Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women's Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor's degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
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Whether you're feeling symptomatic or have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, taking an at-home COVID-19 test can give you some peace of mind. The benefit of using one is that they provide results between 15 and 30 minutes, according to Laura Morris, MD, MSPH, a family medicine physician and co-chair of the University of Missouri Health Care’s COVID-19 vaccine committee. “A home collection kit is a swab taken at home that is then mailed to a testing company to run a PCR test, [often needed] before having a medical procedure or pre-travel," she says.
Our best overall pick is the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test because it has a comfortable nasal swab and delivers results in 15 minutes. We also recommend the QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit for quick results that are easy to read.
When looking for an at-home COVID-19 test, keep an eye on the swab method (whether it’s oral or nasal) and the result speed. Additionally, pay attention to the timeline of your symptoms and potential exposure.
We researched dozens of at-home COVID-19 test kits and chose the best ones based on test type, swab type, result speed, and pricing.
Based on our research, we determine these to be the best at-home COVID-19 test kits on the market today.
While all the tests on our list have been cleared by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization, we recommend consulting with a medical professional to confirm the accuracy of any at-home test result if you're highly suspicious your result is incorrect. Our editors are keeping a close eye on any product recalls to give you the best and most up-to-date information.
Due to high demand, these products may be hard to purchase. We recommend refreshing your search throughout the day to find an available test. U.S. residents can visit the COVIDtests.gov official site for more information and resources.
Stay up to date on the latest Coronavirus news:
Can detect the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19
Must take two tests in 36 hours for accurate results
Who else recommends it? Wirecutter and CNET both picked the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test.
What do buyers say? 4,600+ Walmart reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
The BinaxNOW test is our best overall pick because it provides quick results at home and is comfortable to use, thanks to the anterior nasal swab. After collecting your sample, you transfer it onto a testing card and wait for results to pop up in 15 minutes.
BinaxNOW detects multiple strains of COVID-19, including the Delta and Omicron variants, and includes two testing cards so that you can self-test 36 hours apart for maximum accuracy. The test is a quick and reliable option that’s also budget-friendly. The only current issue is finding one available at retailers; these tests have grown popular and are out of stock at many places.
This test has been authorized by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization. While the tests alone aren't approved for travel by the CDC, customers can order the tests via Abbott’s eMed online portal and have the test supervised in a telehealth visit, then have the test results in the free NAVICA app, which will satisfy the CDC requirements for travel.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 2 | Results Speed: 15 minutes
“The nasal swabs [for at-home tests] are typically anterior nasal, meaning the part of the nose that is easier to get a Q-tip into, and not the ‘tickle the brain’ type of swabs people may receive at a clinic or hospital.” — Laura Morris, MD, MSPH
App connectivity provides results in 10 minutes
Shallow nasal swab for comfort
Can detect all known major COVID-19 variants
Mobile app is required to see results
If a test paired with an app is more your speed, ON/GO's COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test includes a companion mobile app, which guides you through each step—from sample collection to results interpretation. The kit includes a shallow nasal swab for extra comfort, with ON/GO offering results in 10 minutes. This test is able to detect all known major COVID-19 variants, including Omicron.
The app stores all historical results, so you can track your past data. After receiving your test results, you can also share them with family or friends.
The tests can be bought in bulk, ideal for groups that need testing or before any major gatherings. However, if you'd rather do without the required app, it may not be the best fit.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 2 | Results Speed: 10 minutes
No app required to read or receive results
Must take two tests in 36 hours for accurate results
The QuickVue At-Home OTC test is an excellent option for at-home rapid testing. It can give you a positive or negative result in 10 minutes. However, the company says that you’ll achieve the most accurate results if you test twice over a 36-hour period.
Like all the best antigen tests, the QuickVue involves two anterior nasal swab collections taken over two days. The results show up on a small strip of paper—similar to a pregnancy test—and each kit includes both of the tests you need to fully screen yourself for COVID-19 at home.
However, this test has not been approved by the CDC for travel authorization because different countries and airlines have different requirements for proof of a negative test, and this test is intended for at-home, personal use.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 2 | Results Speed: 10 minutes
One-time testing only unless there are new symptoms
No app or smartphone needed
If you expect to be taking at-home COVID-19 tests regularly, whether for work or personal reasons, you'll likely want to look for an affordable choice. Flowflex's COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Home Test Kit is designed with budget in mind, and only requires one test—unless you experience new symptoms. Able to be used on those ages two and up, for versatile use, it can be tested regardless of whether or not you have symptoms.
Complete with a test cassette, extraction buffer tube, disposable nasal swab, and one package insert, it offers results in just 15 minutes. As a plus, no app or smartphone is needed—fitting if you're looking for a no-frills option.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization. However, it should not be confused with the Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Self-Testing), which comes in a blue box and has not been authorized for use by the FDA due to concerns of false test results.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 1 | Results Speed: 15 minutes
The iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test offers testing for those as young as two in your household.
While the nasal swab test kit does require multiple steps, it offers quick results in 15 minutes from its easy-to-read test card. And unlike some other tests, its mobile app isn't required to see results. If you happen to be testing for a group, the accompanying mobile app conveniently allows the organizer of a small group to monitor multiple testers' results, whether they're needed for school or an event.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 2 | Results Speed: 15 minutes
Pricing includes next-day air shipping via UPS
Results may take several days
Nasal swabs aren’t always comfortable, especially when given by another person. But this at-home nasal swab test is much easier to perform and can be done without supervision.
We like the COVID-19 test by LetsGetChecked because it combines a reliable testing method—the nasal swab—with a reliable testing process—in this case, a PCR test. The swab itself is small and soft, and feels exactly like swiping the inside of your nose with a Q-tip.
The test kit includes a prepaid express shipping label for UPS, so once your sample is collected, you can simply ship it, track the shipment via text and email to make sure it’s on route, then wait one to three days for your results.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: PCR | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 1 | Results Speed: 1 to 3 days
Comes with 3 tests in a pack
App connectivity provides results in 20 minutes
While Cue Health's COVID-19 Test and Cue Reader are more expensive than most other options on the market, this molecular test uses nucleic acid amplification—like that of a PCR test, to detect the virus.
This test is easy for at-home use; once you've taken the nasal swab, you place the swab into the reader. In 20 minutes, your results should be ready to view on the paired smartphone app. If you sign up for a Cue+ membership, you will have access to Telehealth services that will allow you to share your test results with a practitioner.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: Molecular | Form: Nasal swab | Number of Tests Per Kit: 3 | Results Speed: 20 minutes
No phone or app required
Minimum age requirement of 15 years old
For a straightforward, user-friendly pick, InteliSwab's COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test minimizes the hassle of at-home testing with just three steps. If you have limited time on your hands, simply collect a sample from your nostrils with the included swab, swirl the test device into tube three, and view your results after 30 minutes.
Ideal if you have a low-tech preference, no smartphone or app is required for usage, and no assembly is needed. But if testing is needed on younger users, it's best to look elsewhere as this kit is suitable for those 15 and up.
If you need a negative test result, it's recommended to plan in advance, as an initial negative result with this kit should be followed up with a second test with a 24-36 hour period in between.
This test has been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
Type: Rapid | Form: Nasal | Number of Tests Per Kit: 2 | Results Speed: 30 minutes
Quick results in 11 to 30 minutes
Detects all known COVID-19 variants and BA subvariants
The Lucira Check-It COVID-19 Test Kit offers quick results that integrate with an easy-to-use COVID passport.
The kit includes a single-use anterior nasal swab, one test vial, and a testing unit. To use, you simply swab your nose, mix your swab in the provided vial, and attach the vial to the testing unit. The test device indicates results directly, lighting up when results are ready and for either negative or positive results.
No app is necessary, making it a good choice for those who prefer a lower-tech option. The test is compatible with LUCIPASS, an optional digital integration that allows you to upload results in the form of a COVID passport.
Teens and adults ages 14 and older can self-test, and children 2 to 13 can get results with an adult's help. The test is straightforward and user-friendly, but each kit only includes one test at a fairly high price point.
Lucira's Check It COVID-19 Test Kit is authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization and was the first at-home test granted that status.
Type: Molecular | Form: Nasal swab | Number of Tests Per Kit: 1 | Results Speed: 11 minutes for a positive result; 30 minutes for negative
Results are given clearly in words
Needs smartphone and app to run
The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test is a higher-tech option, requiring both a smartphone and an app to use the test and view results. While the kit requires multiple steps, its app guides you through the process with step-by-step instructions and a video on proper use.
The test uses fluorescent detection to identify the presence of COVID. After swabbing both nostrils, you insert the used nasal swab into a dropper filled with processing fluid, squeezing a few drops from this mixture onto the bluetooth analyzer port. You should be able to see your results in 15 minutes on the app.
While the test requires swabbing both nostrils with a mid-turbinate swab, the swab is small enough that it should be comfortable for most users and includes a child adaptor for comfortable testing on smaller noses.
While Ellume issued a recall of this kit in October 2021 over manufacturing issues in some lots that returned false positives, it was re-authorized by the FDA for emergency use in March 2022.
Type: Antigen | Form: Nasal swab | Number of Tests Per Kit: 1 | Results Speed: 15 minutes
You can’t beat the ease of use, quick results, and the affordable price tag of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test. It’s the total package when it comes to antigen tests, allowing you to self-test at home and see your results 15 minutes later.
If you need a PCR test, you’ll have to collect your sample and send it off to a lab, but the LetsGetChecked Coronavirus Test is user friendly and includes a prepaid UPS express shipping label for fast turnaround.
To find the best at-home COVID-19 tests, we spoke with physicians to identify key features to consider when choosing a test. They recommended accounting for results speed, collection method, and different types of tests depending on needs.
We looked at tests granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA and considered each test based on its type and collection method, while also considering required technology, ease of use, and price tag.
We've also updated our list to remove tests no longer being offered by manufacturers and to ensure none of the options have been recalled.
A big deciding factor when it comes to COVID-19 test kits is their results speed time. According to board-certified allergist and immunologist Sanjeev Jain, MD, PhD, PCR tests must be mailed into a lab to test a collected sample, so it can take several days for them to notify you of a positive or negative result.
That may be fine if you’re getting ready to travel, working from home, or self-isolating because of potential exposure, but not if you were exposed several days ago and need to know ASAP if you’re infected.
“An antigen test provides rapid results in 10 to 15 minutes, so this can be an ideal option if immediate results are needed,” says Dr. Jain.
There are two primary types of at-home COVID-19 tests available on the market: antigen tests and PCR tests.
Antigen: An antigen test is “a diagnostic test that detects specific proteins from the virus.” Because of this, antigen tests can provide results quickly, thus are often used for rapid tests.
However, these tests are most accurate when there’s a high viral load present. Because of this, people who have COVID-19 and only have a small viral load at the time of the test could potentially receive a false negative result.
That being said, if you know you’ve been exposed to the virus, they can be a good first step to take to prevent spreading the illness.
Molecular: A molecular test is similar to an antigen test in that they both can detect if you have a current COVID-19 infection. Specifically, a molecular test is diagnostic in detecting “genetic material from the virus."
While molecular tests take longer due to lab processing, with a speed of up to seven days depending on your location, you can rest assured that they’re more accurate than antigen tests. The test is considered “highly sensitive,” resulting in minimal false negative results. This type of test is best if you’re planning ahead and can stand to wait a bit longer for results, and are prioritizing test accuracy.
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is a type of molecular test. It is “a diagnostic test that detects genetic material from the virus.” PCR tests amplify the viral genetic material, which makes them more sensitive and thus more likely to be accurate. However, the added amplification step requires in-lab testing, which takes longer to process results.
“A PCR test may be a good option if you have been recently exposed and are not symptomatic because it can detect the virus at lower levels in the body,” says Dr. Jain. He adds that while antigen tests give quicker results, they require more of the virus to be present in the body for a positive test result. “Antigen tests are an accurate way to test for COVID-19 in symptomatic persons.”
It’s important to note that a number of at-home COVID-19 tests have been recalled for false positives or negatives. We are closely monitoring the recalls in this product category and will update this document immediately as needed.
There are three ways a COVID-19 test sample can be collected: nasal swab, oral swab, and saliva “spit tube.” You should take the user into consideration before choosing a test—kids, for example, may be more willing participants to a spit test than a nasal swab—but it’s important to know that not all collection methods are created equal.
“Studies have shown that nasal tests and saliva tests are more accurate in detecting COVID-19 than throat swabs, and have become the best-practice standard when performing COVID-19 testing,” says Dr. Jain.
In fact, a 2021 study showed saliva and nasal samples to be equally sensitive in detecting the virus across variable stages of illness.
Just because your local drugstore is selling it doesn’t mean a certain test is a smart purchase. If it hasn’t been authorized by the FDA, you should pass it over for one that has. Our roundup only includes tests that have been authorized by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.
“The FDA maintains a list of tests that have authorization, and using an FDA-authorized test ensures that it meets standards for performance and quality control,” explains Dr. Morris. “Many pharmacies sell devices that are authorized, and these are typically not costly. Be cautious of unbranded or very cheap tests, especially those that may come without instructions.”
You should be aware of counterfeit at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests, as they are not authorized by the FDA. These tests may increase the risk of false results, and they should not be used or distributed. The FDA has identified counterfeit versions of the authorized iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Home Tests and Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Tests.
Signs that a test may be counterfeit include:
Visit the FDA's website to learn more about Counterfeit At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.
There are two main types of at-home COVID-19 tests: PCR and antigen. Depending on your health priorities, you may want to look for one over the other.
“A PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, home test [obtains saliva or] a sample of cells from the nasal passages, which is mailed back to a lab to be tested for COVID-19 DNA,” explains Dr. Sanjeev Jain. “If COVID-19 DNA is detected within the sample, the test would be considered positive, and if no DNA is detected, it would be considered negative.”
But because DNA testing needs to be done in a lab, the rapid antigen tests performed entirely at home use a different metric to determine the presence of the virus.
“[Rapid tests] are different in that they check for antigens, which are a specific type of protein found on the COVID-19 virus,” says Dr. Jain. “The COVID-19 antigen tests are able to give almost immediate at-home results by telling you whether or not the proteins found on the COVID-19 virus are detected in the sample.”
If you’re not a healthcare professional, can you trust the results you receive from taking samples of your own bodily fluids and testing them for COVID-19? Surprisingly, yes—but with some caveats.
“The ability to detect COVID-19 in a self-collected sample is very comparable to a sample collected by a healthcare provider,” says Dr. Sanjeev Jain, “[although the accuracy of PCR and antigen] tests can be impacted by the timing of the test and the quality of the specimen collected.”
In other words, the person collecting the sample is a less impactful variable than the exposure timeline or your symptom profile—a rapid test performed on an asymptomatic person is less likely to come back positive than a PCR test, even if a doctor collects the sample.
When taking an antigen test, you may need to test once and then wait a few days (when your viral load could be higher) to test again for the most accurate results. This may be needed if you develop symptoms after the first antigen test.
“It’s important to follow the specific instructions of each test as written by the manufacturer, including how to collect the sample, how to handle it, and how to interpret the test strip or read-out device,” explains Dr. Laura Morris. “Each one is slightly different, and a patient should not assume that they know how to perform a test based on using one in the past.”
If you’re pressed for time, or limiting interaction outside your home, you may be considering using an at-home COVID-19 test for travel purposes.
According to CDC guidelines, you can use a self-test, also known as a home test, if it’s a COVID-19 viral test that has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA or a relevant national authority in the location where the test is done.
While many at-home tests can be done independently, for travel intentions, the testing process needs to include a “a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection."
Additionally, the telehealth provider needs to confirm your identity, observe the sample and testing process, confirm the positive or negative result, and issue documentation that meets the CDC’s Order requirements.
Once reaching the airport, you may be requested to present official documentation of your test results—with airlines needing to review and confirm your identity and test results.
If you’re traveling internationally, be prepared for some nations to restrict tests that aren’t authorized at the travel destination. Plan ahead by contacting destination for further information before you embark.
Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.
Additional reporting for this story by Tori Zhou.
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By Sarah Bradley Sarah has written for Verywell Health since August 2020. Her work has been featured on sites like On Parenting from The Washington Post, The Writer, and O the Oprah Magazine. Sarah has a bachelor's degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
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