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Free STD Clinics in Austin: A Directory

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

Free STD Clinics in Austin: A Directory

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Austin's population has grown past one million people, according to the City of Austin Planning Department, and Travis County recorded 9,452 chlamydia cases and 4,661 gonorrhea cases in 2022, per the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas STD Surveillance Report. With numbers like that, routine testing is a normal part of staying healthy here, not a sign that something is wrong. The biggest barrier for a lot of people is cost. This guide walks through how to find and use a free STD clinic in Austin, step by step, and lists the mail-order options the state and local nonprofits offer if getting to a clinic in person is not realistic right now.

What you'll need

  • A photo ID. Most clinics ask for one at check-in, though it is rarely a requirement for care.
  • An insurance card, if you have one. None of the free clinics below require insurance.
  • A rough timeline of recent sexual activity and any symptoms, so a clinician can decide which tests make sense for you.
  • A phone, to call ahead and confirm hours and whether walk-ins are accepted.
  • A way to get to the clinic, since not every free site takes walk-ins.

Step by step: finding and using a free STD clinic in Austin

  1. Decide whether you have symptoms or want routine screening

    This matters because it shapes which service you book. A clinician can tell you which tests fit your situation and history; this article can't tell you whether you have an infection or which test you personally need. If you have symptoms, say so when you call, since some clinics (like the Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic) note that certain tests, such as genital herpes testing, are only offered when symptoms are present.

  2. Start with the two Austin clinics that describe their core services as free

    ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, a nonprofit clinic at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705 (512-900-3116), states on its own services page that its testing, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections are always free, though it notes there can be costs related to medication. Vivent Health, at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752 (512-458-2437), states that HIV testing is free and confidential at all of its locations; a CDC directory listing for this site also mentions free rapid HIV, STI and hepatitis C testing, so it's worth asking on the phone exactly which tests are included before you go.

  3. Consider free mail-order testing if getting to a clinic is hard

    Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, which mails free self-test kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia to Texas residents who order through testfortexas.org. Vivent Health also runs an online depot that ships free at-home HIV test kits, along with condoms and lubricant, to Texas residents (up to 25 items per order). Separately, the CDC-funded Together TakeMeHome program mails free HIV self-tests to anyone 17 or older living in the U.S., with a fingerstick option for adults 18 and up; each package includes two tests, and you can reorder every 90 days.

  4. Call ahead before you go

    ASHwell does not accept walk-ins; you'll need to call 512-900-3116 or email to set up a visit. Vivent Health asks that you call 512-458-2437 to confirm walk-in testing hours or to book an appointment. Calling first also lets you confirm current hours, since Austin Public Health notes that website updates for clinic information can lag behind reality.

  5. Ask about Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program

    Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program offers free HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, plus a free 20-minute walk-in express testing option. The program's page doesn't list a specific address, so call 512-972-5430 to ask where and when express testing is available.

  6. Know your low-cost backups if a free slot doesn't work

    If the free clinics are full or don't offer a service you need, Austin has low-cost alternatives. The Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, charges $30 for testing and treatment covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.; call 512-972-5430 or book online). CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program at 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, offers sliding-scale fees set after a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist. Kind Clinic's Koenig Lane location offers walk-in testing, billed to insurance when you have it, with a patient assistance program for people who are uninsured. For a full breakdown of what each clinic in the area charges, see our guide to STD testing in Austin and what it costs.

  7. Show up prepared, and ask about your options while you're there

    Bring your ID if you have one, be ready to answer questions about symptoms and recent activity, and ask staff about anything that's unclear, including cost. If a partner needs treatment too, Texas allows a physician or advanced practice registered nurse treating you to prescribe for your partner without that partner being examined first, under Texas Medical Board rules, and pharmacists can fill that prescription without the partner's name on the label. If you're a minor, Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets you consent to STI and HIV testing and treatment on your own, with no minimum age and no parental consent required, though that same law allows (but does not require) a physician to tell a parent about the visit.

  8. Follow up on results and next steps

    A clinician can explain what your results mean and what, if anything, comes next. Bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, along with trichomoniasis, are generally curable with treatment a clinician prescribes. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with ongoing care. If you've had a recent exposure, ask the clinic about timing, since how soon an infection shows up on a test varies, and a negative result only reflects the period up to your test date.

Free STD testing options in Austin at a glance

OptionAddress / AccessPhoneNotes
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705512-900-3116Free testing, diagnosis and treatment; no walk-ins, call or email first.
Vivent Health - Austin104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752512-458-2437Free HIV testing; call to confirm walk-in hours and which other tests are included.
Austin Public Health Red Ribbon ProgramLocation not listed; call to ask512-972-5430Free HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, plus a free 20-minute express test.
Test for Texas (DSHS)Mail order via testfortexas.orgN/AFree self-test kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Vivent Health DepotOnline, ships to Texas residentsN/AFree at-home HIV test kits, condoms and lubricant; limit 25 items per order.
Together TakeMeHomeMail order, nationwideN/AFree HIV self-tests for people 17 and up; two tests per package, reorder every 90 days.

For a longer list that includes low-cost and insurance-based clinics too, see the local testing list.

Tips

  • Call before you go. "Free" can apply to some services and not others at the same clinic, so confirm what's included for your visit.
  • If you're newly uninsured or between jobs, mention that when you call. Several clinics have assistance programs built for exactly that situation.
  • If you're on PrEP or thinking about it, ask whether the clinic you're calling offers it. CommUnityCare, ASHwell, Kind Clinic and Vivent Health all list PrEP services, and some also mention doxy-PEP, a CDC-recommended option discussed as part of a 2024 update to its STI prevention guidance; a clinician can tell you whether it applies to you.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Walking in without calling first. ASHwell doesn't take walk-ins at all, and several other sites have limited or unlisted walk-in hours.
  • Assuming every test is included in a "free" visit. Ask specifically about the tests you want, not just whether the clinic is free in general.
  • Putting off a visit because of cost before checking the free and sliding-scale options above. Several exist specifically so cost isn't the reason someone skips testing.
  • Forgetting that a test taken too soon after a possible exposure may not show an infection yet. Ask the clinic about timing for the specific test you're getting.

What you might expect

Testing may show a result that helps a clinician recommend next steps, but no test and no article can tell you with certainty whether you have an infection outside of that process. A negative result can be reassuring, though it only reflects the window of time up to when the sample was taken. If treatment is needed, a clinician will prescribe what's appropriate; many bacterial infections can be cured this way, while HIV, herpes and HPV are managed over time with a clinician's ongoing care. Results and next steps can vary from person to person, so lean on the clinic staff and your clinician to walk you through what your specific results mean.

Sources