In This Article
In This Article
The offerings from each DNA testing service vary wildly, so it can be difficult to find the perfect testing company.
To do so, you have to consider three important factors:
Each genetic testing kit offers very different DNA results depending on the test type.
For example, a health test will explain what genetic conditions you may develop or pass on to your children.
An ethnicity estimate or ancestry test will tell you things like how much Irish or neanderthal blood you may have. If you’re trying to add some new branches to the family tree, ancestry tests can also be used to find distant relatives and long-lost family members.
To help you narrow down the best DNA testing kit for your needs, we focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the biggest testing companies on the market.
We looked at DNA testing services like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, Family Tree DNA, and MyHeritage DNA.
After plenty of research and thought, we narrowed down this list of the best DNA testing kits on the market for any budget.
If you’re asking what the best DNA kit is, the answer all depends on what you’re looking for.
You may be interested in exploring your genetic makeup, learning more about your family history, looking for a detailed health report, or trying to expand your family tree. In any case, we have some resources to help you make the most of your DNA self-discovery:
Once you’ve had your DNA analysis, you might be keen to learn more about the genetic data of those around you. However, others may not be willing to uncover some of the DNA results that genetic testing can reveal.
Luckily, this isn’t at all a problem when it comes to your furry friends. Knowing about your pet's health, ancestry, and potential risks can only be in their best interest.
Know Your DNA Reviews
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn more about yourself. Read our best DNA test page to find the best one for you.
Assessing your health risks at home can be a double-edged sword. Even though 23andMe is approved by the FDA to provide information about your health, they still make it clear that their health test is not meant to be diagnostic.
Investigating your genetic health is only intended to provide general information to inform future health decisions; for specifics and guarantees, you’ll need to talk to a healthcare professional.
This does mean that at-home DNA kits don't need to be 100% accurate. DNA testing companies aren't forced to medically verify their claims. Because of this, you may receive different answers to the same question from each DNA testing service you try.
This is also mainly due to the proprietary methods and mutations each DNA testing company employs to construct its health risk scores and predispositions.
This caveat can be used to your advantage if you’re willing to download your raw data and get some second and third opinions.
This can take some effort, but many options are cost and risk-free (disregarding inherent privacy concerns). However, for a one-stop at-home DNA kit, you can rely on 23and Me.
When it comes to doing a DNA analysis for health, it’s mostly a battle fought between AncestryDNA and 23andMe. Here’s a quick run-down of each:
23andMe offers the only health test that’s authorized by the FDA. For this reason alone, 23andMe should be your first choice when searching for a DNA test kit to check for health conditions.
Not only do you get health results with this package, but you’ll also receive a full ancestry DNA test, making this an excellent deal for $199!
Key Features:
It’s no surprise that the FDA-approved genetic testing kit would best assess your health-related genetic data and predispositions.
23andMe is miles ahead of any competitor in the market if you’re looking for a one-time DNA test kit with no added effort.
Regardless of their effectiveness or accuracy when it comes to health, at-home DNA tests chiefly excel at exploring ancestry.
While the exact location that your ancestors inhabited may not be revealed, you’ll learn about the origins of your genetics and your ethnic makeup. Further, many services offer to connect you with distant relatives and family members, but this option is often gated behind a monthly subscription.
Ancestry.com is one of the oldest and largest consumer DNA testing companies, with vast experience in genealogy and family history network building. They have one of the biggest DNA databases in the industry, increasing your chances of finding a distant relative to add to the family tree.
It has earned the position as the service that all else is compared to.
Two other well-known offerings - MyHeritage DNA and Living DNA - also compete in the ancestry DNA test niche, with slightly different focus targets.
With AncestryDNA’s Genetic Ethnicity Test, you’ll receive a full ethnicity estimate, learn more about your family history, and even have the option to build an online family tree!
You can track your ancestry across generations and map out your ancient relatives' unique migration patterns. Another cool feature is that this test can tell if you carry any neanderthal DNA.
Key Features:
MyHeritage DNA may not be as large as Ancestry.com, but it’s still a decent option.
Like AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA’s ancestry testing kit will help you discover your ethnic origins, expand your family tree, explore migration patterns, and delve into your family history. What sets it apart from AncestryDNA is that the kit only costs $49 with free delivery (from Amazon).
Key Features:
Winter Sale: $49, down from $89
MyHeritage DNA may not be as large as Ancestry.com, but it’s still a decent option.
Like AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA’s ancestry testing kit will help you discover your ethnic origins, expand your family tree, explore migration patterns, and delve into your family history. What sets it apart from AncestryDNA is that the kit only costs $49 with free delivery (from Amazon).
Key Features:
Winter Sale: Up to 25% off.
AncestryDNA comes out on top with its massive DNA database of samples and historical records. MyHeritage DNA has a lower price tag - minimized by a lack of return postage - but doesn’t have a comparable DNA database to power its DNA matching service.
Living DNA is a close second after AncestryDNA, adding an mtDNA and a yDNA screening on top of the autosomal test; they falter as well at the size of their DNA database, returning minimal DNA matching connections.
To sum it all up, the main competition in the field still comes down to AncestryDNA vs. 23andMe.
The best test between the two all depends on what your focus is - health or ancestry - with 23andMe being the king when it comes to a health test and AncestryDNA leading the way for ancestry tests.
Living DNA and MyHeritage are also valid options, especially if you’re on a budget.
Know Your DNA Reviews
Looking for a DNA test that's accurate and can tell you about your health and heritage?
