BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Is a Clearblue or First Response pregnancy test better?
Time stops in the moments waiting for a home pregnancy test to deliver the answer. This is one of the most vulnerable times in anyone’s life, and it’s critical that the pregnancy test you choose is accurate and fast.
When taking a pregnancy test, you want the fastest, most accurate results from a test you can trust. Because both brands are reliable, it all boils down to cost, how quickly you want your results and whether the test is easy to use.
Clearblue
Clearblue is the bestselling home pregnancy test across the globe. They not only offer pregnancy testing but also fertility tests for those trying to conceive.
In terms of testing technology, Clearblue claims to be more than 99% accurate when the test is administered correctly from the first day of a missed period. The company is a pioneer in terms of easy-to-read tests.
Clearblue pros
You can get results six days before your missed period with the Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test.
The Floodguard feature is a critical component of Clearblue’s accuracy. It collects excess urine and returns it to the test to minimize errors.
For easy interpretation, the digital readout offers a clearly written “pregnant” or “not pregnant” result.
The handle is long and easy to grip and the tip is extra wide to make collecting urine simpler.
Clearblue cons
The Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test recommends that you wait a full three minutes to confirm a “not pregnant” result.
Best Clearblue pregnancy tests
Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test
This early detection test provides results six days before your missed period. It’s over 99% accurate from the day you expect your period. The handle is long and the tip is wide for easy sampling, and the pink lines are clear and easy to read. Three tests are included in this pack. It is recommended that you wait three full minutes before reading your results.
Sold by Amazon
Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test With Smart Countdown
No more guessing at whether or not that extra line is there. Digital results use words to tell you whether you are pregnant. It features a countdown clock as proof the test is working (it takes one to three minutes for the results to appear) and can give you an accurate result up to five days before your missed period. This test has a wide tip for easy sampling, and this pack has three tests.
Sold by Amazon
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test
Get a positive result in as little as one minute with this rapid test. It is easy to use with an ergonomic handle and a wide, color-changing tip and comes in a pack of three. The patented Floodguard feature reduces testing errors, which increases accuracy. Test up to five days before the expected date of your period. Though your results may appear after a minute, it is recommended that you wait three full minutes to confirm a “not pregnant” result.
Sold by Amazon
First Response
First Response is another pregnancy test that is trusted by many couples who are trying to conceive.
Like Clearblue, they also claim that their tests are more than 99% accurate and can be used six days before your missed period.
First Response pros
You can test up to six days before your missed period with the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test and the First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test .
First Response is connected to an app that can help you confirm the results of your test if you want to be sure.
It offers a rapid test that can get you results in just one minute (when testing from the day of your missed period or after).
The handle is comfortable to hold.
First Response cons
The tip is skinnier compared to Clearblue’s tests.
The digital test only offers a reading of “yes” or “no.”
Best First Response pregnancy tests
First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test
This test gives results six days before your missed period. The lines are sharp, clear and easy to read and results are ready in three minutes. The handle is comfortable. Scan your results and send them to the EasyRead app for confirmation. It comes with three tests.
Sold by Amazon
First Response Rapid Result Pregnancy Test
Get test results in just one minute on the day of your missed period with this two-pack of rapid tests. The slimline test is comfortable to hold and easy to position. Results are up to 99% accurate from the first day of your missed period.
Sold by Amazon
First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test
The digital readout on the stick features a clear “yes” or “no.” It has a “test is working” feature to let you know your hCG levels are being measured. You can receive accurate results six days before your missed period, and results come in three minutes or less. It comes with two tests.
Sold by Amazon
Should you get Clearblue or First Response?
Clearblue and First Response are both trusted consumer brands that claim to have the same level of accuracy (more than 99%), and both offer tests that can give you results six days before your missed period (five days before the expected period).
Clearblue scores extra points for its much wider tip and longer handle that makes it easier to collect urine. Clearblue also offers a a digital test that is about $2 cheaper per test than First Response’s digital option. However, Clearblue’s digital test is the only one of the three Clearblue tests we looked at that promises it can give results in as little as 60 seconds (though it may still take three minutes). If you want results in a minute for a better price, the First Response Rapid Results Pregnancy Test is for you.
However, no matter which test you take, if you want to be absolutely sure of your pregnancy status, following up with a doctor’s visit and a blood test is the best option.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article stated the accuracy of Clearblue Pregnancy Tests was 64%, based off of information from 2011. Clearblue Pregnancy Tests are over 99% accurate.
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.