Couples Toys: A Practical Guide for Two

A toy can be something you bring into a relationship together, rather than something one person uses alone. That changes the questions worth asking. Beyond material and cleaning, you'll want to think about how a toy is shared, who controls it, what an app does with your data, and how to talk about it in the first place. This guide covers those points from Australian health services and the makers' own published facts, checked on 30 October 2026. We haven't tested any toys and don't recommend specific products.

18+ only. SexCentral.com.au is for adults. It's an independent guide operated by Dominet BV. This page is general information, not medical advice: for pain, irritation, an allergy or any other health worry, talk to a GP, a pharmacist or a sexual health clinic. We don't sell products and we don't show explicit content. No link on this site is an affiliate link right now. We may earn a commission from retailers in future when a reader buys through a link on this site. If that happens we'll label those links and explain it in our affiliate disclosure, and it won't change the facts we publish. Retailer facts were checked on each retailer's own website on 30 October 2026 and can change. Read our general information notice.

Start with a conversation

The most useful step happens before you buy anything. The Australian Government's Beforeplay advice describes consent as everyone feeling respected and not pressured, and says it's okay to say no. That applies to toys as much as anything else.

Some things worth talking about:

• what each of you is curious about, and what you're not
• whether the toy is for shared use only, or for solo use too
• who controls it, if it has a remote or an app
• how you'll keep it clean, and whether you'll use condoms with it
• what to do if one of you wants to stop

Agreeing on a simple way to pause or stop takes the pressure off trying something new.

The main types of couples toys

Who makes couples toys

We-Vibe's company page says it was invented by Bruce Murison and founded with Melody Murison, and that its first product was a couples vibrator designed to be worn during sex. It's now part of WOW Tech Group, alongside Womanizer and pjur. Satisfyer's FAQ lists couples products in its range, along with app features for partners. Our We-Vibe review and Satisfyer review cover each brand's terms in detail.

App and long-distance features

App-connected toys let a partner control a toy from their phone. That can be fun, and it's also where privacy matters most.

We-Vibe. Its FAQ says the app needs iOS 11 or Android 7 or newer with Bluetooth LE, isn't compatible with smartwatches or computers, and works within about 3 metres. It says partners are invited by link and that app communication is end-to-end encrypted. That's the company's own statement.

Satisfyer. Its FAQ says:

• close-range features work without an internet connection in Guest mode
• remote features need a free account, which can be set up without an email or phone number
• remote video and audio calls need mutual consent
• an optional PIN can lock the app
• messaging and video features need access to the camera, microphone, location and storage

Questions to ask before using an app together:

• Does it need an account, and what details does it ask for?
• What permissions does it want on your phone?
• Can you lock it with a PIN so nobody else can open it?
• Can either of you end a session at any time?
• Does the toy work without the app if you'd rather not use it?

Remote control only works well when both people are comfortable. Agree before a session who can start it, and make sure either of you can stop it.

Sharing and hygiene

Beforeplay advises avoiding sharing sex toys and washing them thoroughly each time you use them. If you do share:

• Clean between partners, as well as at the end. Quin recommends mild, fragrance-free soap and water or a toy cleaner, and says soap and water won't necessarily remove all STI-related bacteria or viruses.
• Use a condom over the toy. Sexual Health Victoria says condoms can go on a sex toy, and to use a new condom when switching from one kind of sex to another.
• Choose non-porous materials. Quin says silicone, glass, stainless steel and hard plastic are the easiest to clean. Porous materials are best kept for solo use, or used with a condom.

Beforeplay also notes that condoms protect against many STIs but not those passed on by skin-to-skin contact, and recommends regular testing. Our cleaning guide has the full routine.

Lube with condoms and toys

If you use condoms and toys together, the lube has to suit both. Sexual Health Victoria says:

• water-based or silicone-based lube can be used with external condoms
• oil-based lube can't be used with latex condoms, because it can damage latex
• silicone-based lube can't be used with silicone toys

So water-based lube is the one that works with latex condoms and silicone toys at the same time. We-Vibe also recommends water-based lube. See our lube guide.

Health and comfort

Read the safety notes that come with any toy, and share them with your partner. Womanizer's FAQ, for example, says to stop immediately if you feel pain or discomfort, not to use its toys with a pacemaker, and to talk to a doctor first if you're pregnant or have recently given birth, have a skin condition, or have reacted to the material before.

If sex is painful for either of you, it's worth seeing a GP. Jean Hailes for Women's Health says lubricants, vaginal moisturisers and other treatments can help with dryness and painful sex, and that a pelvic floor physiotherapist, sex therapist or psychologist can help too.

Some people are allergic to latex. Sexual Health Victoria notes that non-latex condoms are available.

Buying a toy together

A few practical points:

• Warranty. We-Vibe's warranty page offers 2 years on toys bought from WOW Tech or an authorised reseller, and lists Amazon and eBay sellers other than WOW Tech as unauthorised. Keep the receipt.
• Remote batteries. We-Vibe says the remote battery compartments on several models, including Chorus, Sync and Moxie, are sealed under the Australian button and coin battery safety standards, so the remote battery can't be replaced.
• Care. We-Vibe warns that oils and creams, including essential oils, coconut oil, edible oils and sunscreen, can damage its toys. Keep them away from toys whose maker warns against them.
• Your rights. If a toy is faulty, the ACCC says to contact the business you bought it from first. Consumer guarantees apply automatically.
• Delivery. Our discreet delivery guide covers packaging, sender names and billing names.

Frequently asked questions

What is a couples toy?

Any toy you use together. Some are designed for it, such as vibrators made to be worn during sex or toys a partner controls by remote or app.

Are long-distance toys private?

It depends on the app. We-Vibe says its app communication is end-to-end encrypted. Satisfyer says remote features need an account that can be set up without personal data, and that calls need mutual consent. Check each app's permissions before you start.

Is it safe to share a sex toy?

Beforeplay advises avoiding it. If you do share, clean the toy between partners and use a new condom over it, and choose non-porous materials.

What lube should we use with condoms and a silicone toy?

Water-based. Sexual Health Victoria says oil-based lube damages latex condoms and silicone lube can damage silicone toys.

How do we bring up the idea of a toy?

There's no script, but Beforeplay's description of consent is a good starting point: everyone feels respected and not pressured, and it's okay to say no.

Do couples toys come with a warranty?

It depends on the brand and the store. We-Vibe offers a 2-year warranty on toys bought from WOW Tech or an authorised reseller, and says proof of purchase is required for a claim. Store warranties range from 31 days to 1 year among the stores we checked.