Disclosure: This guide is published by August (meetaugust.ai), which runs a flat-fee online urgent care service that can treat several common STIs. August is included below as one option on its real merits, and we also say where it cannot help. No company paid for placement. Verify prices on each provider's site before booking.

If you may have been exposed to HIV, time matters. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be started within 72 hours, so seek urgent in-person care or a telehealth PEP service quickly rather than waiting.

Many sexually transmitted infections can be diagnosed and treated entirely online, discreetly and often the same day. But not all of them, and knowing which is which keeps you safe. This guide explains how online STD treatment works, which infections can and cannot be handled remotely, what it costs, and the best services to use.

How online STD treatment works

The typical path has a few steps. You describe your symptoms or possible exposure to a licensed clinician online, they may order a lab test or at-home kit to confirm the infection, and once results are in, they prescribe treatment if appropriate and send it to your pharmacy. Some services treat based on clear symptoms or a known partner diagnosis without waiting for a test. Testing and medication are usually billed separately from the visit.

Which STIs can be treated online

Online treatment works well for common, curable bacterial and parasitic STIs, including:

  • Chlamydia, treated with antibiotics.
  • Trichomoniasis ("trich"), treated with metronidazole.
  • Certain others like some cases of mycoplasma or ureaplasma, as a clinician directs.

For these, a clinician can often prescribe oral antibiotics remotely. Partners usually need treatment too, to prevent reinfection.

Which STIs need in-person care

This is the part many sites gloss over, and it matters. Some infections cannot be fully treated online:

  • Gonorrhea and syphilis generally require an injection given in person (ceftriaxone for gonorrhea, penicillin for syphilis), so an online clinician will diagnose and then refer you to a clinic. The CDC specifically warns about drug-resistant gonorrhea and urges the recommended injectable treatment, which is why responsible services refer these out.
  • HIV, hepatitis B, and HPV are not curable and need ongoing in-person management, though some care and prevention (like PrEP for HIV) can start via telehealth.

A good online service will tell you when you need to be seen in person rather than just sending a prescription.

Best online STD treatment services in 2026

August: fast, flat-fee urgent care

For common, treatable infections like trich, August offers a free AI symptom check then a US-licensed MD review for a flat $39, with the prescription sent to your pharmacy, often within hours, no insurance or membership, and clinicians in all 50 states plus DC. For infections needing an injection or ongoing management, August will point you to in-person care.

Wisp

Wisp focuses on sexual health, treating chlamydia, gonorrhea exposure, trichomoniasis, and more for about $39 per consult, with same-day prescriptions or a test referral, plus doxy-PEP. Strong for discreet, condition-specific care.

Nurx

Nurx offers at-home STI test kits and treatment, accepts many insurance plans, and can prescribe PrEP for HIV prevention. Good if you want testing plus coverage.

Everlywell

Everlywell offers STI urgent-care visits, often connecting you with a clinician in about two hours, plus at-home testing.

How much does online STD treatment cost?

Costs come in parts: the visit, any testing, and the medication. Visits run about $39 on services like August or Wisp. Testing varies widely, from $0 with insurance or at a free public clinic to $100 to $250 for a multi-infection panel. Many antibiotics are inexpensive generics. Under the ACA, many STI screenings are covered at no cost, and public health departments and Planned Parenthood offer free or sliding-scale testing.

Get tested, not just treated

Because many STIs have no symptoms, testing matters even when you feel fine. The CDC recommends regular screening for sexually active people, and the free directory at GetTested (gettested.cdc.gov) locates low-cost or free testing near you. Treating a symptom without testing can miss a second infection, so a clinician may recommend a panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Common curable bacterial and parasitic STIs like chlamydia and trichomoniasis can usually be treated online with antibiotics. But gonorrhea and syphilis typically need an in-person injection, and HIV, hepatitis B, and HPV need ongoing in-person care. A responsible online service treats what it safely can and refers the rest.

For treatable infections, services like August or Wisp can have a clinician review your case and send a prescription within hours, sometimes the same day. If testing is needed first, results usually take a couple of days, after which treatment can be prescribed. Speed depends on whether a test is required and your state's rules.

Sometimes. A clinician may treat based on clear symptoms or a partner's diagnosis, or may order a lab test or at-home kit to confirm first, especially for unclear symptoms. Testing helps avoid missing a second infection and ensures the right treatment, so follow your clinician's recommendation.

The visit is often around $39, testing ranges from $0 with insurance or at a public clinic up to $100 to $250 for a full panel, and many antibiotics are cheap generics. The total depends on whether you need testing and whether you use insurance. Free testing is more widely available than many people realize.

Yes, telehealth STD services are private and discreet. If you use insurance, an Explanation of Benefits may list that a service occurred, so some people pay cash for full privacy. Public clinics and at-home kits also offer confidential options. Ask the service how it handles privacy if this is a concern.

For common curable STIs like chlamydia and trich, often yes, entirely online. But gonorrhea and syphilis need an in-person injection, and some infections need ongoing care, so a clinician may refer you. Online treatment is convenient but has limits, and a good service is honest about when you must be seen.