For most people, LetsGetChecked is the stronger at-home STD test thanks to faster turnaround, its own CLIA-certified labs, the only kits that test both HSV-1 and HSV-2, and nurse-backed prescriptions on a positive. Choose Everlywell if you want a kit you can grab off a pharmacy shelf the same day.
How each service works
Both Everlywell and LetsGetChecked are mail-in, self-collect services, meaning you take the sample yourself at home rather than visiting a clinic for a blood draw. After you collect, you mail the sample to a lab, and your results land in a secure online account. Neither service requires a doctor's visit to order, and both accept HSA/FSA cards at checkout.
The collection step depends on which infections you're screening for. A urine sample is standard for chlamydia and gonorrhea; a finger-prick blood spot is used for HIV, syphilis, and herpes antibody testing; and a genital or oral swab covers certain other infections. LetsGetChecked sends a kit matched to the panel you bought — finger-prick, urine, or swab as appropriate. Everlywell follows the same self-collect logic, and you also have the option of an OraQuick oral HIV self-test that gives a result at home without mailing anything.
Lab quality is where the two differ in a way that matters. Both run through labs that are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited — federal and professional standards that confirm a lab meets quality and accuracy requirements FDA CLIA. LetsGetChecked operates its own labs, which gives it tighter control over how samples are handled from receipt to result. Everlywell partners with accredited third-party labs. Both meet the bar; if you're curious how reliable a mailed sample really is, see our explainer on at-home test accuracy.
Test menu compared
The biggest practical gap between the two is what they actually screen for. Everlywell covers the core STIs well but leaves out several infections that LetsGetChecked includes in its broader panels — most notably HSV-1, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma, and BV/Gardnerella. If you're unsure which infections you should be testing for in the first place, our guide to which STD test do I need walks through it by symptom and exposure.
| Infection | Everlywell | LetsGetChecked |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | Yes | Yes |
| Gonorrhea | Yes | Yes |
| HIV | Yes | Yes |
| Syphilis | Yes | Yes |
| Trichomoniasis | Yes | Yes |
| Hepatitis (B/C) | Yes | Yes |
| HSV-2 (genital herpes) | Yes | Yes |
| HSV-1 (oral/genital herpes) | No | Yes |
| Mycoplasma genitalium | No | Yes (broader panels) |
| Ureaplasma | No | Yes (broader panels) |
| BV / Gardnerella | No | Yes (broader panels) |
Those gaps aren't trivial. Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial cause of urethritis and cervicitis (inflammation of the urethra or cervix) that often goes untested and can drive persistent symptoms after a "clean" basic panel. BV/Gardnerella reflects a disruption of normal vaginal bacteria that causes discharge and odor and isn't technically an STI but commonly prompts the same worry. LetsGetChecked is the only at-home kit found to test both HSV-1 and HSV-2 — useful because HSV-1 increasingly causes genital herpes, not just cold sores.
Price and value breakdown
Everlywell prices most single tests at $69, with its OraQuick HIV self-test kit at $49 and full panels running $169–$199. Both services are self-pay and neither bills your insurance, so the sticker price is what you pay (minus any HSA/FSA coverage). Single tests look cheaper line-by-line, but a single test only answers one question — if you have any real exposure concern, a panel is usually the better value than stacking singles.
What drives LetsGetChecked's cost is breadth: its panels include infections Everlywell simply doesn't offer, so you're paying for a wider net. For people who test on a schedule, LetsGetChecked also offers subscription plans that lower the per-test cost over time — worth it if you're testing regularly between partners. If price is the deciding factor and you don't have coverage, our rundown on STD testing without insurance compares your no-insurance options.
Turnaround time and result delivery
LetsGetChecked is faster. Results arrive in 2–5 days after your sample reaches the lab, while Everlywell typically takes 5–7 days after the lab receives the sample. Both clocks start at lab receipt, not when you mail it, so factor in shipping time on top. Everlywell's off-the-shelf availability can offset that — you skip the wait for a kit to ship to you.
Both deliver results through a private online portal. There's no paper letter in the mail and no notification to an insurer, which matters for anyone testing discreetly.
Privacy and discretion
Because both services are self-pay and skip insurance entirely, nothing flows through an insurer's claims system or shows up on an explanation-of-benefits statement — a common privacy concern for people on a family plan. Kits arrive in plain packaging, and results stay inside your secure account rather than arriving as physical mail. Everlywell kits bought off a pharmacy shelf are paid for at the register like any other product.
Support after a positive
Neither service leaves you to interpret a positive alone. Everlywell provides a free physician consultation on any positive result — a call to explain what the result means and what to do next. LetsGetChecked goes further, offering nurse-backed prescriptions on positive results in eligible states, so for treatable bacterial infections you may be able to start treatment without booking a separate clinic visit.
That difference is the practical edge for many people. A consult tells you what you have; a prescription gets you treated. Eligibility depends on your state and the specific infection, so check before assuming you can fill from home. For complex or recurrent infections, you may still need in-person care — and you can always start with a screen at any time using our get tested options.
Who should choose Everlywell
Everlywell makes sense if you want a kit today. You can pick one up same-day at Target, CVS, or Walgreens without ordering online and waiting for shipping. It's a good fit if you want a straightforward core-STI screen, prefer the option of an at-home HIV self-test, and don't need HSV-1, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, or BV testing. The free physician consult on a positive is reassuring for a first-time tester.
Who should choose LetsGetChecked
LetsGetChecked is the better pick if you want the widest coverage, the fastest results, or a path to treatment from home. Choose it when you need HSV-1 and HSV-2 together, want Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma, or BV/Gardnerella in the mix, or value nurse prescriptions on a positive. With roughly 18,800 Trustpilot reviews at a 4.4/5 rating, it has a large track record, and its subscription plans suit regular testers. How often you actually need to test depends on your activity — see how often to get tested.