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14 butt plugs to kick-start your anal play, recommended by our sex writer
Pull up to my bumper, baby
No longer confined to private WhatsApp chats or hushed conversations in dark corners, anal play has hit the mainstream — hence why searches for ‘how to do anal sex’ are up a whopping 30% compared to last year.
It’s now common knowledge that your back entrance houses thousands of nerve endings which, when massaged, send your pleasure receptors into overdrive.
But if you're not interested in diving straight into full-blown penetration — no judgement, we’ve all got different tastes, interests and sexual limits — anal toys like butt plugs, beads and probes offer a great introduction.
Unsurprisingly, following the sex revolution of the ‘60s and a boom in adult retailers, you’ve got options, with most sexual wellness brands now offering at least one style of booty teaser.
So, we tasked our in-house sex writer with tracking down the very best butt plugs, so you’re not left feeling unsatisfied (and sore) at the end of your next self-pleasure sesh.
Best butt plugs to shop now
What is a butt plug?
The clue is in the name, but anal toys like plugs and probes are designed to sit inside your anus for the purpose of pleasure. ‘A butt plug is a sex toy that is usually shaped like a teardrop,’ says Kelly Gordon, creative head at Hot Octopuss.
‘Butt plugs have a wider end to ensure that they stay in position and don’t go further into the anus. They can be used by anyone with an anus and are often used during partnered sex.’
These anal accessories come in all shapes, sizes and styles, including silicone, rubber, glass, metal and the vibrating variety. You can even transform your butt with a swishing faux fur tail if that’s your thing. So, shop around until you find the plug that, uh, fits.
The best butt plugs at a glance
- Best for beginners: Smile Makers The Neighbor, £34.95
- Best budget plug: Bondara Mon Amour Butt Plug, £32.99
- Best backdoor bumper pack: Lovehoney Bumper Booty Bundle Anal Sex Toy Kit, £54.99
- Best premium plug: Coco De Mer Pleasure No. 9 - The Remote Plug,
£145£130.50 - Best for intense power: Hot Octopuss PleX With Flex,
£89.95£62.97 - Best anal beads: Satisfyer Lolli Plug 2, £41.95
- Best prostate massager for him: Lovehoney Black Mantric Remote Control Prostate Vibrator, £69.99
How we test the best butt plugs
As well as reading thousands of customer reviews, our sex writer and a team of willing WH editors made it their mission to find some backdoor buddies they'd invite back to the bedroom again and again.
After an examination of each plug, its box and all added extras — lube samples, removable bullets, USB-charging cables etc. — our volunteers got down to business. Using their plugs in various positions, in and out the shower, with and without partners, plus with several different water-based lubes, the team evaluated each toy's strength, comfort and ease of use.
FYI, those involved have various levels of experience with sex toys, plus place themselves at different points on the sexuality and gender identity spectrums.
14 best butt plugs for women and couples in 2024
From vibrating probes to stainless steel fox tails, keep scrolling for our pick of the best butt plugs to buy now...
Sophie Donovan is the Sex and Relationships Senior Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health and Men’s Health. Sophie is passionate about everything sexual wellness, offering her readers honest reviews on vibrators, BDSM for beginners, sex essentials like lube and condoms, plus feminine hygiene products such as period pants. She also spends her working week quizzing sexperts on their top tips for a satisfying sex life.
Sophie’s journalism career began in 2019 when she completed News Associates’ 22-week NCTJ fast-track Multimedia Journalism course and was awarded a Gold Standard Diploma. Accepting a place on The Sun’s Trainee Scheme, she gained experience on the newspaper’s print Showbiz, Production and Fabulous Magazine teams. After completing the graduate programme, she worked for Dear Deidre, where her role included publishing a weekly advice column offering sex, financial and mental health support, plus assisting with the launch of the brand’s Instagram page and first podcast series.
Outside of work, Sophie can either be found working on her love/hate relationship with running or dragging her friends to yet another F45 class. You can follow Sophie on Instagram @soph_don / @sextingthecity.
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