The Best Pregnancy Tests for 2022
How they work
When to test
How we chose
Our picks
Product comparison
How to choose
Types of tests
FAQs
Takeaway
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A quick look at the best pregnancy tests
Best overall pregnancy test: First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test
Best pregnancy test for fast results: Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test
Best digital pregnancy test: Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test
Best pregnancy test strips: ClinicalGuard Pregnancy Urine Test Strips
Best budget-friendly pregnancy test: Pregmate Pregnancy Test Strips
Best pregnancy test kit: Easy@Home Ovulation & Pregnancy Test Kit
Best pregnancy test for assurance: First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Tests
Best pregnancy test subscription: Stix Pregnancy Tests
Best pregnancy test with app integration: Modern Fertility Pregnancy Test
The days (or weeks or months) of wondering if you are pregnant can feel like some of the longest of your life. There are a lot of emotions that come with anticipating pregnancy, and with good reason — your life may never be the same.
Using a reliable at-home pregnancy test can give you a fast answer to the big question you’re asking. It can also let you know if you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor or midwife (and put the cocktails on pause).
How do home pregnancy tests work?
Home pregnancy tests detect a hormone in your urine called hCG (short for human chorionic gonadotropin). When a sperm and an egg join and start growing, some of the cells (that will soon become the placenta) start producing hCG.
Levels of hCG rise rapidly in early pregnancy, and this is what home pregnancy tests are checking for.
At-home pregnancy tests usually work one of two ways: You either hold the stick in your stream of urine (preferably first thing in the morning, when your urine hCG levels will be the most concentrated), or you pee in a cup and dip the stick in.
You then lay the stick or strip flat and wait the amount of time given on the box (typically 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the test).
For the most accurate results, it’s best to wait at least until after (a day, ideally the week after) your period was due to start. Before this, there just might not be enough hCG in your urine to be detected on a pregnancy test.
If you get a negative result on your pregnancy test, it might just be too early to tell. Try waiting a few days, then check again. It’s more common to get a false negative on a pregnancy test (due to testing too early, using an expired test, or not following the instructions), but false positives do occasionally happen.
When should you take a pregnancy test?
If you have been sexually active (even using contraception) and your period is late, it’s probably a good idea to take a pregnancy test. While there are other reasons your period could be late, an at-home pregnancy test is a good place to start.
You may also want to take a pregnancy test if you’ve been experiencing any early pregnancy symptoms, such as:
breast tenderness
nausea
heightened sense of smell
fatigue
food aversions
How we chose the best home pregnancy tests
For this list, we polled several physicians and midwives to get their expert opinions, read research studies, asked some parents, and even peed on a few sticks ourselves. We particularly focused on accuracy.
While many brands claim 99 percent accuracy, that depends on when you test. A large, third-party study shows that for some mainstream tests, it can be lower depending on when you test in relation to a missed period. The most accurate time to test is starting on the day of your missed period and the week after.
While the above study was conducted in 2011, it’s the most recent research to compare mainstream tests. It’s important to consider that some brands may have changed their technology since.
What the pros said
The consensus from healthcare professionals across the board was that it doesn’t really matter what home pregnancy test you use — they all work more or less the same way, it just depends on your preferences.
If that’s the case, what does matter when taking a home pregnancy test? They had a few key suggestions:
Make sure the test isn’t expired.
Wait until after you’ve missed your period to test (don’t test too early).
Follow the instructions on the box exactly.
Call your doctor or midwife if you:
get a positive test result
get a negative result but your period still doesn’t start
have other symptoms that concern you (severe abdominal pain, nausea, etc.)
Additionally, there are some key differences that can make one test a better choice for you than another. To help you make your choice, we’ve selected our top home pregnancy test options based on:
sensitivity
convenience
speed
cost
Pricing guide
$ = under $5 per test
$$ = over $5 per test
Healthline Parenthood’s picks of the best pregnancy tests
Best overall pregnancy test
First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test
Price: $
Results time: 3 minutes
Display method: line test
In the largest study of over-the-counter pregnancy tests to date, First Response proved to be 97 percent accurate from the day of your missed period. Easy to find online and in stores, this simple, accurate, and affordable test is by far a user favorite (and can be a great choice if you just want to know — NOW!). It comes with three tests per pack, and you can buy a two-pack.
In addition to being the most sensitive at-home test, First Response Early Result has an ergonomically designed handle that’s easy to hold (you’d be amazed how many sticks we almost dropped in the toilet). You can hold it under your stream of urine as you pee with no need to pee in a cup and dip. It’s also available in a digital format if you’re concerned about reading the results correctly.
Pros
delivers fast results up to 6 days before your missed period
has been shown to be the most accurate on the day of your missed period compared to other mainstream brands
Cons
some reviewers have reported false positives and false negatives (a risk with all at-home pregnancy tests)
Pregnancy test Strips?
