If you click a link with an * to go through to a provider, we may get paid. This usually only happens if you get a product from it. This is what funds our team of journalists, and keeps us free to use. Yet there are two crucial things you need to know about this.
- This never impacts our editorial recommendations – if it's in, it's in there because we independently rate it best.
- You'll always get as good a deal (or better) than if you went direct.
For a more detailed explanation see How MSE is financed.
-
More on this topic
Coronavirus travel rights
We've the latest on the testing and self-isolation rules for travellers visiting popular destinations…
Cheap flights
Leave it till the last minute and flight costs are often sky-high – but plan ahead and book…
MSE weekly email
FREE weekly MoneySaving email
For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
Find the cheapest Covid tests
Whether for overseas travel, or simply peace of mind
Updated 2 November 2022
Whether you need a rapid antigen or PCR test for an upcoming holiday, or you're no longer eligible for free NHS tests to use at home, we've rounded up the cheapest private options here.
This is a controversial market where firms don't always advertise true prices. We've checked reviews and price accuracy (as much as we can). There are no certainties, so always do your own checks – please give feedback on firms, and let us know if you find a cheaper price. We've focused on mass-market providers – you may be able to find a cheaper local test, but again, always do your checks.
Non-travel tests: Cheapest private rapid antigen (lateral flow) tests
Need a test for travel? Jump down to the lateral flow and PCR tests for travel section
Only a small number of people are now eligible for free Covid tests, such as those with certain health conditions or those working in the NHS. To check whether you're eligible, see the
NHS England,
NHS Scotland,
NI Direct or
Welsh Government website (depending on where you live).
If you're no longer eligible for free Covid tests via the NHS, but still want to take a test for peace of mind, you'll need to pay for a private test. These start at £1.95 for a single rapid antigen test, but can be even cheaper if you buy in bulk (for example, Asda sells five tests for £6, so £1.20 each). We've listed some of the cheapest providers below.
Home testing rapid antigen kits (not for travel)
| LOCATION/PROVIDER | TOTAL COST | COST PER TEST |
| Asda* | £6 for five | £1.20 |
| £2.50 for one | £2.50 | |
| Morrisons* | £1.99 for one | £1.99 |
| Sainsbury's | £9.50 for five | £1.90 |
| Superdrug | £9.59 for five | £1.92 |
| £1.95 for one | £1.95 | |
| Boots* | £9.80 for five | £1.96 |
| £2 for one | £2 | |
| Randox Health | £20 for 10 (incl delivery) | £2 |
| Lloyds Pharmacy | £11.29 for five | £2.26 |
| £2.29 for one | £2.29 |
MSE weekly email
FREE weekly MoneySaving email
For all the latest guides, deals and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
Tests for travel: Cheap 'fit to fly' PCR or rapid antigen tests (if your destination requires it)
Some countries require proof of a negative Covid test before they'll let you in, and may accept a PCR or rapid antigen test – for both, always check the standard your destination country requires (importantly, some don't accept home testing kits and require the test to be supervised).
If you have a choice, rapid antigen tests are cheaper and you'll get the results quicker. For each country's requirements, see the Government's foreign travel advice.
You may have a small window from taking the test to departing (for some countries it's just 24-48 hours), so speed is key. But you'll often pay more for faster results.
Bear the following in mind when ordering tests for travel:
Cheap PCR 'fit to fly' tests for UK departures
If you need a PCR test, we've two tables - quicker but more expensive tests done at clinics, or scroll down for tests you can do at home...
Need a rapid antigen (lateral flow) test to travel? Jump down to see your options
At a clinic PCR tests: Pricier than at-home tests, but quicker as results can be analysed earlier
| LOCATION/PROVIDER | COST | RESULT TURNAROUND |
| London (St Pancras station) via Circular 1 Health | £39.99 | Within 24 hours |
| Liverpool One and London Waterloo station via Randox Health | £55 | By 11.59pm the day after |
| £65 | By 11.59pm the same day | |
| £80 | Within 1-3 hours | |
| Birmingham, Gatwick, Heathrow, London via Express Test* | £59 | By 10pm the day after |
Discount codes for private testers via airlines are only for their own passengers.
Home PCR test kits: Cheaper, but slower than clinics as it takes time to send/drop off samples. Plus some countries don't accept these
| LOCATION/PROVIDER | COST | RESULT TURNAROUND |
| Randox Health | £34.99 if you click & collect | By 11.59pm the day after returning your test to a drop box |
| £43 (home test) via airline & holiday operator codes | ||
| £48 (home test) | ||
| Project Screen* | £59 | Within 24 hours of test received by lab |
| Boots* | £62 | Within 24-48 hours of test received by lab |
Discount codes for private testers via airlines are only for their own passengers.
Cheap rapid antigen 'fit to fly' tests for UK departures
If choosing between home testing or going to a clinic, in this case at-home testing can be quicker, providing you order the test in plenty of time – you'll get immediate results and some could have it verified within 30 minutes, but you should check first. We've ordered the tables below by price, with the cheapest at-home tests first, though it's important to note not all countries accept home tests.
Home testing rapid antigen kits
| LOCATION/PROVIDER | COST | TRAVEL CERTIFICATE TURNAROUND |
| Medicspot* | £11.99 | By 11.59pm the day you submit result |
| Randox Health | £11 if you click & collect | Within three hours of submitting result |
| £13.50 full price | ||
| Qured | £9.86 for Heathrow passengers via code HEATHROW10 | Within two hours of submitting result |
| £10.95 full price | ||
| Chronomics | £15 | Within 30 minutes of submitting result |
Discount codes for private testers via airlines are only for their own passengers.
At a clinic rapid antigen tests
| LOCATION/PROVIDER | COST | RESULT TURNAROUND |
| London (St Pancras station) via Circular 1 Health | £29.99 | Within 45 minutes |
| Birmingham Airport, Gatwick, Heathrow via Express Test* | £36 for Virgin Atlantic customers, via code VIRGIN21 | Within 40 minutes |
| £40 full price | ||
| Glasgow, East Midlands Airport, Liverpool, London, Manchester Airport via Randox Health | £35 | Within 60 minutes |
| London (Paddington & Victoria stations) via Express Test* | £45 for Virgin Atlantic customers, via code VIRGIN21 | Within 40 minutes |
| £50 full price |
Discount codes for private testers via airlines are only for their own passengers.
MSE weekly email
FREE weekly MoneySaving email
For all the latest guides, deals and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
-
Tesco shopper? You've got two weeks left to spend £14 million of expiring Clubcard vouchers – or extend them with our trick
17 August 2024![]()
If you've got a Tesco Clubcard, check if you have any vouchers close to expiring, as £14 million-worth are due to run out on Saturday 31 August. -
Received car finance mis-selling compensation out of the blue? It DOESN'T stop you complaining about the latest scandal
13 August 2024![]()
Some MoneySavers have reported receiving car finance mis-selling compensation payments out of the blue. But these are unrelated to the latest ongoing investigation into hidden commission, which means you CAN still complain about that on top. -
Amazon launches new credit card offering rewards on your spending – is it worth getting?
13 August 2024![]()
The Amazon Barclaycard has no annual fee and gives 1% to 2% back on purchases at Amazon and up to 0.5% elsewhere, all paid in the form of gift cards to use at the online retail giant. -
Chase cuts rate on popular 5.1% boosted saver – should you ditch and switch?
13 August 2024![]( "2150786737")
Chase has cut the rates on its linked easy-access 'boosted saver' and standard saver accounts by 0.25 percentage points. -
NS&I launches new British Savings Bonds paying up to 4.6% if you lock your cash away – but how do they stack up?
13 August 2024![]()
NS&I has refreshed its range of fixed-term 'British Savings Bonds' by adding a two-year option paying 4.6% and a five-year option paying 4.1%. And its three-year bond will now pay newbies 4.35% (up from 4.15%). Here's how they stack up.
-
Stopcock tips – can you find yours?
15 October 2024![]()
A stopcock is your mains water tap (the off switch). Everyone should know where theirs is, especially at this time of year when pipes can burst due to frost. If you don’t know where yours is, your house could be flooded with water everywhere, while you have no idea how to stop it. -
Martin Lewis on pension credit: What over-66s need to know
24 September 2024![]()
Nearly a million pensioners are missing out on pension credit, a vital benefit worth £1,000s a year for many, which tops up your income. -
Martin Lewis: Is it time to ban unnecessary Christmas presents?
17 September 2024![]()
Update September 2017: It’s eight years since I first braved this subject, expecting a snowstorm of protest. Instead, year after year more join in, like Julia who recently tweeted me, “@MartinSLewis, finally took your advice and told my family I can’t afford Christmas presents. What a weight off my mind. Thank you.” One year even the Archbishop of...
MSE tools & calculators
Clever ways to calculate your finances
