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.

Travis County recorded a chlamydia rate of 712.6 per 100,000 people and a gonorrhea rate of 351.4 per 100,000 people in 2022, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas STD Surveillance Report. Those numbers are one reason so many people in Austin are looking into testing right now. But once you start looking, you'll notice two different price tags: some clinics say their testing is free, others call themselves low-cost. The two aren't the same thing, and picking the wrong one for your situation can mean a surprise bill or a longer wait than you expected. This guide walks through how to tell them apart and how to choose between them.

What You'll Need Before You Start

A short list of which infections you want checked, since not every clinic tests for everything in one visit
Whether you currently have any symptoms, because some clinics only test for genital herpes when symptoms are active
Your insurance information, if you have any, since this changes which options are actually no-cost for you specifically
A phone to call ahead, since hours, walk-in availability and fees can change without notice on a clinic's website
A way to pay a small fee, in case the clinic you pick charges one
Roughly 30 to 60 minutes for the visit itself, plus travel time to the clinic

Step 1: Learn What "Free" Actually Means at Each Site

"Free" testing in Austin comes in a few different forms, and they're not interchangeable. ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, a nonprofit clinic on Red River Street, states on its services page that its testing, diagnosis and treatment are always free, though related medication can carry its own cost. Vivent Health, on Highland Mall Boulevard, says on its own page that it offers free and confidential HIV testing at all of its locations. Austin Public Health also runs a Red Ribbon program offering free HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, along with a free 20-minute walk-in express testing option, booked by calling 512-972-5430. None of these promise that every single test for every infection is free everywhere, so it's worth confirming exactly which tests are included before you go.

Step 2: Learn What "Low-Cost" Actually Means

Low-cost usually means a flat, modest fee or a sliding scale tied to income, not full price. The Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, lists a $30 fee that covers both testing and treatment for its standard panel: HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program, at 1000 E. 41st Street, Suite 700, uses a sliding fee scale set after a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist, so your actual cost depends on your income and household size. Kind Clinic's Koenig location offers walk-in testing, but as of January 1, 2024, patients with insurance are asked to use it to cover lab costs; if you're uninsured or can't afford the lab fee, Kind Clinic's patient assistance program can help cover it. Low-cost does not mean free, but it also doesn't mean full retail lab pricing.

Step 3: Match Your Situation to the Right Category

If cost is your biggest barrier and you don't have symptoms: start with a program explicitly described as free, like ASHwell, Vivent Health's HIV testing, or Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program. Call ahead, since ASHwell does not accept walk-ins and asks you to call (512) 900-3116 or email first.
If you want a full panel in one visit and don't mind a small fee: the Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic's $30 fee for testing and treatment is a straightforward option, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. You can schedule online or by calling 512-972-5430.
If your income is limited but not zero: CommUnityCare's sliding scale may cost you less than a flat fee, depending on your circumstances, but it requires a conversation with an eligibility specialist first, so build in extra time.
If you want to walk in without an appointment: Kind Clinic's Koenig location and the University Health Services STI Testing Clinic at UT Austin (for students, drop-in for people without symptoms) both offer walk-in testing, though Kind Clinic's lab costs now depend on insurance status.
If you'd rather not visit a clinic at all: Test for Texas, a DSHS program, mails free at-home self-test kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia; you can order through testfortexas.org. Vivent Health's online depot also ships free HIV test kits, condoms and lubricant to Texas residents. Together TakeMeHome, a CDC-funded program, mails free HIV self-tests to anyone 17 or older living in the U.S.

Step 4: Call Ahead and Confirm the Details

Before you leave the house, call the clinic you've chosen and ask three things: which specific tests are included, whether the fee or sliding scale applies to your situation, and whether you need an appointment or can walk in. Austin Public Health's own website notes that content updates may be delayed, so it specifically recommends confirming current hours and fees by phone. This step is easy to skip when you're anxious to just get it done, but skipping it is the single most common reason people show up to a clinic and find the visit doesn't match what they expected.

Step 5: Know Where You Stand Legally, Especially If You're a Minor

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to testing and treatment for a reportable infectious disease, which includes HIV and most reportable STIs, without needing a parent or guardian's permission. That said, the same statute allows, but does not require, a physician to tell a parent or guardian about the care provided. If privacy from a parent matters to you, it's worth asking the clinic directly how they typically handle this before your visit, rather than assuming.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming every "free" clinic tests for every infection. Confirm the panel first, since herpes testing in particular is often limited to people with active symptoms.
Showing up to a walk-in clinic during hours that only apply to appointments, or vice versa. Kind Clinic, for example, is closed on all observed holidays and the first Friday of every month, so check before you go.
Forgetting insurance can change what you owe, even at a clinic you expected to be free, as Kind Clinic's 2024 insurance policy shows.
Skipping the phone call to confirm fees and hours, which can change without the website being updated right away.
Treating a negative home test result taken too soon after a possible exposure as the final word. A clinician can explain how long after a specific exposure a given test becomes reliable, based on CDC guidance, since this window period differs by infection.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

Bring a form of ID if you have one, though Texas law does not require parental involvement for a minor to get tested.
Write down your questions ahead of time so you remember to ask about turnaround time for results and how you'll be notified.
If one option is fully booked, a second or third option on this list may have faster availability.
Ask the clinic directly about follow-up care. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment a clinician prescribes, while HIV, herpes and HPV are managed with ongoing care rather than cured, per CDC guidance.

What You Can Expect From Either Path

Whether you choose a free program or a low-cost clinic, the testing methods themselves are generally similar, and either path may give you useful information to discuss with a clinician. Results and next steps can vary based on your personal exposure history and timing, so a clinician or the test itself, not a general article, is the right source for what your specific result means. For a fuller breakdown of where to get tested in Austin and what each option tends to cost, see our guide to STD testing in Austin and what it costs. You can also browse a list of Austin testing locations to compare options side by side.

Free vs Low-Cost STD Testing in Austin: What's the Difference