Home » City Guide » ,

COVID Testing: All 23 Free Testing Sites in San Francisco

Updated January 22, 2022: Where to get a free coronavirus test including walk-up, drop-in and drive-thru locations
By - posted 1/19/2022 No Comment

Anyone living or working in San Francisco can get tested for coronavirus at various locations in the City. There are 23 sites in San Francisco where you can get tested for no charge.

Updated January 22, 2022 – Please note this list can change rapidly. Check sf.gov for updates.

Some places offer tests for free and do not require insurance. Tests at City-run sites are free to you. If you have health insurance, we will bill your provider.

You do not need a doctor’s note to schedule a test.

When you need to get tested

Get tested when any of these apply:

  • When you have Covid-19 symptoms.
  • When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional.
  • When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health.

Please note that periodically there are free mobile test sites operated by SF Dept. of Public Health, but good luck finding them unless you happen to stumble across them in person or on the internet. We checked and couldn’t find any specific information on either sf.gov or sfdph.org websites

Free COVID Test Locations in San Francisco

Please note that we believe that these are all free, but many don’t specifically say. They instead mention “For uninsured” or are city-run which in the past have been free.

Also note that dates/times/locations can change quickly.

See the updated list | Map of all testing locations (free and paid)

Call Your Healthcare Provider First

If you have insurance, contact your doctor or your healthcare provider. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test.

See a full list of local healthcare providers and their phone numbers (Carbon Health, Dignity, Kaiser, One Medical, UCSF, etc…)

By Appointment

CityTestSF at SOMA
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco in partnership with Color

  • Walk-through and drive-through
  • 600 7th St. 7th and Brannan
  • Appointments required. Book an appointment up to 3 days ahead.

CityTestSF at Alemany Farmers Market
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco.

  • Walk-through and drive-through
  • 100 Alemany Boulevard
  • Book at Alemany for appointments up to 3 days ahead.

// Neighborhood Test Sites  //

Chinese Hospital Test Site
Open to everyone. Check your eligibility when you make an appointment.

  • 845 Jackson Street
  • Monday through Saturday, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, except holidays.
  • 415-906-7643 – Call to schedule an appointment.

Southeast Health Center Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients.

  • 2401 Keith Street
  • Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, 9am-4pm
  • Thurs, 9am – 7pm
  • 415-906-7643 – Call to schedule an appointment.

ZSFG Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients.

  • 1001 Potrero Avenue
  • Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm
  • 415-906-7643 – Call to schedule an appointment.

Curative COVID Self-Testing Kiosk
Parkmerced – Garces and Vidal, San Francisco, CA

Self-collected swab test with 1-2 days turnaround. No insurance required. If you have insurance, it is required you submit the information.

Circle Medical – Downtown Clinic
333 1st St. Suite A, San Francisco

  • Eligibility: None. All major insurance Payer
  • Hours: 8am-5pm M-F, 8am-2pm Weekends
  • Schedule via Phone or Web
  • Please note this location isn’t listed on the sfgov list, but instead appears on their map

Potrero Hill Health Center Alternative Testing Site
1050 Wisconsin St., San Francisco

  • Eligibility: For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested
  • Hours: Tue from 9am-12pm (last drop in at 11:30am) and 1:30pm-3:30pm (last drop in at 3:15pm), and Thu from 9:30am-12pm (last drop in at 11:30am), closed in the afternoon.
  • You can drop in.
  • Phone: (415) 682-1740
  • Testing provided by SF Health Network (Department of Public Health)
  • Please note this location isn’t listed on the sfgov list, but instead appears on their map

SOMA
967 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

  • Eligibility: SF workers and residents. No insurance required.
  • Hours: Wednesdays, 1:30pm – 7pm
  • Drop In Testing provided by SF Department of Public Health in partnership with Color
  • Please note this location isn’t listed on the sfgov list, but instead appears on their map

Test the People by renegade.bio
2730 21st St, San Francisco, CA

  • Eligibility: Everyone. No insurance required.
  • Hours: M, W, and F from 10 AM to 3PM, except holidays
  • Drop in or call for appointment
  • Please note this location isn’t listed on the sfgov list, but instead appears on their map

Unidos en Salud
24th and Capp Street, San Francisco, CA

  • Eligibility: SF workers and residents. No insurance required.
  • Hours: Saturday – Tuesday, 9am – 3:45pm
  • Drop in.
  • Testing provided by UCSF/LTF
  • Please note this location isn’t listed on the sfgov list, but instead appears on their map

Urgent Care Centers 
These might charge a fee – see the updated list

Drop-in Sites

Drop-ins may be limited toward the end of the day, to make sure all testing is done properly.

Sites may also close if it’s raining. Test specimens need to be kept dry.

Monday drop-in

  • Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 2 pm to 6 pm – This testing site accepts both appointments and on-the-spot registration. Schedule an appointment at the Alemany Farmers Market here. If there are no available appointments, staff will help register you onsite. Registration may take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. Drop-ins will be accepted starting at 2pm on Mondays, 11am on Tuesdays-Thursdays, and all day Friday. Drop-in availability is limited by capacity restraints. When capacity is depleted, staff will redirect you to other testing resources.
  • Bayview Opera House (4705 3rd Street), 9 am to 4 pm
  • 1099 Sunnydale Ave, 10 am to 2 pm
  • 20 Norton Street, 10 am to 6 pm (Excelsior)
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
  • Ella Hill’s Hutch (1181 Golden Gate Ave), 8am – 5pm
  • Kyla and SummerBio Testing on Mondays – 333 Dolores Street – 9 am to 7 pm ***Please note, this site prioritizes testing to families with children and youth.

Tuesday drop-in

  • Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 6 pm – This testing site accepts both appointments and on-the-spot registration. Schedule an appointment at the Alemany Farmers Market here. If there are no available appointments, staff will help register you onsite. Registration may take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. Drop-ins will be accepted starting at 2pm on Mondays, 11am on Tuesdays-Thursdays, and all day Friday. Drop-in availability is limited by capacity restraints. When capacity is depleted, staff will redirect you to other testing resources.
  • 90 Kiska Rd, 10 am to 3 pm
  • GLIDE Memorial Church parking lot (330 Ellis Street), 10 am to 4 pm
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • *Treasure Island (Avenue D and 9th St Parking Lot between Childcare and Service Center), 10 am to 2 pm – *PLEASE NOTE even though the Avenue D location is listed on the sf.gov website as of 1/18/22, we’ve had some reports that this location is not correct and testing location is instead at 850 Avenue H on Treasure Island next door to the Island Cove Market. The Avenue H location is listed on the sf.gov map page.
  • Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 11 am to 6 pm
  • Treasure Island Nurse Clinic (749 9th Street), 2pm-6pm
  • Ella Hill’s Hutch (1181 Golden Gate Ave), 8am – 5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • Curative Covid Self-Testing Kiosk (Parkmerced – Garces & Vidal Dr), 8am-3pm –  Please make an appointment, check their website. ***Please note appointment-Based Only until Further Notice. Walk-up registration has been temporarily paused.
  • Kyla and SummerBio Testing on Tuesdays – 333 Dolores Street – 9 am to 7 pm ***Please note, this site prioritizes testing to families with children and youth. Testing will start on Wednesday 1/12.

Wednesday drop-in

  • Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 6 pm – This testing site accepts both appointments and on-the-spot registration. Schedule an appointment at the Alemany Farmers Market here. If there are no available appointments, staff will help register you onsite. Registration may take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. Drop-ins will be accepted starting at 2pm on Mondays, 11am on Tuesdays-Thursdays, and all day Friday. Drop-in availability is limited by capacity restraints. When capacity is depleted, staff will redirect you to other testing resources.
  • Portsmouth Square (745 Kearny St in Chinatown), 10 am to 5 pm
  • GLIDE Memorial Church parking lot (330 Ellis Street), 10 am to 4 pm
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • 2055 Sunnydale Avenue, 10 am to 2 pm
  • Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 1 pm to 8 pm
  • Ella Hill’s Hutch (1181 Golden Gate Ave), 8am – 5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • Curative Covid Self-Testing Kiosk (Parkmerced – Garces & Vidal Dr), 8am-3pm – Please make appointment, check their website. ***Please note appointment-Based Only until Further Notice. Walk-up registration has been temporarily paused.
  • Kyla and SummerBio Testing on Wednesdays – 333 Dolores Street – 9 am to 7 pm – ***Please note, this site prioritizes testing to families with children and youth.

Thursday drop-in

  • Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 6 pm – This testing site accepts both appointments and on-the-spot registration. Schedule an appointment at the Alemany Farmers Market here. If there are no available appointments, staff will help register you onsite. Registration may take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. Drop-ins will be accepted starting at 2pm on Mondays, 11am on Tuesdays-Thursdays, and all day Friday. Drop-in availability is limited by capacity restraints. When capacity is depleted, staff will redirect you to other testing resources.
  • Bayview Opera House (4705 3rd Street), 9 am to 4 pm
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • Mission Hub (19th Street and Alabama Street), 10 am to 6 pm
  • True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 2 pm to 9 pm
  • Ella Hill’s Hutch (1181 Golden Gate Ave), 8am – 5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • Curative Covid Self-Testing Kiosk (Parkmerced – Garces & Vidal Dr), 8am-3pm – Please make an appointment here, check their website. – ***Please note appointment-Based Only until Further Notice. Walk-up registration has been temporarily paused.
  • Kyla and SummerBio Testing on Thursdays – 333 Dolores Street – 9 am to 7 pm – ***Please note, this site prioritizes testing to families with children and youth.

Friday drop-in

  • Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 1 pm – This testing site accepts both appointments and on-the-spot registration. Schedule an appointment at the Alemany Farmers Market here. If there are no available appointments, staff will help register you onsite. Registration may take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. Drop-ins will be accepted starting at 2pm on Mondays, 11am on Tuesdays-Thursdays, and all day Friday. Drop-in availability is limited by capacity restraints. When capacity is depleted, staff will redirect you to other testing resources.
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • NOW Hunters Point (155 Jennings Street), 9 am to 4 pm
  • Lakeview/OMI Neighborhood Site (446 Randolph Street), 9 am to 4 pm
  • True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
  • Ella Hill’s Hutch (1181 Golden Gate Ave), 8am – 5pm – This site supports on-the-spot registration only—no appointment is required.
  • Curative Covid Self-Testing Kiosk (Parkmerced – Garces & Vidal Dr), 8am-3pm  – Please make an appointment here, check their website. – ***Please note appointment-Based Only until Further Notice. Walk-up registration has been temporarily paused.
  • Kyla and SummerBio Testing on Fridays – 333 Dolores Street – 9 am to 7 pm – ***Please note, this site prioritizes testing to families with children and youth.

Saturday drop-in

  • NOW Hunters Point (155 Jennings Street), 9 am to 4 pm
  • Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 11am to 6 pm
  • Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street), 8am-5pm
  • Curative Covid Self-Testing Kiosk (Parkmerced – Garces & Vidal Dr), 8am-3pm –  Please make an appointment here, check their website. ***Please note appointment-Based Only until Further Notice. Walk-up registration has been temporarily paused.
  • Castro & 18th – Upper Market COVID Testing/Vaccinations will resume at the 18th Street Parking Lot behind the Castro & 18th Street Walgreens. There will be testing and shots into arms every Saturday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Please note that we don’t see the Castro site listed on the sf.gov website list of “drop in” sites but it is listed on their map) 

Sunday drop-in

  • True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
  • NOW Hunters Point (155 Jennings Street), 10am to 3pm