Where Can You Get the Best DNA Testing Kits? DNA testing kits have become super popular, and it's easy to see why. They're like opening a personal time capsule of your family history, health information, or even discovering fun quirks about your genes. Ready to learn more about yourself at a cellular level?
Best Option
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Ancestry is the obvious choice if you want to do a DNA test to find out more about where you come from or who you're related to. Over 22 million people have tested here, and created more than 130 million family trees (many of which are connected to DNA results). You can choose just the AncestryDNA kit or AncestryDNA + Traits (if you want to know if you're genetically likely to go bald, for example). Membership is optional, but we recommend a subscription if you're trying to really document your family tree with official records. The kits are affordably priced at $99 (for the one without Traits), but it's easy to snag it for half-price or less during Ancestry's frequent sales. We're addicted to using Ancestry to fill in all the leaves and branches on our family tree, and to connect with cousins far and wide. It's our most recommended DNA testing kit for all non-health-related purposes, easily earning a 5-star score.
Great
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MyHeritage started out as a family tree builder, expanding into DNA testing in 2016. Your results here will include an analysis of where your ancestors came from, across 2,000+ regions identified by this service's algorithms. You'll also be able to see your DNA matches from around the world - a compelling reason to consider these testing kits over the #1 option on our list. And, if you've already tested somewhere else, MyHeritage lets you upload your DNA for free, though you may want to subscribe to get access to advanced tools. If you're looking to find your relatives, and there's a good chance some of them live outside of the US, MyHeritage is a fantastic option for DNA testing.
Very Good
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With FamilyTree DNA, you can explore your family's roots through both autosomal and specialized Y-DNA or mtDNA testing - ideal if you're looking for detailed paternal or maternal lineage. You can also connect with living relatives up to five generations back and even upload DNA data from other sites for free. This company also collaborates with MyHeritage, allowing you to connect your DNA results to a family tree you build on the MH platform. However, keep in mind that this service has far fewer people tested (2 million compared with rivals' 8 million or 22+ million individuals), so you may want to have your DNA testing kit results available on multiple sites. Still, whether you're tracking down your extended family or curious about regional origins, FTDNA's testing kits offer a range of tools to enrich your research.
Good
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Living DNA can connect you with your ancestry details from anywhere in the world, but these test kits specialize in results for people of African or British Isles descent. Test prices are a little higher than what you'll find higher on our list, but if you've already tested somewhere else, you can upload your DNA for free here - and potentially connect to 50,000+ other users with profiles on Living DNA. This isn't the best choice if you're not sure that your roots go back to the UK or Africa, but it could be a great supplement if you've already done a DNA test on another platform.
Average
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Home DNA is a testing company you might have spotted on the shelf the last time you visited the pharmacy or even the OTC medication section of your grocery store. They've been around for quite a while and offer DNA tests that range from paternity and food sensitivity to pinpointing the cities your ancestors came from many generations ago. You'll pay anywhere from $69 to $199 for your kit, mostly depending on how in-depth you want your DNA to be processed. Home DNA is missing many services that consumers are looking for (like connecting with living relatives), but they've got friendly, knowledgeable support. And, their GPS Origins test in particular could help you get through an ancestry roadblock, especially if you're of Asian or African descent.
Fair
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Dynamic DNA Laboratories believes you can use a DNA testing kit to proactively manage your health - knowledge is power, and your DNA has a lot to tell you. Although they have a couple of tests that can be used for relationship purposes (paternity and siblingship), the rest of what they offer is focused on aspects of wellness like Nutrition, Fitness, Personality, and even "Wanderlust". You'll pay anywhere from $49 to $149 for most DNA tests here. But, customer satisfaction with Dynamic DNA Labs is low: reports aren't detailed enough, and updates on test processing and reports can be slow-to-nonexistent. We're not super-enthusiastic about what these DNA testing kits provide, earning Dynamic DNA Laboratories a lukewarm rating.
Subpar
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Nebula Genomics is the DNA testing service that takes the deepest dive into your genetics, offering whole-genome sequencing (instead of the 5% or less that many rivals cover). As you'd expect this depth comes at a price - either $249 or a whopping $899 for the kit and an additional required subscription to have ongoing access to your reports. This DNA test could be worth it if you're desperately trying to solve a medical mystery and you've got a geneticist on standby, but most people will find Nebula Genomics' reports hard to understand. And, with lots of negative feedback regarding the customer service of this company, we aren't enthusiastic about the overall value of Nebula Genomics' DNA testing kits.
Subpar
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myDNA's testing options have one goal: to help you learn more about your health at a genetic level. In business for 20 years and in partnership with its own lab, Gene by Gene, myDNA's test kits can theoretically help you to identify the root cause of your mysterious health conditions or to take preventative measures to extend your life and well-being. However, you can only get pricing by contacting the company for a quote, and there are lots of client reviews complaining that at any price, these DNA tests don't offer enough value. If you need in-depth genetic testing for health reasons, we'd recommend going with a higher-rated company instead of myDNA.
Weak
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23andMe has been one of the biggest names in home DNA testing kits for almost 20 years. While you can use them to connect with relatives and build your family tree, 23andMe's tests focus more deeply on health and wellness connections to genetic factors, like being predisposed to develop diabetes or cancer. You can even use 23andMe to access advice from clinicians who specialize in genetics. Unfortunately, though, 23andMe may not be around forever, plagued in recent years by significant data breaches and the looming threat of bankruptcy (which could mean that your DNA results are bought by a company that doesn't offer the same privacy and security promised by 23andMe). For all of those reasons, we no longer recommend 23andMe's DNA testing kits.
Poor
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CRI Genetics offers two deep dives into your DNA, either just your ancestry and some interesting traits, or all of that plus 80+ health reports. They claim that their DNA testing kits can take you back up to 150,000 years (!), and many people are excited to get their report back saying that they had long-ago ancestors in Kenya or Vietnam, despite thinking that their background was 100% Western European. But, we're not convinced of the accuracy of CRI Genetics' reports - and neither is the FTC, who got a $700K civil penalty levied against this company for false marketing, among other things. This isn't a DNA testing kit we trust to be accurate and to not ask for more money after the fact, so we'd recommend avoiding CRI Genetics in favor of one of the more reliable options on the market.
Continued from above...
DNA testing kits have become super popular, and it's easy to see why. They're like opening a personal time capsule of your family history, health information, or even discovering fun quirks about your genes. Ready to learn more about yourself at a cellular level?
Let's take a look at why you might want to take one of these tests, what information DNA testing kits can (and can't) provide, how accurate they are, and some helpful tips for choosing the right one. One of the most common motivations is ancestry. Many people want to know where their family history traces back to. Whether it's discovering you have roots in a different continent or confirming family lore, DNA tests often give people a deeper connection to their heritage.
There's also been a rise in interest for proving a close genetic connection to countries that offer "citizenship by descent": if your grandfather was, say, Italian and he was born after March 1861, you could use your DNA test (and the supporting documents you might find among the testing site's resources) as part of proving your relationship.
Then, there's the genetic health angle. Some tests go beyond ancestry and can tell you if you're predisposed to certain health conditions or traits. Imagine learning if you're likely to be lactose intolerant or if you carry a gene that increases your risk for certain diseases. It helps people make proactive decisions about their health or understand their family's medical history better.
Individuals also use DNA tests for finding living relatives. You might be interested in finding distant cousins or even uncovering long-lost family connections. Some DNA tests can match you with people who share portions of your DNA, helping you build a family tree with solid scientific backing. DNA testing kits have become a huge resource for people who were adopted or donor-conceived, enabling them to do some sleuthing and find out, based on who their DNA matches are, the identity of their biological parent(s).
Just be aware that taking a DNA test, especially those that offer connections with living matches, can be something of a Pandora's box. Current estimates from organizations like DNAngels say that anywhere from 5% to 29% of people taking a DNA test experience an "NPE" - a non-paternal event or sometimes referred to as "not parent expected". Instagram reels and TikTok videos are full of test-takers who were stunned to learn that their dad isn't actually their biological father, or that they have 25 half-siblings through sperm donor conception. Most people won't have that kind of "DNA surprise", but you should understand that it's a possibility.
When deciding on a DNA testing kit, here are a few key factors to consider:
To help you choose a DNA testing kit, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have evaluated, tested, and ranked some of today's most popular services. The one that's right for you depends on what you hope to learn, so take your time exploring your options. We're confident that you'll be able to uncover fascinating insights about yourself and your family history while having a little fun with science along the way.
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