ServSafe vs. Always Food Safe (vs. FoodSafePal)
ServSafe and Always Food Safe are popular food safety training companies. FoodSafePal also offers food safety training and certification.
If you need food safety training or a food handler card, you might wonder how these companies differ and whether one is better than the others.
This article explains how ServSafe and Always Food Safe compare with FoodSafePal, and helps you choose the best option for your needs.
About ServSafe
ServSafe offers food safety and alcohol server training and certification.
The program is owned and administered by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), a trade group that represents restaurant owners and lobbies to keep restaurant operating costs — including employee wages — low.
The NRA also owns another food safety training organization, the National Registry of Foodservice Professionals (NRFSP), giving it control over a large portion of the food safety training and testing market. This level of consolidation doesn’t necessarily benefit learners or promote choice.
A portion of course fees from both ServSafe and the NRFSP supports the NRA’s lobbying efforts.
Summary
ServSafe provides food safety and alcohol training and certification. The NRA owns and administers ServSafe and NRFSP, and a portion of course fees supports its lobbying efforts to reduce restaurant operating costs.
About Always Food Safe
Like ServSafe, Always Food Safe offers food safety training and certification. They also provide alcohol server training through a partnership with another company.
The program is administered by the National Checking Company (NCCO), a U.S.-based business with international operations. In addition to administering Always Food Safe, NCCO sells products such as labels, receipt paper, and first-aid kits to foodservice businesses.
Summary
Always Food Safe offers food safety and alcohol server training. It’s administered by NCCO, a U.S. company with international operations that also sells various products to foodservice businesses.
About FoodSafePal
FoodSafePal offers online food handler and manager training for workers across many foodservice settings — including restaurants, healthcare facilities, and schools.
It’s owned and operated by Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and food safety expert. FoodSafePal’s advisory board includes registered dietitians, Certified Dietary Managers (CDMs), and Certified Food Protection Managers (CFPMs) who help maintain and strengthen FoodSafePal’s training programs.
All revenue from course sales is reinvested into making food safety training more accessible and straightforward — from expanding available courses and developing practice exams to creating free resources that explain who needs training or certification and how to get it.
Because FoodSafePal is independently owned and operated, it has no outside investors, corporate sponsors, or conflicts of interest. Every decision is made with the learner in mind.
FoodSafePal’s food handler training holds the same ANAB accreditation as ServSafe, so it meets the same national standards for quality and acceptance, making it a strong ServSafe alternative.
Summary
FoodSafePal provides online food handler and manager training. Unlike its competitors, it’s independently owned and reinvests all revenue into developing clearer, faster, and more accessible training, along with free resources that help people understand who needs the training and how to meet requirements efficiently.
ServSafe vs. Always Food Safe vs. FoodSafePal
Although these organizations offer other types of training, including manager-level programs, this comparison focuses on their food handler courses.
| ServSafe | FoodSafePal | Always Food Safe | |
| Training cost | $15 | $15 ($10 with code “save” at checkout) | $10 |
| Training course length | 2 hours | 90 minutes | 2 hours |
| Course access | 60 days | 1 year | 30 days |
| Offered (online or in-person) | Online and in-person | Online | Online |
| Languages | English, Spanish | English, Spanish | English, Spanish |
| Passing score | 75% | 70% | 75% |
| Expires | 2–3 years | 2–3 years | 2–3 years |
| ANAB-accredited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nationally accepted | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Earn or Renew Your Food Handler Card in 90 Minutes
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Summary
This table outlines the key differences and similarities between the ServSafe, Always Food Safe, and the FoodSafePal food handler course.
Which should you choose?
If you need responsible alcohol training, ServSafe or Always Food Safe are your options.
Otherwise, when it comes to food handler or manager training, all three organizations meet the same national standards, and their courses are accepted nationwide.
The difference lies in how each organization operates and reinvests your enrollment fee:
- ServSafe’s parent association uses a portion of fees to support industry lobbying.
- Always Food Safe is owned by a company that also sells other commercial products.
- FoodSafePal reinvests 100% of revenue into expanding food safety training, creating free resources, and improving accessibility for learners.
So while all three courses meet the same ANAB accreditation requirements, FoodSafePal stands apart for its independence, transparency, and learner-focused mission.
Summary
All three food handler courses are ANAB-accredited and accepted nationwide. But FoodSafePal is the only independently owned provider that reinvests all revenue into improving food safety training and education rather than outside interests.
The bottom line
ServSafe, Always Food Safe, and FoodSafePal all offer ANAB-accredited, nationally accepted food handler training.
ServSafe is owned by a national trade association, Always Food Safe is operated by a company that sells unrelated business supplies, and FoodSafePal is independently owned by a registered dietitian.
Unlike its competitors, FoodSafePal reinvests every dollar into expanding its training programs, developing practice exams, and publishing free resources that explain who needs training or certification, how to get it, and how to stay compliant with local requirements.
With FoodSafePal, you know exactly who is accountable for your success.
Earn or Renew Your Food Handler Card in 90 Minutes
Trusted by thousands. The fastest, most reliable way to meet your health department’s requirements.
