7 Best Pregnancy Tests of 2024
Accurate and affordable options, recommended by doctors and midwives.
Medically reviewed by Maria Sophocles, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., N.C.M.P., I.F.
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There may be no other moment in life so full of anticipation, anxiety and impatience as waiting for the results of a pregnancy test — whether you’re crossing fingers the results are positive or negative. But at least you can have that moment in the privacy of your own home, and you can get an answer to your potentially life-changing question in just minutes. Back in the early 20th century, doctors would inject samples of a woman’s urine into a lab rat to test for pregnancy, no kidding! The FDA approved the first home test, which thankfully did not involve lab animals, in 1976, and today the tests are easier to use and more accurate than ever.
Home pregnancy tests can give you an accurate response as early as six days before your period is due, and needless to say, with reproductive choice being challenged all across the country, the earlier you know whether you’re pregnant, the more options you’ll have. Here, we're exploring the seven best pregnancy tests of 2023, recommended by doctors and mid-wives.
Our top picks:
There are two basic types of home pregnancy tests to choose from: wands and test strips. With a wand, you hold the test in your urine stream as you sit on the toilet. With a stick, you collect your urine in a small cup and then dip the test strip into the cup, adding an extra step, but avoiding the splash factor. Strips also tend to be less expensive than wands. "A person might choose the cup method if they're concerned about missing the tip of the test or not getting enough urine on it," says OB-GYN Jill Purdie, MD, medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group in Atlanta. "Wand tests are typically easy to handle and interpret."
If you choose a wand, you have two options: traditional, which shows lines or a plus sign, and the more expensive digital option, which shows a clear readout telling you whether you are pregnant or not. Most importantly, "Look for a pregnancy test with clear instructions that are easy to follow, and check to make sure the test has not expired," advises Dr. Purdie.
It's important to note, that pregnancy tests have come a long way, but they still aren't 100% accurate, and some can yield false positives and false negatives. If you think you might be pregnant, it's best to visit your doctor, who can take a blood test.
FIRST RESPONSE Early Result Pregnancy Test, 3 Pack
Pros
- Can be used before you miss a period
- Affordable
Cons
- Some say it's difficult to read
First Response is the go-to brand trusted by all the experts we consulted. It's 99% accurate (when used after a missed period), reasonably priced and widely available. And their Early Result option is a particular favorite, “because it can detect a pregnancy six days before than a missed period, so you’ll know earlier on if you’re pregnant or not," says Banafsheh Kashani, M.D., an OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist in Laguna Hills, CA, who adds, "It is quite accurate at picking up hCG (the hormone that detects pregnancy) levels that are very low.”
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown, 3 Count
Pros
- Easiest to read
- Extra wide tip makes it easier to use
Cons
- Some reviewers report glitches with the readout
- Slightly more expensive than traditional wands
Also getting high marks by several experts, this digital test takes all the squinting and guessing out of reading results — it simply flashes the words pregnant or not pregnant. “The benefit of a digital test is that it’s going to give you a clear yes or no, and there isn’t going to be the very ambiguous, faint line that sometimes can be difficult to read,” says midwife Kristin Mallon, CNM, the co-founder and CEO of FemGevity. “I always like Clearblue Digital because it's very easy to use,” she says.
FIRST RESPONSE Rapid Result Pregnancy Test, 2 Pack
Pros
- Fastest test available
- Affordable
Cons
- Some reviewers say the test was inconclusive
If you really need to know right now, and don’t want to wait the extra few minutes, this is a reliably fast option, says Dr. Kashani, who likes that it can tell you the result in just 1 minute. Reviewers say it's easy, fast and clear to read.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Comes with test cups
Cons
- Not as fast as some wands
If you know you'll be doing a lot of testing — say, you're actively trying to get pregnant or you have PCOS — strips tend to be more budget-friendly than wands (here, you get 55 for the price of 2 or 3 wands). This brand was designed to be wide with a comfortable grip, and can be used 5 days before you expect your period. Simply pee in the small cup, then dip the strip in for at least 5 seconds. In 5 minutes you'll have your answer. "I have PCOS so it’s very difficult to track my cycles, which is important when trying for a baby. I buy these in bulk and test every weekend, that’s how we found out early that we were pregnant with our now one-year-old," one reviewer on Amazon wrote.
Premom Pregnancy Test Strips, 30 Pack
Pros
- Can be used with fertility app
- Affordable
Cons
- Some reviewers aren't a fan of the app
Another inexpensive option (test strips require less packaging than wands, which helps keep down the cost), these reliable test sticks have the bonus of integrating with the PreMom fertility-tracking app. Remember, though, to review all privacy info before entering any personal data on a fertility app.
Easy@Home Ovulation Test and Pregnancy Test Strips
Pros
- You get both tests
- Reviewers say it's easy to use
Cons
- Some reviewers say the reading takes a long time
If you're trying to conceive, you can improve your chances each month by tracking your fertility with ovulation tests that measure the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, which is highest just before an egg is released. This kit has both kinds of tests—so you can tell when you're fertile, and then confirm whether your careful timing worked. It also connects with the PreMom fertility app.
Pros
- Well designed
- Can be used early
Cons
- More expensive than most
Gynecologist Ruth O. Arumala, DO, co-chief medical officer of Zuri Fertility, likes this test, which claims to be 99% accurate as early as six days before your missed period. It comes in a stylish lavender box and the stick is ergonomically designed to be held comfortably in your hand (so there's less chance of accidentally dropping it in the toilet). These are pricier than other brands, but the price drops to $13.60 a box if you get a monthly or bimonthly subscription.
What to look for when shopping for the best pregnancy tests
✔️ Type: As mentioned above, there are two types of tests: wands and strips. Wands now offer a digital reading, which will literally spell out whether you're pregnant or not, as opposed to using lines and symbols. It's really a personal preference because there is no difference in accuracy when they are used as directed.
✔️ Expiration: Pregnancy tests do expire, usually years after they are manufactured. Still, it's important to double-check the expiration date before using as expired tests may give you a false reading.
✔️ Cost: If you're someone who needs to be testing often, strips are usually the more affordable option, as you'll get dozens of them for the price of 1-2 wand tests.
How do pregnancy tests work?
“Most home pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine,” explains Dr. Arumala. That hormone is secreted by the placenta into the mother’s circulation after the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. “HCG can be detected in blood and urine as early as 8 to 14 days after conception and the levels will typically will double every 48 hours until peaking at 8 to 11 weeks of gestation,” adds Dr. Kashani.
How accurate are pregnancy tests?
The accuracy of home tests depends on how sensitive they are to detecting hCG, but if used properly, according to directions and within the correct time frame, they are around 97 to 99% accurate. “The most common cause of a false negative test is taking it too soon,” says Dr. Arumala. Dr. Kashani points out that even a very faint line means you are pregnant. “If the line is very faint however, it typically means that this is a very early pregnancy,” she explains. “You can repeat the pregnancy test in a few days to see if the line gets darker, which typically means the pregnancy is progressing.”
How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
Tests are most accurate after a missed period, but with some tests you can get a positive result as soon as eight days after conception or ovulation, which is about six days before your period is due, says Dr. Kashani.
This also depends on when a woman ovulates in her cycle, Mallon points out. “Some women tend to ovulate later in their cycle, and may not see a positive pregnancy test until four weeks after a last menstrual period,” she says. “Some women will ovulate earlier in the cycle and can see a positive pregnancy test three weeks after their last menstrual period.” She adds that no two pregnancies are the same, and you may create a different amount of hCG for each pregnancy, meaning it might take a few days longer, or might be accurate faster, than the last time you were pregnant. “If your periods are irregular, it may be harder to know when the next period is expected. If you have been tracking ovulation, a pregnancy test should be taken about two weeks after ovulation," says Dr. Purdie.
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
Usually, the best time to take the test is first thing in the morning, says Mallon. “This tends to be the most concentrated, and has the highest level of hCG, as it has been collecting overnight,” she explains.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Marisa Cohen, who wrote this article, is the Deputy Editor in Hearst’s Health Newsroom. She has covered women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth for more than 20 years, and is the author of the book Deliver This! Make the Childbirth Choice That’s Right for You. For this article she interviewed OB-GYNs and one certified nurse-midwife to discover which tests they recommend for their own patients.
Marisa Cohen is an editor in the Hearst Lifestyle Group’s Health Newsroom, who has covered health, nutrition, parenting and culture for dozens of magazines and websites over the past two decades.
Maria Sophocles has been a practicing ob/gyn for 27 years. She lived and worked in Europe for several years and learned to appreciate the complementary and alternative medical practices which were not taught in her traditional U.S residency in Baltimore.
When she moved back to the U.S. in 2007, she founded a women’s healthcare practice that was based on listening, and in which patient and clinician are part of shared decision making.
She is certified by the American Board of ob/gyn. She is a nationally certified menopause practitioner by the North American Menopause Society. She has been recognized for her contributions to gynecology and as such has been named a fellow of both the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases.
She was one of the first U.S clinicians to recognize the need for a non-estrogen option to treat vaginal atrophy in breast cancer survivors and pioneered the use of Co2 laser both intravaginally and on the vulva; she has taught clinicians this technology on five continents and has been an advocate for women’s health, reproductive and sexual rights in the U.S and abroad.
She completed a BA in English with honors and distinction from Duke University, attended medical School at Jefferson Medical College and completed her residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
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