The 7 Best Pregnancy Tests for Quick, Accurate Results

More Pregnancy Tests to Consider

• First Response Early Results: Both our experts agree this is one of the most sensitive home pregnancy tests available, with the ability to accurately test levels of hCG five days before your expected period. It was narrowly beat out for the categories above for various reasons, but our testing confirmed this is a low-cost, easy-to-use, easy-to-interpret, and widely available option.
• Proov Check Early Pregnancy Test: Proov Check is one of the few tests that can detect pregnancy hormone levels as low as 5mIU/mL, which allows you to check for pregnancy as early as five days before the expected period, according to Dr. Flisser. These strip tests are slightly pricier than Pregmate Pregnancy Test Strips (though still more affordable than any stick test), but our testing confirms Proov delivers fast, easy-to-interpret results.
• Target up & up Advanced Early Result Pregnancy Test: We loved that this test had a longer handle and wider wick than other tests, which made it the least messy of all the tests. It was also accurate, easy to read, and affordable.

Where We Stand

We spent over 60 hours testing pregnancy tests, and in the end, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown proved to be the best value and quality. It’s easy to use, offers a clear digital read of “pregnant” or “not pregnant” up to four days before your expected period, and is durably constructed and mess-free. We’ll keep our list updated as we test new products, so watch this space.

Our Testing Process

We spoke to experts at every stage of researching and reporting to learn how best to select and evaluate pregnancy tests for accuracy. These interviews helped us better understand the science of how pregnancy tests work, the best way to use them for accurate results, and what makes for a quality and trustworthy pregnancy test.

Then we had five pregnant women test 17 different pregnancy tests in the comfort of their homes. Overall, our team spent 60 hours testing and 7 scored well enough to be included in our top picks. Each tester considered the following attributes:

• How easy the results were to read and understand
• How soon each test could be taken in the pregnancy
• How long you have to wait for results to appear

We rated each test based on the following four attributes. Each of these four scores was combined and divided to reach an average rating:

• Accuracy: Did the test display accurate results?
• Display: How easy were the results to read and understand? How well-defined was the change in display? How user-friendly was the display to navigate?
• Ease of Use: How messy was the testing process? Were the directions easy to follow? Did the test indicate that it had been exposed to enough urine, or did it require you to guess?
• Value: Does the price justify its usability, accuracy, and display method?

Our Experts

• Jennifer Wu, MD, OBGYN Women's Health of Manhattan
• Heather Viola, DO, assistant professor of general internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center
• Eric Flisser, MD, board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York and assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, Gynecology, and reproductive science at the Mount Sinai Medical Center
• Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, who is double board-certified in OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine and the Director of Perinatal Services/Maternal-Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx

What to Know About Pregnancy Tests

Home pregnancy tests have been around for a long time, and the technology behind them is fairly simple: They measure levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine. Because of this, most tests are accurate and reliable, says Dr. Flisser. Therefore, when trying to pick the best pregnancy test to buy, the difference is in the details:

• Detection Period: Pregnancy tests have different levels of sensitivity. While some super sensitive early detection pregnancy tests can detect hCG levels as low as 5 mIU/ml, more often tests can accurately confirm a positive result 10 days post-conception or 1–4 days before your expected period, Dr. Gaither says.
• Response Time: Most pregnancy tests require you to insert the stick or strip into urine for 5–10 seconds, and then take 1–5 minutes to display your results.
• Display Method: Strip and stick tests both measure the hCG in your urine. The difference is just a matter of preference for how the results are displayed, Dr. Flisser explains. Strip tests nearly always display results by changing color, with either a single or a double line materializing on the test. Stick tests have different types of displays, some of which are also color changing. They may also show a smiley face or frowny face, or the most advanced options will have a digital display that clearly reads “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant.”
• False Readings: False positives can happen if you take the test too soon after taking a fertility medicine containing hCG or if you’ve had a pregnancy loss after the fertilized egg attached to the uterine lining, explains Dr. Gaither. Much more common is a false negative, which can happen if you take the test too early in your pregnancy, especially if you also test in the evening.

How Much You Can Expect to Pay for Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests range in price from $0.30 to $5 per test. Strip tests are usually the cheapest since they require less material and packaging to produce and often come in bulk. Tests with a digital display that leaves no room for confusion are often more expensive.

Your Questions, Answered

How soon will a pregnancy test read positive? 

Dr. Flisser says some early pregnancy tests can detect low levels of hCG, even 1–4 days before your expected period. By the first day of your missed period, most pregnancy tests should read accurately.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test? 

You can take a pregnancy test as early as five days before your expected period, but you might not have enough of the hormone hCG in your urine yet for the test to detect it, explains Dr. Flisser. 

How accurate are pregnancy tests? 

Pregnancy tests are 99% accurate or more, both our doctors agree. The variability in accuracy comes not from the tests itself but from timing. If the pregnancy is still in the early days of conception, you might not have enough of the hormone hCG in your urine.

Who We Are

Rachael Schultz has been a science- and research-focused health writer for the better part of a decade, including women’s health and fertility. She specializes in translating medical jargon and study findings into digestible and actionable information the every-person can understand. She is also a long-time product journalist and is adept at sussing out what makes one product better than another, and which is worth your money.