All You Need To Know About Home COVID Tests—And How To Get Them For Free

A home COVID test is best for people who want near-immediate results for their COVID infection status. Many rapid test kits contain antigen tests for the coronavirus. Once you complete the test instructions, you can find out your status within 15 to 30 minutes.

“If you are symptomatic, it will be a quick way to determine a positive result,” says Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D, professor and chair of science and technology at Bryant University in Rhode Island. “Or if you have a known exposure to a COVID-positive individual, it is also a quick way to screen.”

She says rapid antigen tests can help limit the spread of the virus while you wait for PCR results, which can take days to be processed.

“Antigen tests are also helpful for screening before large gatherings or travel to provide some assurance of safe gathering,” says Hokeness.

For example, if you travel internationally, a negative COVID–19 test result is required to enter the U.S., regardless of vaccination status. You must take the test within one calendar day of arrival, so an antigen test may be your best option for getting results on time before you fly.

Home COVID tests use strips that contain antibodies to a critical protein present in COVID-19, explains Hokeness. When you swab your nostril with the supplied swab and apply the sample to the test strip, lateral flow technology (similar to what’s used in a pregnancy test, says Hokeness) moves the sample fluid over the antibodies on the test strip—“like a paper towel soaking up water.”

“If the COVID-19 antigens are present in the sample, they will bind to the antibodies, and you will get a positive result. If they are not present, you will not get binding and the results will be negative,” says Hokeness.

Types of Home COVID Tests

The type of COVID test you choose may depend on its purpose. The majority of over-the-counter COVID tests that provide rapid results are antigen tests, which may be sufficient before attending an indoor event, but it may not be enough if you’re traveling.

“These tests are not recorded, so some situations may require PCR testing—for example, returning to work or school or travel,” says Hokeness.

If you’re returning to the U.S. by air, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires your home antigen test include supervision by a medical professional via video. (The manufacturer of the test provides this service.)

While most home COVID test kits you’ll find contain nasal swabs, you might encounter some that test a saliva sample instead. These tests can be slightly less sensitive than nasal tests that use a long swab to gather a mucous sample, but both are considered viable at-home testing options.

How Accurate Are Home COVID Tests?

Antigen at-home COVID tests are often accurate but typically less sensitive than molecular tests. They detect COVID-19 best when you have a high viral load, explains Hokeness, which typically occurs when you’re symptomatic or you’ve been recently exposed and your infection has just begun.

“If the viral load is low, PCR testing is far more accurate, as it can detect low levels of material,” she says.

How to Administer a Home COVID Test

Administering a home COVID test takes just a few minutes, and everything you need is in the box (except for a device to connect to the telehealth service, if applicable).

“Be sure to follow all the instructions that come with the test, including how to swab and the appropriate amount of time to wait before reading the result,” says Jeannie Kenkare, D.O., chief medical officer at PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Connecticut. Most tests produce results in about 15 minutes.

Most home tests come in packs of two, adds Dr. Kenkare, so if you suspect you’ve been exposed, you can take a second test a few days after your initial one.

Home tests for COVID-19 can cost anywhere between $10 and $30 per test and are available at drugstores, big-box stores like Walmart and online.

If you have a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) through your health insurance, home COVID tests are an eligible expense, which means you can use these funds to pay for home test kits.

On Dec. 21, 2021, the White House announced plans to provide a half-billion at-home COVID antigen tests free of charge for people in the U.S. who want them. Starting Jan. 19, 2022, U.S. households can order up to four free rapid COVID-19 tests from COVIDTests.gov.

Beginning Jan. 15, 2022, insurance companies and group health plans are required to pay for or reimburse insured parties for the cost of at-home COVID tests, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under the new requirement, insurance providers either pay for at-home COVID tests up front at the time of purchase or reimburse the insured party after they submit a claim. Each individual is covered for eight tests a month, meaning a household including multiple people receives coverage for eight tests per individual in the home (a family of four receives coverage for 32 tests). Meanwhile, tests ordered by a health care provider or administered by a provider following a clinical assessment have no coverage limits.

The Biden administration also incentivized insurance companies to establish programs with preferred pharmacy networks to make at-home tests available with no out-of-pocket costs to customers and eliminate the need for reimbursement. However, if an insurance company opts to not set up a preferred pharmacy network, they are still required to cover the full cost of the tests. Additionally, if an insurance company sets up a preferred network of pharmacies and a customer purchases a test at a pharmacy outside of that network, the cost of the test will still be reimbursed up to $12 (or the full cost of the test if less than $12). Check with your insurance provider to find out if it has designated preferred pharmacies and which pharmacies are preferred in your plan. 

All purchased tests must be cleared for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to receive coverage. For a list of FDA-approved diagnostic tests, read more here.

A number of rapid antigen COVID tests are available for use at home, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a directory you can use to look up a test by name to determine its approval status.

The following tests were selected by the Forbes Health editorial team based on product quality, price and availability with multiple retailers. Prices and availability are accurate as of the publication date. We also recommend reaching out to your doctor to explore options that are the best fit for you and your needs.

FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test

$9.99 per test
Currently available at Walgreens and CVS
The FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test offers results in 15 minutes, and it can be used for kids as young as 2 years old.

iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test

$14 for two tests
Currently available at Amazon and iHealth
This test offers results in 15 minutes. It has a thick swab to make it easier to collect your sample, and you don’t have to stick it deep into your nose for accurate results.

On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test

$29.99 for two tests
Currently available at Amazon, Walmart and Walgreens
The On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test pairs with a free iOS or Android app to walk you through exactly how to use it. The app also allows you to display your test results for circumstances where you need proof of a negative COVID test.

Availability of free at-home COVID tests depends largely on where you live. Some states and cities offer free tests for pickup from community or health centers—you can even request them for mail delivery in some cases. Consult COVID-19 resources for your area to find out whether free test kits are available.

The CDC also offers free test kits for travelers entering the U.S. at some airports, including Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport, Miami International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

As mentioned above, you can also order up to four free rapid COVID-19 tests for your household from COVIDTests.gov beginning Jan. 19.

If you need quick results, a home testing kit can give you peace of mind.

If you get a negative result, you may still want to follow up with a PCR test in case you have low levels of the virus load, says Hokeness. And if you have symptoms that persist after a negative antigen test, it’s prudent to get a PCR test and consult a medical professional.

It’s also best to get a PCR test if you need proof of your negative status, such as for an event, to attend school, to go to work or to travel.

If your home test comes back positive, Dr. Schwartz says to confirm the positive result with an in-person PCR test.

If you have any concerns about your status after taking a home COVID test, talk to a medical professional. “If you are unsure about results or have symptoms, my best advice boils down to my favorite motto: When in doubt, get it checked out,” says Dr. Kenkare.

Bestselling At-Home COVID Test Kits on Amazon

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