The best ‘NHS-approved’ pulse oximeters to monitor your health

Suitable for all ages, health professionals across the UK have used the OxiPro OX2 pulse oximeter, including doctors and nurses in NHS hospitals and private surgeries. CE-Class II certified and used as part of the oximeter at home program, this oximeter measures blood oxygen and pulse rate. It also measures perfusion index, which indicates the strength of your pulse at the finger sensor site. Crucially, it also claims that clinical trials have proven it to be accurate for users of all skin tones. This is important, as darker skin pigmentation can lead to overestimates of blood oxygen levels. 

The LED colour screen is generally clear and easy to read, and the display rotates through 4 axes, making it easier to read whether you are measuring your own blood oxygen levels, or those of someone else. To take a reading, simply clip it onto your finger and press the ‘on’ button. You can get a reading in as little as 10 seconds although the manufacturer recommends waiting for a minute to get the most accurate results.

As well as providing quick results and measurements fit for athletes, seniors, adventurers or for day-to-day wellbeing checks, the aCurio pulse oximeter is also suitable for children over four years old – perfect for keeping the whole family in check. 

This pulse oximeter is CE and FDA-approved, and delivers readings in as little as eight seconds. As well as measuring blood oxygen levels, it can also track your pulse rate and perfusion index. It has a large display that’s easy to read, and it’s simple to use – put it on your finger and press the ‘on’ button, and it automatically takes a reading.

Affordable, easy to use, and portable, the Braun Healthcare Pulse Oximeter is the perfect pick for adults wanting to watch their health as they age. It's lightweight and comes with a strap you can wear it with, so it's easy to take on the go. Since it's so lightweight, this pick is especially handy for those with sleep apnea.

This pulse oximeter is CE-marked to prove it has been clinically validated, and measures pulse rate as well as blood oxygen levels. The back-lit OLED display is bright and clear, and has six different viewing positions, making it as easy as possible to see what the readings are. It takes just a few seconds to deliver a reading.

BLT has several pulse oximeters available on Amazon, and the CE-certified and FDA-approved M70B is versatile enough to recommend to sports and health enthusiasts such as climbers, skiers or cyclists looking to monitor their pulse and SpO2 before and after exercise. Small and with six display settings, it'll be easy to carry on your adventures to take quick measurements when needed. 

The batteries can provide up to 18-hours of continuous use. But the automatic shut off after eight seconds means that they will last as long as possible. The large OLED display shows blood oxygen levels, pulse rate, perfusion index, plethysmograph, pulse bar, and battery level. This model doesn’t come with a lanyard, so you can’t hang it around your neck. This may be off-putting for some.

The ViATOM pulse oximeter offers blood oxygen and pulse readings, on an OLED screen that’s sharp and easy to read. As well as showing numbers, it also offers readings as a pulse wave, which for some, may make changes in readings easier to identify.

While all the pulse oximeters on this list provide readings in the moment, the ViATOM Pulse Oximeter lets you measure, manage and track SpO2 and pulse rate readings in the accompanying app with a detailed history report of your readings. While not everyone will want to use an app, it means this device offers an alternative way of monitoring your data. It also means you can use a larger display than that found on the pulse oximeter itself.

From the reputable Salter brand, this high-quality fingertip pulse oximeter is easy to use and has a clear OLED display which displays SpO2, PR and perfusion index, all at the push of a button. Ideal for those suffering from bronchitis, asthma or pneumonia, it's compact and has low power consumption for prolonged usage. 

Like many of the best pulse oximeters, the PX-100 only has one button, to make taking a reading as easy as possible. The OLED 4-direction digital display is easy to read, whether you’re taking someone else’s reading, or your own. Once a finger has been removed from the device, it will automatically switch off after five seconds to conserve battery. It’s suitable for adults and children, as well as sports enthusiasts.

CE-certified, clinically verified and in compliance with EU standards, the Med Linket pulse oximeter features five-in-one health monitoring to provide readings for SpO2, body temperature, heart rate, perfusion index and plethysmograph. We like that this oximeter has an anti-shake function to help with trembling hands or active children and has been tested on different ages and skin colours for accurate measurements.

Like the first entry on our list, the AM801 has four screen orientations to make reading the OLED screen as easy as possible. It also has nine different display modes, and adjustable brightness levels so the screen remains visible even in bright conditions. Taking a body temperature reading is a relatively slow process, taking around five minutes. But this is a comprehensive monitoring device that offers a lot.

The CE-approved TRAN Pulse Oximeter is quite a modern-looking oximeter, and true to that impression, you get a lot of quality-of-life features with it. Suitable for users of all ages, the TRAN pulse oximeter can measure blood oxygen levels and pulse rate. There’s also a pulse graphic on the display to indicate the speed and strength of your pulse, which is easy to read on the high-contrast OLED screen.

Super fast readings can be delivered in as little as five seconds, while an automatic shutdown system helps to preserve the batteries for as long as possible - the TRAN Pulse Oximeter is a great health gadget that anyone can rely on.