The 9 Best Pregnancy Tests of 2024

Our top picks are accurate, affordable, and easy to use.

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assortment of pregnancy tests we recommend against a patterned blue background

Verywell / Chloe Jeong

If you’re wondering whether or not you’re pregnant, a home pregnancy test can ease your mind, even days before your missed period. There are different types of at-home tests to choose from, like digital or strips, but the best pregnancy tests are reliable, easy to use, and fit your budget, with some reimbursable through your HSA/FSA (health savings account and flexible spending account).

Pregnancy tests detect the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) through your urine (or blood if you visit the doctor’s office). “Pregnancy tests are approximately 99 percent accurate [and] best utilized after a missed period,” says Kecia Gaither, MD, an OB/GYN, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and director of Perinatal Services and Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx. “False positives are rare but can occur."

When choosing a pregnancy test, consider the day you’d like to test (early or after a missed period) and how you’d like to read the results. Digital readers can make things easier by translating your results into text like "Not Pregnant" or "Pregnant," while pregnancy test strips with line results are typically cheaper and can be purchased in bulk. We carefully considered accuracy, display methods, ease of use, the number of tests, result times, and value when reviewing products. An obstetrician-gynecologist on our Review Board also reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity around pregnancy tests.

Best Overall

First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Test

First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Test

Amazon

Pros
  • Early detection (6 days before missed period)

  • App converts line results into words ("Not Pregnant," "Pregnant")

  • Various test types

Cons
  • Some digital tests may malfunction

  • Some digital tests may take longer than others

This test from First Response is our top choice because it delivers reliable, easy-to-read results up to six days before a missed period. In three minutes' time, you'll get the confirmed read you need, so you don’t have to sit around wondering. Data shows that the First Response Early Result manual test’s findings are especially accurate because it can detect all forms of the different types of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) found in urine. Studies show that First Response tests are able to detect hCG in 76 percent of users five cycle days before their expected period and detect 100 percent of the hormone on the day of the missed period.

This pregnancy test is also compatible with the free EasyRead app for further confirmation of your results. And speaking of the results, with the First Response Early Result pregnancy test having over 99 percent accuracy, the brand has garnered something like a cult following of women who have returned with each new believed conception.

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
3 | Display Method: Line test (word option through the app) | Result Time: 3 minutes 

Best Budget

ClinicalGuard HCG Pregnancy Test Strips

ClinicalGuard HCG Pregnancy Test Strips

Amazon

Pros
  • Individually sealed, easy to carry around

  • Easy to use

  • 25 tests included

Cons
  • Not intended for early detection

  • Cup required

  • Lines may be difficult to read

If you’re trying to conceive and think you’ll likely go through a lot of tests, ClinicalGuard’s dip-in strips may be right for you. They come in bulk but are individually sealed, so you’ll always be prepared. Keep in mind that you'll need a cup for these so you can submerge the strip. If your result is positive, you’ll see two different color lines pop up.

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
25 | Display Method: Line test | Result Time: 5 minutes 

Fastest Test

Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

 Amazon

Pros
  • Ergonomically curved handle

  • Wide tip and Floodguard prevent errors

  • Color tip tells you the test is working

Cons
  • Blue dye can cause indent lines

If you are pregnant, you could find out as soon as one minute after taking the test using the Rapid Detection Pregnancy test (when taken after a missed period). The wide, color-changing tip on this manual test makes it easy to use (it’ll go from pink to white when used correctly), while the special "Floodguard" feature helps prevent user errors. This Clearblue product can be used up to five days before your missed period (if that's the case, the manufacturer recommends that you wait three minutes to read the test to confirm a "not pregnant" result).

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
3 | Display Method: + / - | Result Time: 1 minute

Best With App

Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test

Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test

Amazon

Pros
  • Free app

  • Early detection (up to 6 days before missed period) 

  • App can track menstrual cycle

Cons
  • App available only on iOS

  • Small size may be challenging for some people

The Modern Fertility pregnancy tests not only reveal results through lines on the stick but they can also be confirmed with the company’s free app (available on iOS only for now). The app can also track your period and recommend when to take a pregnancy test, so you don’t have to do the guesswork. The tests are small and discreet enough to slide into your back pocket and work up to six days before a missed menstrual cycle. If you have trouble peeing on the stick, the company recommends dipping the sticks in urine for five seconds instead. 

Bonus: The company offers free shipping, FSA/HSA reimbursement, and two subscription options.  

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
4 | Display Method: Line results | Result Time: 5 minutes

Best Digital

Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test

Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown

Amazon

Pros
  • Shows countdown to result

  • Early detection (up to 5 days before missed period)

  • Wide tip helps reduce testing errors

Cons
  • Some tests may give error message

  • Test's display message may not last the entire 6 months

Waiting for your pregnancy test result can be nerve-wracking, so Clearblue’s Smart Countdown feature can help calm any anxiety. A little on-screen tracker indicates how much longer you’ll need to wait—generally three minutes, but some results appear within one minute—providing reassurance that the test is still working.

Once your result is ready, you’ll see either “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” clearly on the screen, so there’s no need to interpret any lines, symbols, or colors. Bonus: If you get a positive result, the test will display “Pregnant” for six months so you can show it off to excited loved ones.

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
3 | Display Method: Words ("Pregnant"/"Not Pregnant") | Result Time: 1-3 minutes

Best Strips

Wondfo Ovulation Test Strips and Pregnancy Test Strips Kit

Wondfo 50 Ovulation Test Strips and 20 Pregnancy Test Strips Kit

 Amazon

Pros
  • Discreet size and individually sealed

  • Pregnancy and ovulation tests included

  • Easy to use

Cons
  • More ovulation tests than pregnancy strips

  • No plastic applicator

For no-frills testing (both pregnancy and ovulation), the Wondo Fertility Combination Tests are your go-to. This kit includes 50 ovulation and 20 pregnancy test strips, as well as instructions to guide you through the entire process. To take the pregnancy test, you simply dip the strip in urine for 5-10 seconds. The test can detect hCG levels as low as 25 mIU/ml with 99 percent accuracy within five minutes. For best results, the manufacturer recommends that you take the pregnancy test on the first day of your cycle, which is the day you’d expect to get your period. 

If you don’t need ovulation tests, the company also offers pregnancy test strips by themselves. 

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
20 pregnancy / 50 ovulation | Display Method: Line results | Results Time: 5 minutes

Best Kit

PREGMATE Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Strips

PREGMATE 100 Ovulation and 20 Pregnancy Test Strips

Amazon

Pros
  • Has both pregnancy and ovulation tests

  • Budget-friendly

  • 120 pieces included

Cons
  • No applicator

  • Not intended for early detection

For people trying to conceive, this pack of ovulation and pregnancy tests can be a massive help. You can use the much-loved Pregmate ovulation strips to figure out when the ideal time for intercourse is, and afterward, you can easily determine if you were successful with the pregnancy test strips. This product is no-fuss, accurate, and budget-friendly, making it a no-brainer.

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
20 pregnancy / 100 ovulation | Display Method: Line | Result Time: 5 minutes

Best Subscription

Stix Early Pregnancy Tests

Stix Early Pregnancy Tests

Stix

Pros
  • Three subscription options

  • Early detection

  • Same-day shipping available

Cons
  • Small results window

If you’re looking for a pregnancy test subscription, Stix makes it easy with one-, two-, or three-month discreet delivery options. Choose from two or 10 pregnancy tests and have them all delivered to your home on the same day, the next day, or in two to five days, depending on your shipping preference. When you subscribe, you can save 15 percent on your order when purchasing two tests or 25 percent for 10 tests. 

The tests provide early detection, so you can know your results six days before your missed period. Results appear as lines in the easy-to-read test window, and the tests are FSA/HSA eligible. Plus, the women-founded company offers a pregnancy and ovulation test kit if you need both tests. 

Key Specs:
Number of Tests: 2 or 10 | Display Method: Line test | Result Time: 5 minutes

Best Environmentally Friendly

Natalist Pregnancy Tests

Natalist Pregnancy Tests

 Amazon

Pros
  • Company removes plastic for every purchase

  • Easy-to-understand instructions in English and Spanish

  • HSA/FSA eligible

Cons
  • Not as sensitive as other options

Natalist aims to provide a plastic-neutral alternative for environmentally minded parents: For every product you purchase from the company, it removes the same amount of plastic waste from the environment. The test is made of BPA-free plastic, which can be recycled in facilities that accept #7 plastic (check with your local recycling service, as this particular material isn’t always accepted).

These simple tests take only five minutes to show results and can detect a pregnancy up to five days before your missed period. The package includes easy-to-understand instructions and four tests (bulk options are also available). Natalist Pregnancy Tests are HSA/FSA eligible.  

Key Specs:
Number of Tests:
4 | Display Method: Line results | Result Time: 5 minutes

How We Selected the Best Pregnancy Tests

We chose the best pregnancy tests by studying the design and features of more than 20 pregnancy tests on the market. We also researched reviews from customers and competitors while monitoring shopping trends to bring you the best and most up-to-date offerings on pregnancy tests. We considered display methods, the number of tests, result times, ease of use, and value when reviewing products. 

In addition, we spoke with Kecia Gaither, MD, an OB/GYN, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and director of Perinatal Services and Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx; Monte Swarup, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN in Chandler, Arizona, and founder of HPV Hub; and retired OB-GYN Kimberly Langdon, MD, to find out what to look for in a pregnancy test. Moreover, we reviewed guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on how pregnancy tests work and the accuracy of urine tests. We chose pregnancy tests that are accurate, easy to use, reliable, and budget-friendly.

What to Look for in a Pregnancy Test

Display Method

“Pregnancy tests assess for hCG, or the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, of placental origin. The hormone is found in the bloodstream once the fertilized zygote implants in the uterus—post six to 10 days of conception,” explains Dr. Gaither. “One can take a test too early, get a negative result, yet still be pregnant.” 

Most home pregnancy test kits work with a strip that reacts by changing color when hCG is present. If you are worried about your ability to read a pregnancy test, you may want to consider a digital test. With these tests, the display screen will read “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” (Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown) or “Yes” and “No” (First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Test Kit) to make results clearer. 

Test strips will have either two parallel lines like the Wondfo Fertility Combination Tests or a plus sign to indicate a positive pregnancy result. Negative results are usually indicated by one vertical line (instead of two lines) or a negative sign (instead of a plus sign). It is important that you thoroughly read the instructions to understand how to interpret the test. In addition, be sure to read the pregnancy test within the designated time frame to avoid false results due to evaporation lines.

Cost

Pregnancy test kits vary from just under a dollar for bulk purchases to over $15 for a few pregnancy tests (typically a digital, early-pregnancy test). It’s important to note that the cost of a pregnancy test doesn’t define how well it works. When you buy bulk pregnancy tests, you typically save money, although more expensive tests might tell you if you are pregnant earlier, have a digital reader, or boast a well-designed plastic holder. The difference may also be the test’s ability to detect smaller amounts of hCG. 

If you can't spend the money on a home pregnancy test, there are also places to get free pregnancy tests. Be sure you know who is doing the test and their credentials and motives for testing.

Expiration Date

No matter which brand or type of home pregnancy test you choose, check the expiration date on the box. “An expired pregnancy test may produce inaccurate results,” explains Dr. Langdon. If you are buying your pregnancy tests online and in bulk, be sure you know the tests you're purchasing are not expired or are about to expire. 

If you don't use all of the tests this pregnancy, you can usually save the other tests for a couple of years—hence why checking for the expiration date is so important.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the different types of pregnancy tests?

    There are two basic types of pregnancy tests: urine and blood. “For urine, the highest concentration is found in the first-morning void,” says Dr. Gaither. “For blood, the specimen is sent to the lab where the amount of hCG is determined.” While urine pregnancy tests can happen at home, they also occur at the doctor’s office. 

    A blood test can only be done by a healthcare provider. “Blood tests are to be performed in the doctor’s office, more expensive, have a wait time before results are gained, [and are] less convenient. They can, however, detect a lower concentration of hCG,” says Dr. Gaither. “The difference between at-home tests is the level of sensitivity. They are readily accessible, inexpensive, easy to use, with rapid results.”

    If you need a definitive answer with no second guessing, opt for a test at your doctor’s office. “The best pregnancy test and most accurate is an in-office blood test or a urine test that your doctor provides,” says Dr. Swarup. “At-home tests can be inaccurate if conducted incorrectly.”

    Overall, what you should look for in a pregnancy test comes down to a few factors, according to the experts. “Three things: ease of use, clarity, and reliability. An over-the-counter test kit should be easy to use; it should be easy to handle, the instructions should be clear, and the results should be visible,” says Dr. Langdon. “Choose a reputable brand. Choose ones that have been on the market for a while. A reliable pregnancy test kit will give you the certainty you need, so don’t skimp on this one,” she advises.

  • When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

    “The best time to take a pregnancy test is anytime your period is late or [you] have missed your period,” says Dr. Swarup. The ideal time of the day to take your pregnancy test is in the morning, when the pregnancy hormone, hCG, is at its highest concentration, and a test can detect it more easily.

    “hCG levels begin to rise a few days before your expected period, but sufficient levels are usually detected in your urine a day after a missed period,” says Dr. Langdon. “The most sensitive urine test kit is most likely to read positive about five days before your expected period. However, the chances of hCG detection are higher a day after a missed period.”

    If you have an irregular period, you’ll want to consider that when taking a pregnancy test. “If you have an irregular period, the best time to do it is at least four weeks after your most recent unprotected sexual contact,” says Dr. Langdon. “This is because the test kit can detect enough hCG in your urine to produce a positive result.”

  • How early can I test if I am pregnant?

    Hormone levels vary from person to person, but some home pregnancy tests can detect a positive pregnancy as early as six days before a missed period. “Blood tests can read positive in about 6 to 8 days after ovulation if you are pregnant,” says Dr. Swarup. “At-home urine tests can be within 10 days of conception.” 

    If you have a positive pregnancy test, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. They will guide you further in how to care for your pregnancy. They will also be the person with whom you can share concerns or ask questions, even before your appointment.

  • Could I be pregnant and my test be negative?

    Yes, sometimes it’s too early for the test to detect the pregnancy hormones. “If you test before your expected period or if you do not use your first urine of the day for the test, you will most likely get a negative result,” Dr. Langdon says. “It does not imply that you are not pregnant; rather, it indicates that there is insufficient hCG in your system to be detected in your urine. Your hCG levels will rise over time as your little one grows.”

    On the other hand, “a person could be pregnant and get a negative test result from their blood or urine test,” Dr. Swarup says. “False-negative pregnancy test results can occur if there is a high concentration of hCG (pregnancy hormone), which oversaturates the result.  This is known as the hook effect. However, this is very rare.”

Why Trust Verywell Family

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and copywriter who covers lifestyle and parenting content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom of two kids under the age of 3 and spends time outside her work researching, reviewing, and testing products made for modern families.

Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer for Verywell Family with nearly eight years of writing experience. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her B.A. in professional media. Her love for service journalism, helping others, and becoming a parent led to her commerce writing role, which allows her to research, test, and recommends the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. Katrina is a parent who used the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test to determine when she was expecting her own little one. She appreciated the pregnancy test’s easy-to-read display screen and wide tip for easy use.

2 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(K) substantial equivalence determination decision summary.

  2. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women's Health, Pregnancy tests.