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 has a small number of places that offer STD and HIV testing at no cost, along with a few programs that mail free test kits straight to your door. This guide walks through how to find a free clinic in Austin, what to bring, what the visit usually involves, and what to do if a free option doesn't fit your situation.

What you need before you go

A phone to call ahead, since several of these clinics ask you to schedule rather than walk in
A photo ID or insurance card if you have one, even though neither is required at the free clinics listed below
A list of any symptoms you've noticed or exposures you're thinking about, so the clinician knows what to check for
Time set aside for the visit itself, plus a plan for how the clinic can reach you, by phone or through a patient portal, once results are ready
A mailing address, if you're going the at-home testing route instead of an in-person visit

Step-by-step: getting tested at a free clinic in Austin

Step 1: Know which Austin clinics offer testing at no cost

Two organizations in Austin currently describe their STD and HIV testing as free rather than low-cost or sliding scale.

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705 (phone 512-900-3116), says on its own services page that testing, diagnosis, and treatment of STIs are "always free," though there can be separate costs tied to medication. ASHwell does not take walk-ins, so you'll need to call or email ahead to set up a visit.

Vivent Health, at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752 (phone 512-458-2437), states that it offers free and confidential HIV testing at all of its locations. A CDC directory listing for this same site also notes rapid HIV testing and free STI and hepatitis C testing, but since Vivent's own page speaks specifically to HIV testing, it's worth asking the clinic directly which tests are covered at no cost before your visit.

Step 2: Consider a free at-home test kit if an in-person visit doesn't fit your schedule

If getting to a clinic is hard right now, a few programs will mail a free test kit instead. Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, which offers free mail-order self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, ordered through testfortexas.org. Vivent Health also ships free at-home HIV test kits, along with condoms and lubricant, to Austin residents through its online depot, with a stated limit of 25 items per order. And Together TakeMeHome, a program funded by the CDC, mails free HIV self-tests to anyone age 17 or older living in the United States, with a fingerstick option for those 18 and older, up to two self-tests per package, and the option to reorder after 90 days.

Step 3: Call ahead to confirm hours, walk-in policy, and what's included

Austin Public Health notes on its own site that content updates can be delayed, which is a good reminder to confirm hours and services by phone before you go to any clinic, not just a public one. For ASHwell, that means calling 512-900-3116 to schedule, since walk-ins aren't accepted. For Vivent Health, call 512-458-2437 to ask about current walk-in testing hours or to book an appointment.

Step 4: Gather what you'll bring

Neither ASHwell nor Vivent Health states that identification is required for testing, but it's reasonable to bring a photo ID and, if you have one, an insurance card, and to let the clinic know when you call if you have neither. Bring a way for the clinic to reach you afterward, and if you've noticed any symptoms or had a specific exposure in mind, jot that down so you don't forget it once you're in the room.

Step 5: Know what the visit generally involves

At a testing visit, a clinician will usually ask about your sexual history and any symptoms, then decide which tests make sense for you, based on CDC guidance for STI testing. That can include blood draws, urine samples, or swabs, depending on the test. A clinician, not a web page or a self-test alone, is the one who can tell you what a specific result means for you, so use the visit to ask questions about anything you're unsure about.

Step 6: Plan for results and next steps

Some tests, like certain rapid HIV tests, can offer same-day results, while others that are sent to a lab typically take about a week. Ask the clinic what to expect for the specific tests you're having done. If a result comes back positive, a clinician can prescribe treatment. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician, while HIV, herpes, and HPV are treatable or manageable conditions rather than curable ones, according to CDC guidance. No test, including a free one, can promise a result with complete certainty, especially soon after a possible exposure, so ask the clinician about timing and whether a repeat test later makes sense for your situation.

Step 7: Know your backup options if a free clinic doesn't work for you

If ASHwell's schedule or Vivent Health's focus on HIV testing doesn't cover what you need, Austin has lower-cost options worth knowing about. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, charges a $30 fee for testing and treatment covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, per the clinic's own page; call 512-972-5430 for hours and scheduling. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program and Kind Clinic's Koenig location also offer testing, with sliding-scale fees or assistance programs for people who are uninsured. For a fuller breakdown of what testing costs around Austin and who qualifies for reduced fees, see our guide on where to get tested in Austin and what it costs. You can also browse the full local list of Austin testing clinics to compare locations and services.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call the same day you plan to go, not just the week before, since hours and walk-in availability can change
Ask specifically which tests are free versus which might carry a cost, rather than assuming every test at a "free clinic" is covered
If you're a minor in Texas, know that state law lets a minor of any age consent to STI and HIV testing and treatment without a parent's permission, under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003. That same law does allow a physician to choose to tell a parent about the visit, so ask the clinic about its practice if that matters to you
If you test somewhere other than where you'd follow up for treatment, ask how your results will be shared between the two

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming every clinic takes walk-ins. ASHwell specifically asks that you call or email ahead rather than show up without an appointment
Assuming "free" covers every test you want. Vivent Health's own description of free testing is specific to HIV, so confirm what else is included before you go
Skipping the follow-up call or portal check for results. A clinic can't help you plan next steps if you don't find out what your results were
Waiting for symptoms before getting tested. Many STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, often don't cause noticeable symptoms, which is part of why routine testing matters

What you might expect

Testing at a free clinic in Austin may give you useful information to guide your next steps, but no test or clinic visit can guarantee a result or tell you with certainty what happened at a specific point in time. Results can vary by the test used and how soon it's done after a possible exposure. A clinician at the clinic you visit is the best source for interpreting your specific results and talking through what, if anything, comes next.

Free STD Clinics in Austin, TX: Hours and Locations