Which Level 2 food hygiene course is best for my business? Free course chooser for pubs, cafés and restaurants

Last updated 5 October 2026. Prices checked 5 October 2026

Answer eight quick questions about what matters to you. We'll match your answers against five popular Level 2 courses and suggest the one that fits best, with the reasons and the trade-offs.

The short answer

The law asks for training that fits each person's job, not a particular course or certificate. So there's no single "best" course: the cheapest suits some businesses, while others need free resits, team tools or a regulated qualification. This chooser weighs those things for you. Not sure Level 2 is the right level? Try our level checker first.

Level 2 course chooser

Free to use, and works on your phone. Nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere.

1. Does a contract, employer or insurer ask for a regulated qualification?

Most don't. The law itself doesn't require one.

2. How would you like them to learn?

3. How much does price matter?

4. How many people are you training?

5. Might someone need more than one go at the test?

6. Do you want certificates posted to you?

Every course here gives a digital certificate.

7. Are you buying courses ahead for future staff?

8. Does a well-known name on the certificate matter to you?

For example, to head office or a client.

A guide to help you decide, not a recommendation to buy. It uses each provider's published prices and terms, the same as our course comparison. Prices and terms change, so check the provider's website before you buy.

How the chooser works

Each answer gives points to the courses that suit it. For example, saying someone might need a few goes at the test favours the two courses with unlimited free resits, and buying ahead for future staff favours the course with no deadline. The course with the most points is suggested first, with the two runners-up underneath. If you say you need a regulated qualification, the Highfield course is always suggested, because it's the only regulated one in our comparison.

Where a provider doesn't publish something, such as a team discount or the number of free resits, the chooser doesn't give it credit for it. That's not a judgement on the course, just a gap you may want to ask about.

Online, tutor-led or regulated: what's the difference?

Four of the five courses are self-paced online courses. Staff work through them in their own time and take an online test, and they get a training certificate from the provider. That certificate is good evidence of training, and the law doesn't ask for more.

The Highfield Level 2 Award through Axtell is tutor-led and a regulated qualification. It's taught live on Zoom, the exam is watched remotely, and the qualification is regulated by Ofqual. It costs more, and it's mainly worth it if a contract or employer asks for a regulated qualification by name. Our guide to certificates and badges explains the different labels you'll see.

Questions people often ask

Is the cheapest course good enough?

It can be. Every course here covers Level 2 food hygiene for catering. The cheapest suits a business that wants a simple online course and doesn't need extras. It's worth checking what you get for the price, such as resits, printed certificates and how long you have to finish.

Does a well-known name matter?

Not legally. Some head offices, clients or contracts prefer a particular name, such as CIEH, or a regulated qualification. If nobody has asked for one, the provider's name matters less than whether your staff work safely.

Where can I see every detail?

Our Level 2 course comparison shows all five courses side by side, and the cost calculator works out the total for your team.

Sources we used

Course details come from our Level 2 course comparison, which lists the full sources.