The best at-home COVID-19 test for 2024

Number of tests included: 1, 2 or 5 tests | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to results: 5 | Time to results: 15 minutes | Accuracy: 89.8% | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 12 months

The Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test is currently the first and only at-home COVID test cleared by the FDA’s premarket review pathway. So while all the tests on this list are cleared by the FDA as safe and effective for emergency use, this test has successfully passed rigorous testing and is approved and backed by the FDA’s gold standards. What’s more, the test proved to correctly identify 89.8% of positive and 99.3% of negative samples in individuals with signs and symptoms of upper respiratory infection. That said, it is important to note many other tests on this list may also reach this level of clearance after individual pathway reviews.

We also like that you can choose the number of tests you want in a kit ranging between one, two or five tests. It also has one of the longest shelf lives of the tests on this list at 24 months.

The test is easy to use, requiring five total steps starting with a simple nasal swab that is then dipped into a solution, swirled around a few times and then applied to the test card via a few drops of the mixed solution; results are ready in 15 minutes and easy to read thanks to a solid red line that appears when the test is positive. Another unique feature of the test is the box itself. There’s a perforated tube holder on the box, which makes the set-up and test collection process that much easier and mess-free, no need to worry about knocking over the solution or spilling the solution while holding and swirling the swab.

Number of tests included: 1 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to Results: 6 | Time to results: 1-2 days after lab receipt | PCR or antigen: PCR | Shelf life: Not clear

Even though the Pixel test by Labcorp is not a fully at-home COVID test – you have to mail your sample to the lab for processing – we would not be doing our due diligence if we left such a robust and groundbreaking test off this list, being that is the only at-home test of its kind to test for Flu, RSV, COVID at the same time with one simple self-administered test. Especially since Anthony Ognjan, a board-certified osteopathic physician specializing in infectious diseases, told us, “The new strains [of COVID] that are coming out are 10 to 20 times more contagious than the subsequent virus strains that [originally] devastated the world. They now affect the upper airways and no longer the lungs.” The virus is constantly evolving, so self-diagnosing according to your symptoms could be incredibly dangerous since COVID symptoms today mimic more closely to an upper respiratory illness, such as the flu or RSV. A test such as this one is the safest way to ensure you’ve pinpointed the cause of your illness, and thus can treat your symptoms accordingly.

This test is only available through the Labcorp website and will be shipped directly to your home within 24-48 hours after ordering. Once the test arrives, you’ll follow the directions to take the test, and then drop the sample in the mail using the prepaid postage packaging. You will receive your results electronically within 1-2 days of lab receipt.

Number of tests included: 2 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to Results: 3 | Time to results: 30 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 24 months

Most at-home COVID tests are fairly easy to use, especially once you’ve taken a rapid test a few times, but when you’re not feeling so hot, mistakes can be made and even one extra step — like mixing the solution or adding a certain number of drops to a test reader — can feel overwhelming, not to mention it also allows for more room for error. With the rapid test from InteliSwab, that’s not an issue.

InteliSwab’s unique design makes it super simple to take the test, no matter how crappy you feel. The nasal swab is attached to the test device and the solution is already mixed and ready to go, meaning there are only three steps to the entire testing process, whereas some tests on this list require five or more steps. Swab your nose, put the swab in the solution tube, and then check your results in 30 minutes. We do want to point out that the tests’ swab is large and flat, so may be more uncomfortable than the long skinny swabs included with most tests, and may not be easy to use on little children (the test is approved for use in children as young as 2 years old) and the thirty-minute wait for results is almost double other at-home tests. So, with all that in mind, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of this test before purchasing.

Number of tests included: 2 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Step to results: 4 | Time to results: 10 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 9-10 months

If patience is not one of your virtues, then the at-home COVID test from QuickVue is for you. Each pack comes with two swabs, two testing strips and two pre-filled solution vials, so there’s no mixing required. There’s also a tube holder to make it that much easier on you. Once you swab your nose, swirl it in the solution and then dip the paper testing strip into the tube. One possible downside is the paper test strip’s flimsy and somewhat messy process. Most of the other rapid tests use plastic cards similar to a pregnancy test stick, so using the paper strip can be a bit harder to get used to.

Still, with results ready in just 10 minutes, taking an extra 30 seconds to read the test strip is probably a fair trade-off.

Number of tests included: 1 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to results: 5 | Time to results: 15 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 24 months

In addition to the Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (our choice for best overall test) the On/Go COVID-19 antigen home test was also approved by the FDA for having a 24-month shelf life. The On/Go test kit includes one test per box, but can also be purchased in bulk for $80 for 12 test kits.

What sets this test apart is the On/Go app-guided testing process. You’ll first download the On/Go app and watch a video on how to take the test; then after taking the test, the app’s timing feature will alert you once the test is ready to read. You’ll use your phone or tablet’s camera to scan the test and QR code located on the test card. Depending on your results, the app will let you know if you are either positive or negative for COVID and what your next steps should be, if any.

Number of tests included: 2 or 4 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to results: 4 | Time to results: 15 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 15 months

BinaxNOW is another easily recognizable test due to being widely available in major retailers across the country and one of the test brands sent by the US government’s free COVID test initiative. The test is safe for use on children as young as two years old, with the results ready in 15 minutes. You can also purchase two or four tests in a single kit, so it’s perfect for a family of four, or to keep a few on hand, especially since there’s a 22-month shelf life!

This test does require a few more steps than other tests on this list, including adding an exact amount of drops to the test card, then a nasal swab of both nostrils for 15 seconds each, then dip the swab in the solution and swirl around before squeezing the excess off the swab before inserting the swab in the card, and last you will need to fold the card in half and seal shut. It's important to be careful with this test, take your time and follow the instructions very closely so you can be sure to get accurate results.

Note: If you are a large family looking for the most cost-effective test, you may want to consider the Bonson test which has eight tests for $30. The only drawback is that the test has the shortest shelf life of all the tests on our list at just 11 months.

Number of tests included: 8 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to results: 5 | Time to results: 15 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 6 months

If you find yourself having to test for COVID often, buying one or two tests at a time probably isn’t going to cut it, nor is it very cost-effective. Luckily, there’s the Boson Rapid Antigen Test, which comes with a whopping eight tests per pack.

Unlike most other rapid tests, with Boson’s, you’ll need to leave the swab in the solution for a full minute before adding the solution drops to the test card. Still, this doesn’t add much of a delay, though if you’re used to testing with other brands, it’s easy to miss this step. It’s also important to note the expiration date. Although it’s been given an extended shelf life by the FDA, at only 11 months, it’s still the shortest one on this list, but if you have to test frequently, the short shelf life shouldn’t be much of a concern. The easy-to-read results are ready within 15 minutes.

Number of tests included: 2 | Collection method: Nasal swab | Steps to results: 6 | Time to results: 15 minutes | PCR or antigen: Antigen | Shelf life: 15 months

One of the most popular at-home COVID tests, the iHealth Antigen Rapid Test’s bright orange box isn’t the only thing that helps make this rapid test a standout.

For starters, clear instructions are incredibly important and the iHealth test provides detailed step-by-step photo instructions with accompanying written descriptions — there’s also a video you can watch on the website. The test itself is also incredibly easy to administer: just a simple swab of both nostrils with the included swab, then dip the swab in the solution, swirl around and then add three drops of the solution (now mixed with your swab) to the test card and results are ready within 15 minutes. The results are clear-cut, with one or two lines denoting positive or negative.

This test is by far the most popular test ordered on Amazon with more than 155,000 5-star reviews. One reviewer said, “This is the only test I trust and it is very easy to use. Just be sure to squeeze the sides of the tube to get as much of the sample out of the swab.“