best early pregnancy test before missed period?

The Best Pregnancy Tests for Accurate, Easy-to-Read Results
The First Response Early Results kit tops our list with reliable detection
By Deanna McCormack
and Katrina Cossey
Updated on April 04, 2022
Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD
Tyra

Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Best Pregnancy Tests

Verywell / Chloe Jeong

If you | re wondering whether or not you | re pregnant, an at-home pregnancy test can ease your mind, even days before your missed period. The best pregnancy tests are reliable and easy to take—and they won | t break the bank.
Reviewed & Approved

The First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test is our top pick for family planning because of its early detection and convenient line results reader app. And with its error-proof design and functionality indicator, the Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test is also an easy 'yes.'

When choosing a test, make sure it is not expired, think about the day you | d like to test (early or after a missed period), and know how you | d like to read the results. Digital readers can make things more simple by translating your results to text, like "Not Pregnant" or "Pregnant." If you have more experience with pregnancy tests, test strips with line results are typically cheaper and come with more in the package. We spoke with childbirth experts and reviewed pregnancy tests and test kits from the top brands for accuracy, speed, early detection, and price.

Here, the best pregnancy tests available today.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test, 3 Tests at Amazon
Best Budget:
ClinicalGuard HCG Pregnancy Test Strips at Amazon
Fastest Test:
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test at Amazon
Best Digital:
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test at Amazon
Best Strips:
PREGMATE 40 Pregnancy Test Strips at Amazon
Best Kit:
PREGMATE Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Strips at Amazon
In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected
What to Look For
Why Trust Verywell Family

Best Overall: First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test, 3 Tests
4.7
First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Test 3 ct.

Amazon
View On Amazon
Pros

Early detection (6 days before missed period)

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

Various test types

Cons

Costly

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.1

Not to mention, it is compatible with the free, EasyRead app for further confirmed reassurance 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.

And while it should be mentioned that this at-home pregnancy test scored 4.7 out of 5, only due to cost in light of the occasional one (digital) out of three testers in its package giving a different read, one can bet that the overall lot is accurate time and time again.

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

Courtesy of Amazon
View On 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. You | ll also need a cup for these so you can submerge the strip. If your result is positive, you | ll see two different color bands pop up.

Number of tests: 25 | Display method: Line test | Result time: 5 minutes
Fastest Test: Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test

Courtesy of Amazon
View On Amazon
Pros

Ergonomically curved handle

Wide tip + Floodguard prevent errors

Color tip tells you the test is working

Cons

Blue dye can cause indent lines

Only 3 tests included

Costly

If you are pregnant, you could find out as soon as one minute after taking the test using the Rapid Detection Pregnancy test. 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 any user errors. This Clearblue product can be used up to five days before your missed period.

Number of tests: 3 | Display method: + / - | Result time: 1 minute
Best Digital: Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown

Amazon
View On Amazon
View On Walmart
Pros

Shows countdown to result

Early detection (up to 5 days before missed period)

Wide tip helps reduce testing errors

Cons

Expensive

Some tests may give error message

Test's display message may not last an entire 6 months

Waiting for your pregnancy test result can be nerve-wracking, so Clearblue | s Smart Countdown feature can help calm any anxiety by being taken five days before your missed period. 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.

Number of tests: 3 | Display method: Words ("Pregnant"/"Not Pregnant") | Result time: 1-3 minutes
Best Strips: PREGMATE 40 Pregnancy Test Strips
PREGMATE 40 Pregnancy (HCG) Urine Test Strips

Amazon
View On Amazon
Pros

Bulk pricing

Wider than the average test strip

Easy to use/simple

Cons

No plastic applicator

Longer wait time

May be harder to read (line tests)

If you don | t need lots of bells and whistles on your pregnancy test, these no-frills test strips will get the job done quickly (and are often used in doctors' offices). To use one, you | ll pee into a cup, dip one of the strips in the liquid for three seconds, and then lay it flat. In five minutes, you | ll have your answer. The test can be used up to five days before a missed period.

Number of tests: 40 | Display method: Line test | Result time: 5 minutes
Best Kit: PREGMATE 100 Ovulation and 20 Pregnancy Test Strips
PREGMATE 100 Ovulation LH And 20 Pregnancy HCG Test Strips

Amazon
View On Amazon
Pros

Has both pregnancy and ovulation tests

Budget-friendly

120 pieces included

Cons

No applicator

Not intended for early detection

No app for easy reading

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.

Number of tests: 20 pregnancy / 100 ovulation | Display method: Line | Result time: 5 minutes
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Final Verdict

The right pregnancy test for your needs will mostly depend on your budget, how often you plan to take the tests, and how early you want to know whether or not you are pregnant. Don | t get caught up in accuracy percentages. We like the First Response Triple Check Pregnancy Tests (view on Amazon) because the kit includes three different tests, and they are sensitive enough for early detection. There's also the PREGMATE 100 Ovulation and 20 Pregnancy Test Strips (view on Amazon), which comes with both ovulation and pregnancy test strips, is easy to use, and is budget-friendly.
How We Selected the Best Pregnancy Tests

We chose the best pregnancy tests by studying the features of more than a dozen products on the market and researching reviews from customers and competitors. We considered price, design, features, ease of use, and accuracy when deciding our picks. We consulted with Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH, for criteria to use and also reviewed guidance from the American Pregnancy Association.2
What to Look for in a Pregnancy Test
Display Method

Most home pregnancy test kits work by having a slip of paper that reacts by changing color when hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin (the pregnancy hormone), is present. Or in the case of digital pregnancy tests, when hCG is present, the "Pregnant" sign lights up, but it's still doing so because the pregnancy test detected hCG, says Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH.

If you are worried about your ability to read a pregnancy test, you may wish to consider a digital test. This is a simple readout that says “Not Pregnant” or “Pregnant.” A strip test will have two lines, either parallel or in the form of a plus for pregnant, or one line vertical (instead of two lines) or a negative sign instead of a plus sign. Check the instructions on how to read the test.

Read the pregnancy test within the designated time frame to avoid false positives due to evaporation lines. Typically any color change in the area of the second line would indicate the presence of hCG and therefore a positive test. The two lines may differ in color, but the test can still be positive.
Cost

Pregnancy test kits vary from just under a dollar for bulk purchases without lots of packaging to over $25 for a single pregnancy test (typically a digital, early-pregnancy test with lots of packaging and a toll-free number). How much you pay for your test is not typically correlated with how well it works, Dr. Weiss mentions. So even if you decide to go for a test with more instructions and support, you can still save a lot of money by purchasing test kits that include multiple pregnancy tests.

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

In short, the difference lies in the test | s ability to detect smaller amounts of hCG. More expensive tests might tell you if you are pregnant earlier, have a digital reader, or boast a well-designed plastic holder.
Expiration Date

No matter which brand of test or type of home pregnancy test you choose, be sure you check the expiration date on the pregnancy test box. The biggest error people get when testing for pregnancy is using expired pregnancy tests.

If you are buying your pregnancy tests online and in bulk, be sure that you know the tests you're purchasing are not expired or are about to expire. And if you don't take 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

How do home pregnancy test kits work?

The pregnancy will begin to produce hCG, also known as the pregnancy hormone, and it is what a pregnancy test is looking for to confirm whether or not you are pregnant. Home-pregnancy tests look for hCG in your urine, as the hormone is excreted or passed when you use the bathroom. Dr. Weiss explains that at first, this happens in very small quantities, but the further along in pregnancy you are, the more hCG can be detected.

A blood pregnancy test also looks for the hormone hCG, though it screens your blood. These are ordered by your doctor or midwife. Blood pregnancy tests aren't typically the go-to method for doctors or medical professionals when confirming a pregnancy. Even if you go to your doctor's office for a pregnancy test, the vast majority of them will offer you a urine test.
How early can I test if I am pregnant?

Hormone levels vary from person to person, but some tests can detect a positive pregnancy as early as six days before a missed period. You will likely get better results first thing in the morning or after you have not urinated for several hours. Later in pregnancy, this won't matter as most tests detect very small amounts of hCG.

In reality, a blood test, at the earliest, will detect minuscule amounts of hCG about seven to 10 days after conception (not ovulation), and a urine or home-pregnancy test kit will begin to see some positives 12 to 14 days after conception.

You can use an early home-pregnancy test kit, though it | s recommended to not start until at least 12 days post-ovulation. You may still receive a false negative if your timing is off.

If you have a positive pregnancy test, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor or midwife. 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 prior to 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 the result is negative and you still believe you are pregnant, wait 48 hours to retest as the hCG level will typically double in that time. In this case, Dr. Weiss always tells people to assume a positive is a positive and that a negative is an "I don't know yet" until your period starts or you have a positive. Act pregnant—as in abstaining from alcohol, cigarettes, and other relevant activities—until you know you're not.

You should repeat a test that is negative prior to the start of your period. It is best to wait at least two days to test to give your body a chance to build-up to the hCG needed to turn the test positive. You should also repeat it if your period does not start after a couple of days to a week.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and copywriter who covers lifestyle, 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 has been a digital content producer and news and feature writer for more than six years. She's covered topics ranging from local and national news, as well as writing and researching parenting content. Katrina is a parent herself and 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.