Best tunnel plugs, ranked by Coyscore

Tunnel plugs hold you open — that's the entire point. The five here all do it, but some are easier to live with than others. We've ranked them by Coyscore, which rolls up nearly 2,000 reviews to show you which ones people actually keep using. All five are body-safe silicone, so the differences come down to shape, size and whether the thing stays put when you want it to.

We ranked these five tunnel plugs by Coyscore, which aggregates star ratings and review text from retailers who stock them. All five products have a Coyscore — no gaps, no guesses. The score draws on beginner-friendliness, body safety, ease of use, performance, satisfaction and value, each weighted by how often it appears in the review text. The 1,990 reviews behind these scores come from buyers who used the product and said what happened, which is the only evidence that matters when you're choosing something that goes inside you.

The Shots Toys Thru Hole Small sits at the top with a Coyscore of 88 and 73 reviews averaging 4.9 stars. Reviewers call it a perfect size for beginners — small enough not to intimidate, smooth enough to insert easily, and it stays where you put it. The flared base is stable and the silicone is genuinely body-safe, so you can clean it properly and it'll last.

Doc Johnson's Platinum Stretch Anal Plug scores 79 from 334 reviews at 4.1 stars. It's described as just right for an initial stretch before moving to larger toys, and the platinum-cured silicone is body-safe — Doc Johnson's Platinum line is one of the few mass-market ranges that gets the material right. One reviewer said it's worth the price despite initial hesitation, which is about as clear a recommendation as you get.

The Anal Fantasy Open Wide Tunnel Plug sits at 74 from 66 reviews averaging 4.2 stars. It's a mid-range option that does what it says — opens you up, holds the shape, and the silicone cleans easily. The review count is thinner than the top two, but the people who bought it were happy enough to say so.

Oxballs' 4.75 Inch Tunnel Plug has a Coyscore of 71 and the highest review count here — 1,071 reviews at 4.3 stars. That volume tells you it's widely bought and widely kept, even if the score isn't the highest. Reviewers note it can be quite big and tricky to insert at first, so it's not the one for beginners, but if you've done this before and want something that holds you open properly, this is the one people reach for.

The Master Series Invasion Hollow Large scores 70 from 446 reviews at 3.3 stars. The lower star average shows up in the review text — it's large, it asks a lot of you, and some buyers found it more than they were ready for. If you're experienced and want significant stretch, it'll do that, but beginners should look elsewhere.

Is this toy good for beginners? Yes — the Shots Toys Thru Hole Small is described as a perfect size for beginners and small enough not to be scary by the people who've used it.

Is it worth the price? One reviewer said outright "I have to say it's worth it" despite initial trepidation about the cost, which is the kind of thing people only say when they mean it.

Is the Doc Johnson Platinum Stretch body-safe? Yes. The Platinum Premium Silicone line from Doc Johnson is made from platinum-cured silicone, which is safe for internal use. As one Reddit user put it, "everything they clearly label silicone seems to be legit."

Is the Doc Johnson suitable for beginners? One reviewer found it "just right for an initial stretch before using my bigger toys", which suggests it works well for people starting out with anal play.

What is the primary use of a tunnel plug? Tunnel plugs stretch the sphincter and keep it open, giving you that gaped sensation. The hollow centre also lets you insert other toys, fingers or a penis through it, and they're popular for watersports or medical play.

Is the Oxballs suitable for beginners? No. Reviewers note it can be quite big and tricky to insert initially, so you'll want some experience with anal play before trying this one.

The Snug Report is published by the team behind Coy, a New Zealand retailer that stocks many of the products reviewed here. We say so on every page. Our scores come from aggregated public reviews, not from us — the method is on the methodology page and the evidence count is on every review.