Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, you've missed a period, or think you might already be pregnant, the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether you’ve bought the right test. Waiting for the positive or negative can be excruciating, and when accuracy is paramount, it's essential to make sure you have a test that you’re comfortable with. Did you know that some can even tell you how many weeks pregnant you are?
At-home pregnancy tests come in many different shapes and sizes, from cheap and simple strips you can buy in bulk to cut down costs to digital tests that are easy to use. In this article, we've got all the information you need to choose the right test for you, as well as 10 of the best pregnancy tests from leading brands such as Clearblue, First Response and even Boots, available from Amazon and Boots.
Quick List - Top Pregnancy Tests
Clearblue
High-Quality Test With a Digital Display to Tell You How Many Weeks Pregnant You Are
First Response
An Easy-To-Use Test With Rapid Results in 45 Seconds, Perfect for Busy People
ABBLO PHARMA
7 Day Early Detection and a Sleek Modern Design With an Easy to Grip Handle
First Response
Appealing and Easy-To-Use Early Detection Tests From One of the Most Recognisable Brands
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Many women have found themselves sitting on the side of their bathtub comparing the results on their test to the instruction leaflet, which can add stress and confusion to a moment that should be about clarity - digital tests will give you that peace of mind. These tests will have a clear digital screen that will display 'pregnant' or 'not pregnant', leaving no confusion about the result.
Perhaps the only sticking point with digital tests is that they are much more expensive than their analogue counterparts. But for those who want clearer results without too much guesswork, it's definitely worth the money.
Analogue tests can display results in a few different ways. Many tests use symbols such as a plus to indicate a ‘positive’ result and a minus to indicate a ‘negative’ result. Alternatively, they can use a line system, where one line means pregnant, and two lines represent not pregnant. These results can sometimes be faint and hard to read, and you’ll need to pay close attention to the instructions to make sure you’ve got it right.
But if you're happy to interpret the results yourself, then analogue tests can be a great option if you’re on a budget. What matters most is finding out if you’re pregnant or not, and analogue tests can give you that assurance.
For strip tests, you will need to urinate into a small plastic cup and dip the test into the urine for a short time to get a result. These will usually appear as a line somewhere on the strip, and while this shouldn’t be too taxing for most, it can be a little fiddly and messy. You may even consider wearing gloves while using a stick test to avoid contamination.
However, Strips have one big advantage over other types of tests - their price. If you’re trying to get pregnant, you may want to take tests regularly, which can really start to add up! So strips are great as they can often be purchased in large packs for a relatively low cost.
If you're trying to track your cycle, make your life easier by downloading one of these period tracking apps!
Sticks work a little differently from strips because you urinate directly onto them. Most people will do this by sitting on the toilet and placing the test under the stream of urine. These tests will have a section clearly indicated that you should urinate onto, so you should be careful how you hold it. Once you’re done, you simply replace the cap and wait for the results to appear.
Unlike a strip, these results can be either analogue or digital, and many people find this method a little more straightforward than using a strip dipped into a cup. If this sounds like you, you should consider purchasing a stick test.
Many people will use a missed period as the first indication that they should take a pregnancy test, but 'early result tests' can give accurate results 6 days before a missed period. They work just like a regular detection test but can be a lot more sensitive. You might notice on a pregnancy text box a number next to ‘mIU’, the lower this number, the more sensitive the test is.
This can bring much-needed peace of mind if you're a little anxious and don't want to wait for a missed period as your first sign. And like the digital tests, you will find that these tests will have a higher price point than regular detection tests, so bear this in mind.
Some ultra-modern digital tests offer the ability to check how many weeks pregnant you are. These tests use the same technology as other tests but with a slight twist. Tests with a week indicator use hCG detection relative to the natural surge in luteinising hormones to predict how many weeks pregnant you are. This feature allows you to have an indication of when you conceived long before an ultrasound.
If you're actively trying to get pregnant, consider opting for ovulation tests too.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test With Weeks Indicator | ![]() | High-Quality Test With a Digital Display to Tell You How Many Weeks Pregnant You Are | |
2 | First Response Rapid Results Pregnancy Test | ![]() | An Easy-To-Use Test With Rapid Results in 45 Seconds, Perfect for Busy People | |
3 | ABBLO PHARMA Earliest Pregnancy Test | ![]() | 7 Day Early Detection and a Sleek Modern Design With an Easy to Grip Handle | |
4 | First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test | ![]() | Appealing and Easy-To-Use Early Detection Tests From One of the Most Recognisable Brands | |
5 | One Step Ultra Early Pregnancy Test Strips | ![]() | Wide Width Tests for Ease of Use and Reading, Providing Results 6 Days Earlier Than Others | |
6 | Femometer HCG Pregnancy Rapid Test Strip | ![]() | Amazing Bulk Buy Value Tests With App Support to Help You Track Your Pregnancy | |
7 | Boots Boots Pregnancy Test | ![]() | Pack of Two Trustworthy and Affordable Tests From Boots for Peace of Mind | |
8 | MomMed Pregnancy Test Strips With 20 Free Urine Cups | ![]() | No Frills Quality Home Tests Featuring a Neat Handle, Available in Packs of 20 | |
9 | Boots Pregnancy Test Strip | ![]() | Economy Tests From a Trusted Healthcare Brand With Easy-To-Read Results | |
10 | Preview One Step HCG Urine Pregnancy Test | ![]() | A Reliable and Affordable Multi Pack Containing 20 Strips and 20 Cups |
Clearblue offers high-quality pregnancy tests with excellent features. This test includes a digital display that will give you a clear result in English, so there is no room for confusion. The test feels premium and is pleasant to use and handle as it has bumps on the handle, making it easier to grip.
Most importantly, this test is the only one that will tell you how many weeks pregnant you are. This test is perfect if you're wondering exactly when you became pregnant. This is a stand out product with unique features, which is why we rate this product the best pregnancy test available in the UK.
The First Response Rapid Results test is really an incredible test. Unlike most tests that take between 2 and 5 minutes to give results, the Rapid Results Test can give you results in 45 seconds. You can trust First Response to build a solid product that's easy to use, this product is no exception.
That 5 minutes sat waiting can feel like an hour, so if you couldn't stand waiting that long for a result, this is the test for you. This test is perfect for someone with a busy lifestyle who might take a test while on their lunch break or between meetings.
ABBLO's test stands apart from others with its interesting design. The lines that indicate the result are housed behind its orange casing, making the test feel very premium and substantial. Additionally, its curved handle makes it easy to grip onto and should hopefully prevent any accidental drops down the toilet.
The stand out feature of the ABBLO test is, of course, its early detection. This test can give an accurate result a full 7 days before your period. Consider choosing this test if you need your results as early as possible.
First Response is one of the most recognisable brands in the pregnancy test world and has a reputation for high quality, innovative products. This test is highly sensitive and can detect pregnancy 6 days before your period.
Unlike some tests, this one features instructions printed directly onto the stick. This means no flicking back to the instructions and more time to focus on the results. This test is perfect if you're anxious and don't want to wait until after your period to see results.
If you want your results as early as possible, this is a great choice. As the name suggests, these tests give results up to 6 days earlier than others. They also boast a slightly wider width than other tests, which makes them feel more premium and makes the results easier to read.
Bear in mind that these tests don't come with a plastic cup, so you'll need to use your own. Make sure you thoroughly clean the cup before and after use. If you don't, you may run into contamination issues that could impact the reliability of the test.
If you're looking for great value strips, it doesn't get much better than this. Femometer offers bulk buy at a low price point and adds additional value with its app support. You can download the Femometer app on Android or IOS and, using your phone's camera, keep track of your test results.
Tracking your results can be perfect for those actively trying to get pregnant. App support allows you to keep a log of how long you've been trying and how many tests you've taken, and when. Consider these tests if you're a data-driven person, however, it might just be a bit too much fuss for some people.
This twin-pack from Boots is a great choice if you don't fancy using strips but don't want to splash out on a premium test. They may not come with features such as a digital display or early results, but they are a reliable alternative at a much lower price point.
Just like the strips, Boots often puts this product on sale, so keep an eye out for a great deal. Additionally, this test has a convenient curved shape that allows users to get a good grip on the test while urinating on it.
These tests from MomMed come in a huge pack of 20 strips and urine cups to go with them. This is a great bargain if you’re looking to test multiple times over a period of weeks. The cups even come with a little handle that will help you avoid unpleasant spills!
They come in small discrete packets which you could carry with you to work or elsewhere. However, these strips give results that aren’t always easy to read, meaning you might get through these tests quicker than others.
These affordable strip tests from Boots are a good choice if you want to put your faith in a more recognisable brand. These strip tests offer slightly more readable results than some other tests, but this comes at the price of volume.
Unfortunately, this pack only contains 5 tests which may not be enough for some customers. Keep in mind that Boots often offers some great temporary sales on this product, and you may be able to pick up 2 boxes for the price of one!
If you’re in the market for an affordable bulk buy, this is a good option to consider. This pack comes with twenty strips and twenty cups which are more than enough tests to give you a clear result.
Like many cheaper strip type tests, the results aren’t always clear, and some users report very faint lines. This can be stressful and result in having to repeat the test. So if readability is something you're concerned about, this might be one to skip.
While similar in design, they are for two different purposes. Pregnancy tests tell you if you are pregnant, whereas ovulation tests indicate if you are fertile so that you know how likely you are at that time to become pregnant.
The good news is, at-home pregnancy tests are just as accurate as the ones you might get at a doctor's office. Accuracy can differ, depending on how well you follow the instructions, but generally, they are 99% accurate.
As mentioned throughout this buying guide, results are usually the most accurate after your period is due, however, as you can see above, some products can detect pregnancy a few days before your period is due.
No. 1: Clearblue|Digital Pregnancy Test With Weeks Indicator
No. 2: First Response |Rapid Results Pregnancy Test
No. 3: ABBLO PHARMA|Earliest Pregnancy Test
No. 4: First Response|Early Result Pregnancy Test
No. 5: One Step |Ultra Early Pregnancy Test Strips
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