Online food hygiene courses in the UK (6 November 2026)
| Provider | Price | VAT | Level 2 | Stated duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gesthos | €9.50 (≈ £8) | Final price | No, certificate of completion | About 30 minutes |
| Eversley Training | £12.50 | + VAT (£15 with VAT) | Yes | A few hours |
| The Safer Food Group | £14 | + VAT | Yes | 2 to 4 hours |
| Virtual College | £16 | Not stated | Yes | 2 to 3 hours |
Taken from each provider's course page on 6 November 2026. Gesthos publishes this comparison and also sells a course. Prices can change: check them on each website. «Not stated» means it does not appear on the course page.
How it works
- 1
Read 10 short modules on your phone or computer
- 2
Pass the multiple-choice test
- 3
Pay €9.50 and download your certificate with a QR code
What your certificate and card look like
You get both as a PDF as soon as you pass: the certificate to print and a pocket card for your phone, each with a QR code anyone can scan to check it is genuine.
The short answer
On 6 November 2026, the Level 2 food hygiene courses we checked cost £12.50 + VAT at Eversley Training (£15 with VAT), £14 + VAT at The Safer Food Group and £16 at Virtual College. Gesthos charges €9.50 (about £8, charged in euros), but it is a certificate of completion, not a Level 2 qualification.
How we made this comparison
We opened each provider's Level 2 food hygiene course page and noted the published price, whether it includes VAT, the stated duration and how you get the certificate. If something is not on the page, we say so instead of guessing. Gesthos sells a course too, which is why every figure links to its source.
What each option does best
Eversley Training: a Level 2 course for £12.50 + VAT, an instant digital certificate and a printed copy by post for £5 more.
The Safer Food Group: a Level 2 course for £14 + VAT, taking two to four hours, with discounts for teams.
Virtual College: a Level 2 course for £16, taking two to three hours, with an instant accredited digital certificate.
Gesthos: €9.50, about 30 minutes, free study and test, and you only pay if you pass. It is the cheapest, but it is not a Level 2 award: if your employer asks for Level 2 by name, choose one of the others.
What to check besides the price
Whether the price includes VAT, whether your employer asks for a Level 2 certificate by name, whether you pay before or after passing, and whether the certificate can be checked online. UK law does not require a certificate: it requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to match their work.
If you are an employer training new starters, compare the price per person and how quickly each one can start: a short course they finish before their first shift, kept with your training records, may be enough for induction, with a Level 2 course later if a contract asks for it.