Track your heart health with these FDA-cleared blood pressure monitors
We selected FDA-cleared, independently validated models for the most reliable at home readings.
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Blood pressure is a key indicator of heart and circulatory system health — it can tell you how much force your blood is exerting against the walls of your arteries, says Viola. Consistently high or low blood pressure can be a signal of underlying health issues, such as heart disease, kidney problems or hormonal imbalances.
Even if you are healthy, tracking blood pressure can help you catch early signs of hypertension (high blood pressure), which is often asymptomatic until the damage is done. It’s especially important for people with risk factors that may increase the likelihood of high blood pressure such as a familial history of hypertension, being overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or heavy alcohol use or diabetes and kidney dysfunction, says Viola.
A validated, FDA-cleared home blood pressure monitor, used correctly, can give accurate readings. Viola recommends shopping for independently validated monitors approved by medical organizations like Validated Device Listings, and bringing your home blood pressure monitor to your next doctor’s appointment to compare results between your device and your doctor’s for accuracy.
There are dozens of blood pressure monitors on online marketplaces, ranging in price from $15 to nearly $200. Most devices look similar, so it can be hard to know how each one is different. We narrowed down and selected quality blood pressure monitors by keeping the following criteria in mind:
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Our top picks largely come from health equipment manufacturers like Omron and A&D Medical. We list details like validations, cuff size, number of readings stored and app connectivity under the “What to know” dropdown.
This monitor from Omron is simple, effective and competitively priced, especially for the features. It has a large display with a simple design and easy to use start/stop button. It only stores 14 readings on the device — I would download the Omron connect app to sync the device to your phone and store unlimited readings to better track your trends.
If multiple people in your household want to use the same blood pressure monitor, you’ll need one that has multiple users built-in, like this model from A&D Medical. It can store up to 60 readings for up to four users.
It cannot connect or sync to your phone, however, so you’ll have to log measurements manually if you want to keep track of your trends past 60 readings.
Withings is best known for tech-y health gadgets like smart scales and smartwatches. The brand’s blood pressure monitor fits that trend: it can connect to your devices via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and uses the Withings app to show data and trends for up to eight users.
I would only recommend this monitor if you are okay with using the Withings app — otherwise, it only stores eight readings for one user locally on the device.
This blood pressure monitor is also a single-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), and can analyze EKG readings for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia and tachycardia, according to the brand. It can store up to 90 readings for one person on the device, and can sync to your phone and the Omron connect app to store more.
Regardless of the blood pressure monitor you use, it’s important to know how to properly take blood pressure readings, or else your results may not be very accurate. Below are steps to take to get a more accurate reading, according to Viola:
Before a blood pressure reading:
During a blood pressure reading:
You can read more about home blood pressure measurement instruction from the American Heart Association.
Try using a flexible tape measurer and wrapping it around the midpoint of your upper arm, between your shoulder and elbow, says Viola. Note the measurement in inches and centimeters (monitor manufacturers may use one or the other). Then compare your measurement to the cuff size for the blood pressure monitor you are shopping for.
A wrong size cuff can lead to inaccurate readings. Some pharmacists will help you measure, if you ask, says Viola.
Yes. When starting home monitoring, check both arms to see if there is a difference. Use the arm with the higher reading for future checks. A difference of more than 10 mmHg between arms should be discussed with your doctor, says Viola.
Yes. Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. Take readings at the same time every day — morning and evening are ideal for consistency, says Viola.
Usually there are no symptoms when someone has high blood pressure (hypertension), says Viola. That’s one of the reasons high blood pressure can be referred to as the “silent killer.” However, some people can experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and chest pain — it’s rare but serious, says Viola.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, nausea, blurred vision and fatigue, says Viola.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on air purifiers, smart scales and walking shoes. For this piece, I spoke with a medical professional to better understand how to use blood pressure monitors at home, and how to shop for a reliable model online.
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