

“It received its name thanks to a small extension protruding from the base of the shaft, which ends in a two-pronged ‘ears’ that resemble the rabbit,” NORMAL said. “Targeted to people with vulvas, the Rabbit vibrator is used internally by using the phallic shaft to massage your g-spot while the extension vibrates against your clitoris.”

Next up is the wand vibrator which was also featured on Sex and the City, or was that really just a neck massager because that’s how it first appeared on the market in the 1960s.

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“The hand-held device features a spherical knob on the end of a long handle,” NORMAL’s sex guide read. “For people with vaginas, the sphere can be held against the clitoris and labia for intense sexual pleasure.”

Rounding out the sexual wellness brand’s list is the bullet vibrator (“a compact device for discreet, portable and on-the-go fun”), G-Spot vibrator (a slightly curved shaft with a “come hither” motion), clit vibrator (such as ‘clit suckers’ which literally mimic oral sex and I CANNOT RECOMMEND THEM ENOUGH), and vibrating cock ring (which is placed around the base of the penis for fun times for both partners)

The different types of dildos.

As we already mentioned, dildos can be made in a variety of materials for different purposes. Take glass for example, which — as an inflexible dildo — can be perfect for hitting specific spots. 

“The other bonus of borosilicate [a highly durable, non-porous and shatter-proof material] glass is that it can be easily warmed and cooled for those who want to play with temperature.”

While in the ‘Goop-era’ of wellness, crystal dildos have become the rage with some saying that they “offer healing properties and more intense connection to one’s sexuality”. 

But for those looking for some extra fun, there are also double-ended dildos (to be used by two people simultaneously), strap-up dildos (allowing those without penis to have penetrative sex) and suction cup dildos (for hands-free good times).

As NORMAL said, “Half the fun of a fulfilling sex life is finding out what you like”. So go forth and try new things!

Image: Getty + Mamamia.

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