The Best DNA Testing Kits

Monday, May 12th

2025 DNA Testing Kit Reviews

Ancestry

• AncestryDNA testing: $99
• AncestryDNA + Traits: $119
• Seasonal promos can bring the price as low as $39
• Over 130 million family trees and over 22 million people tested
• Free to build a family tree
• Memberships for access to records and enhanced tools
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

When it comes to DNA testing, especially for the purpose of connecting with living relatives and past ancestors, there's no service on the market that can compete with Ancestry. With over 22 million people tested, more than 130 million family trees (some connected to those DNA test results), and an everyday price under $100, it'd be no surprise if this was the first place you turn for a DNA test. We've used the Ancestry platform extensively, and it's our favorite option too.

No health results, only trait reports

Before we dive into what AncestryDNA can do for you, let's take some time to go over what these DNA testing kits will not provide. The main limitation here is that there are no health-related results. Several years ago, Ancestry did away with that service (possibly to avoid some of the complications its biggest industry rival faced with respect to data breaches and other liabilities). However, this platform still makes it possible to see your likelihood of having inherited certain traits, like a widow's peak hairline or freckles, but take that more as a "for fun” feature and not anything that's going to be overly meaningful for your health. That traits access comes either with an upgraded DNA test ($119) or with any paid membership.

Hold out for a sale price

Looking strictly at the most basic AncestryDNA kit with no access to traits, the everyday price is $99. But, we've watched Ancestry for long enough to know that there are promotional discounts for almost every major holiday (especially Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas), so if you can be just a little bit patient, you should never need to pay full price. We've seen the cost go as low as $39 in the last few months alone.

Results in 6-8 weeks

What's included with your AncestryDNA testing kit purchase? You'll get the usual oral swab with a postage-paid return envelope, and it'll take 6-8 weeks to get the results - although we've seen people get them more quickly, expect it to take that long if you bought your test during a big sale (because there will be more kits for Ancestry to process). When your results come in, you'll be able to see two main things: your ancestral origins spanning over 3,000 geographical regions, and your DNA matches.

Updates can shift your percentages over time

Again, over the years we've had our DNA on Ancestry, we've seen quite a few changes to the ancestral origins feature. As they make updates to their algorithms (and as more and more people use their service to test their DNA), you'll see your percentages shift. So, we recommend that you take what you see there with a grain (or several) of salt - that 1% "Ashkenazi Jewish” in your latest report might drop off with a subsequent update, or the same might happen with one of the "communities” or "journeys” you see attached to your DNA results. On the other hand, if it's telling you now that you're 50% Italian, it's unlikely that that will ever completely disappear - but the percentage might shift here and there. Just be aware that that's normal, and don't get overly attached to the numbers (especially for aspects associated with a very small percentage of your results).

Best platform for finding living relatives

Not only is Ancestry fun for checking out your heritage, but it's also the world's best platform for connecting with living relatives. You might be interested in that out of sheer curiosity, but for many users, AncestryDNA unlocks the key to their identity: thousands and thousands of people who were adopted, donor-conceived, or who simply don't know the identity of their parent(s) have been able to solve the puzzle via matching users on Ancestry. If that's something that interests you, it's well worth your time to read up on how this site makes it easier to sift through your matches, from separating out your results initially by "Parent 1” and "Parent 2”, to providing the option of color-coding your matches to see which users line up with which families in your tree.

Turn privacy on or off

Be aware that you don't have to make your DNA test results viewable (unless you do want to see your matches), and you can turn that visibility off and on at will. So, if you value your privacy but you'd really like to take a peek at who you're related to, you can toggle it on for a look and then back off again. (We even heard of someone who was looking for her biological parents; one day, a DNA match came up as her father, just long enough for her to grab a screenshot before he ostensibly made his DNA test results private again.)

Free family tree, paid tools

Speaking of trees, you can create one for free; that's optional on Ancestry, but it's helpful if you're using this DNA testing kit primarily to figure out your roots and branches, so to speak. That's also where Ancestry's paid memberships are going to be of interest. They're not cheap, but they're an extraordinary resource if you're documenting your family tree:

• U.S. Discovery: $24.99/month (on sale at the time of this review for $19.99/month) or $16.58/month if you pay for a year upfront. This tier gives you access to all US, PR, and USVI records (birth, marriage, death, etc.), special collections for African Americans and others, and other tools for saving photos, memories, and so on.
• World Explorer: $39.99/month (on sale for $34.99 during this review) or $24.08/month if you pay for a year in advance. It comes with the benefits of the U.S. Discovery plan, plus access to all of Ancestry's international records.
• All Access: $59.99/month (discounted to $54.99/month when we visited) or $35.75/month when paying annually. Choose this subscription for all of the perks from U.S. Discovery and World Explorer, plus a Newspapers subscription, the ability to invite up to 4 members to share your plan (so divide that cost by 5 and it gets affordable really quickly), and a Fold3 subscription for additional military records.
• Pro Tools: if you have any one of those three memberships, you can add on this subscription. It's an incredible way to really make sure that the family tree you're building is accurate: it has a tree checker (looks for errors and possible duplicates), charts and reports, a geographic mapper, and tree insights. But, by far, our favorite Pro Tool is the "enhanced shared matches”. When you're looking through all of your DNA matches, this particular feature will show you not only how much DNA you share with each of them, but also how each of those matches is related to one another. In other words, you don't have to sleuth out if two people on your list are siblings, parent-child, or simply distant cousins of each other. Pricing can vary, but we typically see this as an add-on of $10 per month.

As much or as little support as you need

Confused yet? Don't worry. Ancestry does a terrific job of providing support and guidance, through its Ancestry Academy videos (on topics ranging from Navigating Wills and Probates to DNA 101, help menu options that include an entire community of users and Ancestry's own support team, even customer stories to help you get inspired.

Terrific reputation

If you can't tell, we're power users of everything Ancestry has to offer, especially with respect to its DNA testing kits. But you don't have to just take our word for it, reputation-wise: even the Better Business Bureau gives the company a perfect "A+” rating and accreditation. Sure, you'll find some complaints, often regarding subscriptions (either that people didn't realize they were paying for or ones that wound up being necessary in order to get more access to records and resources they thought were free), but on the whole, this is a very well-loved service.

Best resource for heritage-related DNA testing

If you're considering the purchase of a DNA testing kit specifically to learn more about your family tree, there's no competitor that can even come close to rivaling Ancestry. It's your best bet for connecting with your living family members, and you've got the option to add memberships to more fully flesh out your tree with census records, obituaries, and much more. (And, pro tip: you can download your DNA test data from Ancestry and upload it to some of the other sites on our list, usually at no cost. This way, you can "fish in all ponds”, as they say.) Ancestry is our hands-down favorite place for DNA testing kits.

My Heritage

• $89 for DNA testing kit (on sale for $36 at the time of this review)
• 30-day free trial of Complete subscription
• Complete subscription priced from $149-$399 per year after trial
• 8.6 million people in their DNA database
• Results in about 4 weeks
• Can upload DNA test results from other services
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2003

MyHeritage is an international genealogy platform launched in 2003 in Israel, known for combining family tree-building with genetic testing to provide a comprehensive family history experience. Originally focused on helping people build family trees through software, MyHeritage expanded its offerings in 2016 to include DNA testing, positioning itself as one of the primary competitors to other genealogy and DNA testing services (like the others you'll find on our list). The company now operates in over 40 languages, serving millions of users worldwide, with databases covering billions of historical records and millions of family trees. And, MyHeritage has earned plenty of positive feedback, including an "A+” and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.

No subscription required with basic DNA testing kit

MyHeritage lets you start out simply by taking their DNA test, no subscription required. It's list priced at $89 plus shipping, but at the time of our evaluation, their kit was on sale for just $36. You'll be able to see your ethnicity breakdown from among the 2,000+ geographic regions identified by MyHeritage's algorithms.

About 8 million potential relatives

You'll also be able to see all of the relatives who share your DNA and make connections with them. We will point out, though, that there aren't as many here as on our #1 DNA testing kit platform (8 million vs. 22 million, roughly): when we compared our DNA matches on the two platforms, most of those who came up on MyHeritage were second cousins or beyond, and it was challenging to establish how, exactly, we were related. (The rival platform breaks down matches by "Parent 1 and Parent 2” if there's no maternal or paternal match, but MyHeritage just shows you everyone you're related to - it's up to you to sleuth out the connections.)

Get Complete for the most tools

If you're really trying to use DNA to dig into your family tree, you may want to take advantage of the 30-day trial of MyHeritage Complete. It lets you build out that tree (beyond the 250-entry limit included for free) and support the individuals you place in it with documentation: there are over 21 billion historical records available on MyHeritage, with new ones added regularly. There are various plans and packages to consider, depending on whether you prefer just to enhance the tools for building your family tree, just the historical records, or a combination of both. You'll find that via the Price List link at the bottom of the MyHeritage site, but during our recent visit, those prices ranged from $89 to $399 per year.

Broad spectrum of non-US individuals test here

The biggest advantage we've found with using MyHeritage is the ability to connect with living relatives around the globe. While their DNA database is less than half the size of our #1 DNA testing kit provider, MyHeritage's reach extends much further than its biggest rival. For example, our MyHeritage matches included third cousins living in Denmark. If you've got family history mysteries that take you outside of the US - which is the case for most people, if you go back far enough in the tree - MyHeritage could be your best bet.

Upload data from rival DNA testing sites for free

Another plus: you can upload your DNA data from other testing services and see who your matches are. You'll still need to upgrade to a membership to access all of the tools MyHeritage offers, but we appreciate that this company offers a way to not have to test twice.

Get skilled up

And, don't skip the resources found in the Knowledge Base on MyHeritage. Click on the link for DNA and you'll find over 100 resources that include webinars, videos, articles and more. How about "DNA Matchmaking Made Easy on MyHeritage”? Or "The Top 10 DNA Features on MyHeritage”? Whether you're just curious about your ethnicity or you're looking for your birth family as an adoptee, MyHeritage wants you to have the tools to use their platform effectively.

Trustworthy, useful DNA testing for family history purposes

MyHeritage comes in as a solid second-place choice for DNA testing, specifically if you're looking to find out more about your family tree and/or ethnicity. You'll definitely want to have your DNA on MyHeritage if you're exploring connections outside of the US, whether you buy your testing kit here or upload your data from another service. It doesn't have a broad enough database of tested users to overtake the #1 site on our list, but we can easily recommend MyHeritage as a trustworthy option for DNA testing kits.

Family Tree DNA

• Pricing ranges from $79 to $449 ($49 to $399 on sale)
• Multiple kinds of DNA testing (autosomal, mtDNA, Y-DNA)
• Can purchase single DNA testing kits or bundles
• Connect with living relatives
• Can upload your DNA from other sites at no cost
• Partnered with MyHeritage to build DNA-connected family tree
• Over 2 million people have tested here
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2000

FamilyTree DNA (FTDNA) is one of the longest-standing and most specialized consumer DNA testing companies, founded in 2000 in Houston, Texas. It was the first to offer direct-to-consumer DNA testing for genealogical purposes, focusing initially on Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing, which trace paternal and maternal lineages respectively. This approach still distinguishes FTDNA from many other companies, which mostly offer autosomal DNA tests. FTDNA's specialized tests allow users to explore deeper ancestral origins, including haplogroups, which can indicate ancient migratory paths of paternal or maternal ancestors.

Basic (but not deeply detailed) autosomal DNA testing available

Depending on what your goals are (and what DNA testing you may have already done), you can use FTDNA to give you a general overview of your heritage or to dig deeply into your maternal and paternal background. The basic autosomal DNA Family Finder package is FamilyTree DNA's starting point, regularly priced at $79 but on sale for $49 at the time of this review. This testing kit shows you living relatives within the last 5 generations, and genetic males will have an intermediate Y-DNA haplogroup associated with their results. You'll be given a percentage breakdown of your ethnic/geographic origins (although we find FTDNA's results to be less detailed than what we got from the #1 DNA testing service on our list).

Take a deep dive into your maternal and/or paternal DNA

However, if you need to go deeper - maybe you're an adoptee who needs as much information as you can get, in order to identify your birth mother and father - you'll want to consider FTDNA's tests that analyze mtDNA and Y-DNA. The mtFull Sequence kit costs $159 (or $129 on sale) and makes it possible to see and connect with your maternal line relatives in their database. Similarly, there are three Y-DNA options, classified according to how many markers are tested: Y-37 ($119 list, $99 on sale), Y-111 ($249 list, $209 on sale), and Big Y-700 ($449 list, $399 on sale). Just remember (or be aware) that if you are genetically female, you would need to have your brother or father tested to use any Y-DNA test and see where your paternal line came from. Fortunately, if you're interested in multiple DNA testing types, FTDNA offers bundles to save you a bit over buying them individually.

Same company behind multiple services

Digging into FamilyTree DNA is where we realized how much crossover there is among several of the DNA testing kit options on our list. We learned that Gene by Gene is the lab behind not just FTDNA but also MyHeritage and myDNA. In fact, FamilyTree DNA no longer has its own family tree builder tool on the site: instead, you connect your FTDNA account with MyHeritage, so that your DNA results can be linked with the tree you construct on MH. However, FTDNA is no longer providing any kind of health results with your DNA testing; it seems strange that they don't still offer that connection, given that Gene by Gene is the "engine” behind the health-related DNA testing offered at myDNA. Long story short, you can currently use FamilyTree DNA for heritage/ancestry purposes, but if you want to solve medical mysteries, you'll need to visit its partner site myDNA directly.

Prepare for a learning curve when sorting matches

Using FTDNA to sort through matching relatives is a little cumbersome compared with its higher-ranking rivals. That's partly due to the depth of details of the DNA testing here: most competitors don't even offer the capability of mtDNA and Y-DNA analysis, but you'll see those results (when available) on every match in your list here. To see which of your DNA matches are also related to each other, you have to click a person of interest and then the "in common” button, but doing that gave us conflicting results with the Matrix tool also offered by FTDNA: we chose two people we were confident were related, and the Matrix results said no, while the "in common” list did display them together. Expect a pretty steep learning curve as you figure out how to make FamilyTree DNA useful for your research.

Not as many DNA matches as other sites

You also shouldn't expect the same quantity of matches on FTDNA as you'll find on our top-rated DNA testing kit site - or even as there is on sister site MyHeritage. Our #1 service showed us over 30,000 DNA matches, while FamilyTree DNA only had about 5,000. Those also tended to be more distant matches (under 200 cM, or in other words, further back than a third-cousin level of relationship), and it didn't seem to capture any of the international matches that we spotted when we used MyHeritage.

Upload your DNA test results from other sites for free

However, it costs nothing to take your DNA results from another platform and upload them to FTDNA. You could use that to see what your initial matches provide and then decide if you'd like to upgrade to more in-depth mtDNA or Y-DNA analysis.

Good DNA testing kits for more in-depth ancestry results

Overall, we give FamilyTree DNA a solid rating, supported by the company's "A+” and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. If you've already taken a DNA test somewhere else but you still need some answers - ones that might only be solved by looking more deeply and specifically at your maternal and paternal lineage - this is going to be one of the only kits on the market that can do that for you. Although you may not want to make this the first or only place you turn for DNA testing (because of the more limited database of potential relatives), FTDNA earns our recommendation as a reliable service.

Living DNA

• Primarily focused on the British Isles and African ancestry
• $124 for DNA ancestry kit ($90 on sale)
• $145 for DNA ancestry + Neanderthal ($90 on sale)
• $225 for DNA ancestry + wellbeing kit ($179 on sale)
• Targeted health tests available
• Shipping costs extra
• Results in 6-8 weeks
• Can upload your DNA from other sites at no cost
• In business since 2004

Living DNA is a UK-based DNA testing company dating back to 2004 (as DNA Worldwide). Although the company specializes in ancestry testing for people with heritage in Africa and the British Isles, they've established lab operations in the USA to make it easier for more people to take advantage of their service.

Might or might not have wellness testing for US clients

Fairly recently to this evaluation, Living DNA had started offering health and wellness testing, plus in-person blood testing. We're pretty sure that the latter is only offered in the UK, especially since we didn't see any options for scheduling appointments at a "collection centre” even when the site was set to US while we browsed. We were still able to add one of those tests to our cart, but it wasn't clear if we were supposed to draw the blood ourselves or... take it to our friendly neighborhood phlebotomist? Maybe skip the health/wellness testing at Living DNA...

3 types of ancestry DNA tests

Fortunately, when it comes to ancestry-type kits, there are three main DNA testing options available to people living in the US:

• DNA Ancestry: from deep ancestry to DNA matching, this kit is regularly priced at $124 and was on sale for $90 + shipping at the time of our review.
• DNA Ancestry + wellbeing: $179 on sale or $225 list price, you'll get all the advanced ancestry reports of the first kit, plus reports that give you insight into your body's nutritional responses and overall fitness characteristics, as expressed by your DNA.
• DNA Ancestry + Neanderthal: this test was also priced at $90 at the time of our review, down from a list price of $145. Wondering how much DNA you share with Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestors? This is the kit for you.

Limited but lovely connections with UK relatives

We wish that Living DNA made it easier to find information about their family matching service on their website prior to signing up. Our research indicates that you can expect about 50,000 people who have opted into the service on this platform - barely a drop in the bucket compared with the tens of millions found through our #1 service. But, we spoke with a number of people who have used Living DNA to make connections with their relatives in the UK in particular. The verdict? While the results are often quite limited, every single one of those we asked said that their new-found relatives were absolutely delightful and so happy to "meet” their cousins from across the pond.

Free uploads of competitor DNA testing kit results

And, the good news is that if you've already got DNA results from one of the major competitor DNA testing sites (especially the ones on our list), you can upload them for free on Living DNA. You'll get a very basic 8-continent profile ("Congrats! You're 100% European!”, *yawn*) and two well-being trait samples (usually Vitamin D and strength training), and you can opt into the family matching option if you're eager to find your own family members on the platform. It can take a few days for your uploaded DNA to process (although we got ours processed in just a few hours), and they run the matching service every 1-2 weeks, so don't be surprised if you don't get any "you've got a match” notifications for several weeks after your DNA has been processed. (And yes, Living DNA will definitely try to upsell you. Neanderthal? Viking? You know you're tempted. They're about $25 each.)

Good choice for UK and African DNA testing

We've increased Living DNA's rating since our last review - mostly because from everything we saw, they're doing really well within their tidy little niche of African and British Isles DNA testing. If that's where you think your family tree got its roots, it's definitely worth testing here - because you'll get more results to several degrees of magnitude. However, if you're looking for the most well-rounded DNA testing or you have no idea where your ancestors came from, you'll be better off starting with one of the bigger companies on our list.

Home DNA

• Tests range from $69 to $199
• Can pinpoint ancestry to the town/city level in some areas
• Tests available specific to African and Asian ancestry
• DNA testing also offered for paternity cases, skin care, weight, and food/pet sensitivity
• Free shipping on all tests
• Tests processed in their own labs
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

Home DNA was one of the first companies to try and make at-home testing available to everyone - that's why you'll even see their test kits on the shelves of familiar drugstores and big-box retailers near you. When you use one of their DNA testing kits, you can rest assured that it'll be handled strictly in-house: all of their processing is done in Home DNA's own labs. That's a plus because it means they destroy your sample and never sell your DNA to third parties (and you won't always have that guarantee with rival providers, believe it or not).

Many types of DNA testing for ancestry and health

There are several testing kits to choose from at Home DNA. Many people use this company for their paternity testing, if customer feedback online is any indication. There are also options for food and pet sensitivity, weight management, and skin care, if you're interested. But, since the majority of people looking for DNA testing have ancestry in mind, let's focus on what this company has to offer in that regard. The three most basic are priced at $69 and give you a starting point for your autosomal, maternal, or paternal lineage. (Just make sure on that last one that, if you're a female, you submit your father's or brother's DNA. You'll find that clearly explained in the test description.)

Some kits only available through third-party retailers

There's also a mid-tier test at $124 that gives you a more comprehensive DNA analysis, comparing your results to over 1,000 reference populations and potentially taking you back a thousand years or more. Be aware, though, that this test isn't available through the Home DNA website; you'll have to look for it at a retail location (like a drugstore).

Origins tests can pinpoint specific towns of ancestors

Finally, Home DNA's top tiers of DNA testing are the GPS Origins kits: one with a broad focus, one with a focus on individuals of African descent, and a third for those of Asian descent. Home DNA says that these can go as far as to tell you the cities and towns your ancestors came from, many generations back. You'll want to read through the explanation of each of these kits and take a peek at the sample reports, so that you have a good understanding of what you will (and won't) learn, because these kits are priced at $199.

Some limitations to be aware of

Also, understand there's a lot you won't get with these DNA tests. Home DNA doesn't offer any kind of connection service with living relatives. You'd be using these kits to get information on your ancestry and maybe guide your research, but you'll be doing that research on a different platform. Also, while many competitors allow you to upload your results from other services, and Home DNA used to provide that as an option, we got a "product not found” error when we clicked on the link. Apparently, the company discontinued that feature several years ago.

Easier to find the needle in the haystack

Overall, Home DNA's services are really limited and not going to give you the type of results you're probably thinking of when you imagine DNA testing kits. However, there's one area that might be useful that we'd like to point out. We reached out to this company's toll-free number with a real-world situation: an adoptee who knows (from her testing with the #1 service on our list) that her birth mother was likely a recent immigrant from the former Yugoslavia when she gave birth to her. Could the GPS Origins test be used to make the haystack slightly smaller for finding the proverbial needle of where her birth mother's family came from? We spoke with several very personable reps at Home DNA, and ultimately landed on the answer that yes, the GPS Origins testing kit could indeed give us an idea of what part of that region her mother's family were from (northern Serbia).

Good reputation but not much feedback

Under both the name of Home DNA and its parent company (DNA Diagnostics Center), the Better Business Bureau offers an "A+” rating and accreditation. There were only a handful of complaints filed there over the last three years. There's not a ton of reviews for the company (and many of them are related to paternity testing, not the typical ancestry type we've evaluated here), and the ones for ancestry itself are lukewarm. The results just aren't remotely as robust as what comes with the better-known names in DNA testing.

Limited but could still be useful

Still, we've boosted Home DNA up in our ratings, largely because of how helpful their customer service team was when we reached out over the phone. Not only were they pleasant and knowledgeable, but they were also very quick to let us know that buying their tests directly from the website is not always going to be the least expensive route to go. But, whether you buy your test directly or you've received it through some other way (maybe as a gift?), just be sure to choose the advanced processing to get the most accurate, detailed DNA testing results.

Dynamic DNA Labs

• Strong focus on health-related issues testable via DNA
• Proactive health tests range from $49 to $149
• $195 for court-admissible paternity testing
• $249 for court-admissible siblingship testing
• Testing also available for Polygenic Risk and Cannabis response

The DNA testing kits at Dynamic DNA Laboratories are home health tests designed to help you "make better choices for your body”. Whether you're trying to determine the ideal diet for weight loss and management or you want insights into your body's ability to metabolize CBD and THC before you begin using medicinal (or recreational) cannabis, this company can help.

Get a discount... eventually

When you first visit the Dynamic DNA Labs website, look for a pop-up. At the time of our review, we were offered a $25 discount for clicking on the "Redeem Now” button. Unfortunately, when we did so, we got a "link is not currently active” error message. (*womp womp*) But, as we continued to navigate around the site, we got another pop-up that said the discount would be automatically applied at checkout. (*woohoo!*)

Tests multiple dimensions of health determined by DNA

So, let's consider all of the different DNA testing kids you can access (with or without that discount). In the Proactive Health area, here's what Dynamic DNA Labs offers:

• Nutrition ($149): this test analyzes your DNA for 43 genetic traits related to eating behaviors, nutritional needs, diet, and beyond. Your report gives you nutritional insights to optimize your health, custom meal plans and guidance. This panel includes tests for reactions to peanuts, gluten, lactose, and more. Think of this as your annual physical's blood work but on steroids (...not literally...).
• Fitness ($149): if you want to get the most out of your workouts, this DNA testing kit can give you personalized recommendations for cardiovascular health, performance, and recovery - all based on your genetic profile.
• Skin ($129): this test includes 25 genetic traits that influence skin health and aging. If you're worried about UV damage and repair, your skin's nutritional needs, or how to treat your skin with an eye towards anti-aging, this is the right testing kit.
• Personality ($129): ever wondered if you're more predisposed than most to addiction or dependence? Or to risk-taking behaviors? Those are just a few of the 30 traits included in the report for this DNA test.
• Wanderlust ($49): of all of Dynamic DNA Laboratories' tests, this one made us smile the most. We learned that "DRD4-7R” is considered the "wanderlust gene”, and if you carry at least 7 repeats of it in your DNA, you're more likely to engage in "novelty-seeking activities” (which could be expressed as travel, but also drug experimentation or sexual promiscuity).

Paternity and sibling DNA testing offered

In the Family category, this company offers two tests: Paternity and Siblingship (priced at $195 and $249, respectively). Not to be confused with an ancestry test that might tell you if you're likely to have been a Viking or a Visigoth, this Dynamic DNA Laboratories' pair of tests is used to confirm someone as a biological father or the relationship between siblings (or half-siblings). These tests are court-admissible (if needed). So, you could use this test to confirm such relationships if, for example, you've used DNA cousin/aunt/sibling matches on rival platforms to figure out who your birth father is (assuming that person prefers not to use the big-name service or doesn't trust that service's results).

Call for pricing on Polygenic Risk DNA testing

Another health-related category of testing offered through Dynamic DNA Labs is Polygenic Risk. It evaluates over 700,000 variants across your genome to evaluate your risk of developing 15 conditions like Alzheimer's Disease, Breast Cancer (BRCA1/2), Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and so on. You'll have to contact the company for pricing and to place your order, though.

Test your responsiveness to cannabis

Finally, you can use this company to find out your potential side effects from using cannabis, your THC and CBD metabolism, plus get dosing and product selection guidelines. This DNA testing kit costs $169.

Test-takers aren't thrilled here

But, client feedback for Dynamic DNA Labs is pretty lackluster. Complaints describe getting no communication after sending in their samples, feeling like the DNA test was just a way to get customers to buy supplements supposedly targeted towards findings in their results, and very vague ancestry reports that told people they were of "European descent” without being more specific. (But, FYI, we spoke with a representative at Dynamic DNA Labs who confirmed that they no longer do any kind of ancestry-type testing - simply because they can't compete with the "big guys” in the industry.)

Low scores on Trustpilot

Health reports were often mentioned as being similarly lacking in detail for the conditions that the clients were most hoping to address. While we didn't find a listing for Dynamic DNA Labs with the Better Business Bureau, the company is rated as "poor” on Trustpilot for its 2.7-star rating average and for not replying to negative reviews.

Not a DNA testing kit we recommend

For all of those reasons, we're keeping Dynamic DNA Labs at a below-average rating. You don't get nearly enough for what you pay for, your results are likely to be disappointingly lacking in details, and the customer service here is anything but on point. Choose a higher-ranked DNA testing kit on our list.

Nebula Genomics

• $249 for Deep Whole Genome Sequencing
• $899 for Ultra Deep Whole Genome Sequencing
• Both plans require a subscription (extra fee)
• Ancestry analysis available via partnership with YFull
• Founded by the man behind the CRISPR-Cas9 (gene editing) laboratory
• "B+” rated and accredited by the BBB

If your sole reason for wanting a DNA testing kit is to take the deepest possible dive into your genetics, Nebula Genomics will definitely grab your attention. The company's founder is Professor George Church of Harvard Medical School and MIT. He's considered to be a pioneer in the development of DNA sequencing, and his laboratories are responsible for the development of CRISPR-Cas9, the tool at the forefront of genetic therapy and editing. It doesn't get more science-based than that.

Scan your entire genome, not just 5% or less

The biggest advantage Nebula Genomics' DNA testing offers over its rivals is the thoroughness of the scan that's done: where most available-to-the-public tests scan 5% of your DNA or less, what you get here scans your whole genome. That should make it pretty easy to understand why individuals trying to solve health mysteries would prefer Nebula Genomics over rival DNA testing providers.

Most expensive DNA testing kits on our list

But, that depth comes at a price, so brace yourself:

• Deep Whole Genome Sequencing: list price of $637, discounted to $249 at the time of our evaluation. You get an ancestry report, a list of all predispositions, detection of rare genetic mutations, and a 30x reading and decoding of your DNA (to make sure that it's highly accurate).
• Ultra Deep Whole Genome Sequencing: list price of $2102, discounted to $899 at the time of our review. It includes the same features as Deep but, well, deeper. The main difference is that your DNA is read and decoded 100 times for ultra-high accuracy, allowing your ancestry report to go even further.

You'll need a membership to see your reports

But, that's not where the hit to your wallet will end. Both DNA testing kits here require a Nebula Membership for ongoing access to your reports and updates. If you purchase the Lifetime subscription for $295, it really only covers the first three years; you'll then be charged $19.99/year until you cancel. Otherwise, you can pay $12.49/month... indefinitely. If you cancel your Nebula Membership, you only retain the rights to your downloaded DNA; all reports and tools will be closed off to you.

Reputation with the BBB isn't 100% positive

Nebula Genomics has gotten itself better-established since our previous review. They've received a "B+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, for starters. But, that grade from the BBB is also indicative of the 60+ complaints filed against Nebula Genomics in the last three years, more than half of which came in over the last 12 months. Here's what makes us really nervous: every single one of the BBB complaints we read through over the last 6 months or so said that Nebula Genomics delayed the processing of their DNA testing kit, and then charged the customer $35 to ship out another kit. When you're potentially spending more than $1,000 for a full genome sequencing, you should not only get faster turnaround times, but you should also expect that the company would automatically send you a replacement test if needed. It's hard for us to believe that every single one of these customers failed to collect enough DNA for testing when they sent in their kit the first time around.

Clients are often unhappy with the results (or lack of them)

The feedback is similar on Trustpilot. You'll see the occasional compliment from happy clients who didn't mind how long it took Nebula Genomics to get their results back to them, but the vast majority of clients say things like "update subscription is a scam” or "didn't get my results after waiting for a year”. Others complained that there's nothing easy-to-understand about the results when you do get them; as one person put it, "Unless you'll be able to bring this data to a geneticist, what you get is totally useless.”

Iffy relationship with YFull

We're also left feeling less than confident in Nebula Genomics' service because of the company's partnership with YFull for ancestry analysis. YFull is a third-party company that started in Russia (though their HQ is possibly in Spain now), and while it's optional to transfer your genetic data over to YFull (for the purpose of accessing their mtDNA and Y-DNA databases), client complaints mentioned having a hard time logging onto the YFull site to view their reports there.

Not even close to our favorite DNA testing kit

We give Nebula Genomics a somewhat begrudging lower rating. We don't like many aspects of this DNA testing service and aren't very confident that they're going to offer you world-class customer support. But, because there aren't many options out there that provide the depth of DNA analysis that Nebula Genomics offers (assuming you ever get your sample analyzed), we have to put this service out there as a possibility if you really do need the kind of results that will take a geneticist to decode (pun intentional).

myDNA

• DNA testing focused on health and wellness, not ancestry
• 4 main DNA testing types: whole genome, whole exome, pharmacogenomics, comprehensive health
• Most pricing is available by quote only
• In business for over 20 years

myDNA and its affiliated lab, Gene by Gene, are strongly focused on using DNA as a means of understanding your health at a cellular level, from genetic analysis of factors that can be used by you and your doctors to take proactive steps towards a better life, to digging in deep to find the genetic components behind conditions you're already struggling with. The company is based in Houston, Texas, and has been analyzing genetic data for over two decades.

Several types of DNA testing kits here

There are four categories of services offered through myDNA's testing:

• Whole Exome Sequencing (inquire for a quote): this DNA testing kit is a good next step if other tests (like bloodwork) haven't been able to identify the cause of disease. It takes a look at the 1-2% of your genome that is responsible for nearly 85% of disease-causing mutations. This test provides a cardiovascular panel (174+ genes), oncology (113 genes), a renal-kidney panel (176 genes), interpretation of immunodeficiency (50 genes) and more. You should expect it to take up to 25 business days to process your sample once it's been received.
• Whole Genome Sequencing (inquire for a quote): this in-depth test includes all of the screening of the whole exome service, but expands to include both coding and non-coding regions of the genome. It also includes a full cardiovascular panel (174+ genes), oncology (113 genes), a renal-kidney panel (176 genes), interpretation of immunodeficiency (50 genes) and more. This takes about 21-25 business days too.
• Pharmacogenomics (inquire for pricing): if you want some genetic insights into how you may respond to medications, this is the category for you. At myDNA, you can opt for a multi-category medication PGx test (covers over 160 medications across a spectrum of uses), a psychotropic medication PGx test (over 40 medications), or the Gene PGx MTHFR test (evaluating your response to folate).
• Comprehensive Health: this test covers 92 genes responsible for athletic performance, detoxification (chemical sensitivity and drug metabolism), digestion, DNA protection and repair, energy, hormones, inflammation and longevity, plus stress and cognitive performance. However, myDNA just provides the testing and reporting; you have to click over to a third-party site (Reveal My DNA or Any Lab Test Now) to order the testing kits. And, there was never any pricing given for what this test would cost.

All of that feels unnecessarily confusing and opaque, especially when you look at other DNA testing kits that give it to you straight, even when it's going to be expensive.

Negative feedback in recent months

Although the last time we evaluated myDNA we were able to give it a positive recommendation - based on some limited but solid reviews that had come in from clients - we can't do that now. And, again, that's largely based on customer comments being negative on the whole. Rants left within a few months of our evaluation called their DNA testing results "absolute rubbish” for getting things wrong (like telling a client that she wasn't lactose intolerant when she very much was), or nearly useless for providing results that were almost too small to read (on both computer screens and the app).

It doesn't stop there

And, speaking of the app, there are dozens of complaints about myDNA on both app stores, like "zero data after taking your money” and "poor user experience”. Here and there you'll find someone who got actionable advice with their DNA testing results from this company, but the vast majority of customers wouldn't recommend spending money here.

Dropped down our list

We've dropped myDNA down in our ratings. It isn't the absolute worst company on the market, but it's got some big-time drawbacks. You'll get no direction in terms of your ancestral family history, and the reports that come out regarding your health might be too limited (or too illegible) to be of much use to you. You've got options to consider that are higher on our list, so you can safely pass on using myDNA's testing kits.

23 and Me

• $119 for Ancestry service, often discounted to $60 or less
• $199 for Health + Ancestry service
• Premium and Total Health add-ons available
• Can access 55+ health reports that meet FDA requirements
• In business since 2006
• Over 12 million DNA testing kits sold

23andMe knows that there are a myriad of reasons why you might be interested in a DNA testing kit, from getting a deeper understanding of your predisposition for certain health concerns to figuring out if you're really as Irish as you've always been told. Whatever your interest, 23andMe wants to say "Welcome to you” as you receive their easy-to-digest results that put all of the science into terms you'll have no trouble understanding. Should you become one of the more than 12 million people that have used 23andMe since the company got its start in 2006? While we'd love to say yes - after all, this used to be our #1 pick - read on to see why our answer to that question has changed.

Options for testing both health and heritage here

The first choice you'll make when considering 23andMe is which service you prefer: the basic Ancestry test or the Health + Ancestry option. Here's what you get with each one:

• Ancestry: at a list price of $119 but with frequent discounts that often drop the price to $59 or lower, this test gives you ancestry and trait reports (around 80+ genotypes). If you opt in, you can also share your results with other 23andMe users to access the DNA Relative Finder and create your family tree.
• Health + Ancestry: priced at $199, this more advanced DNA testing kit gives you all of the features of the basic Ancestry service, but you get 150+ genotyping reports. You also gain access to a Family Health History Tree (allowing you to easily share your family health background with your medical providers), 10+ Health Predisposition reports, 5+ Wellness reports, and Carrier Status reports on selected hereditary conditions.

Upgrade features

But, that's not where 23andMe's features end. With the basic Ancestry plan, you can opt into the Premium or the Total Health packages; Total Health is also available with the Health + Ancestry package. This is what you can expect with those upgrades:

• Premium: priced at $268 for the first year (but at a discounted rate of $199 at the time of our evaluation), this plan auto-renews every year for $69. It gives you 190+ genotyping reports, 40+ Health Predisposition reports, 10+ wellness reports, your Family Health History Tree, Pharmacogenetics reports, enhanced ancestry features (like advanced filtering on the Relative Finder), Historical Matches to delve deeper into your genetic background, breast/prostate/colorectal cancer reports, and ongoing access to updated reports. Even though it's listed under the Basic 23andMe DNA testing kit, Premium is really more of an upgraded Health + Ancestry platform: you get all of the features of Health + Ancestry and then some, but it does put you into a membership plan that you'll either need to cancel before it renews or plan on paying whatever the renewal rate is from year-to-year.
• Total Health: brace yourself, because this top-tier service is priced at $999 for the first year and it renews at $499/year. What do you get at that price? 23andMe would say it's an investment in your "total health”, of course. It's got all of the benefits of Premium, plus in-person blood tests twice a year, updates to your "biological age” twice a year (presumably in conjunction with those blood tests), and genetics-informed clinical care with unlimited direct access to clinicians and one video consultation per year.

Upgrade at will, no extra spit required

Also, if you start out with one of 23andMe's lower-tier DNA testing services and decide to upgrade, we've got good news for you: you won't have to spit in a tube again. They'll just apply your original test to the new features and give you access to the reports, easy-peasy.

Compelling client stories

In terms of features and the overall user experience, there's been a lot to love about 23andMe. All it takes is a short browse through the Stories section of the website to see how their DNA testing kits have helped people get the genetic answers to lifelong struggles, to be proactive about their health, or to find long-lost relatives.

Company's future is uncertain

Unfortunately, though, the future of this DNA testing kit provider is up in the air. As of the date of this review, typing "23andMe” into a browser gave this as two of the top results: "23andMe bankruptcy” and "23andMe data breach”. (You can google that for yourself if you're interested...) We have no idea how long 23andMe will continue to do business, but lots of people are wondering what happens to their private data if this DNA testing company is sold.

Credit card required to see results

And, recent feedback across the board paints an ugly picture of 23andMe's customer service. Rant after rant describes feeling railroaded into an annual subscription plan just to get the results from the DNA test kit they already paid for and submitted - because you have to enter a credit card number that "won't be charged until after your first year”. What if you forget (like a lot of customers do, and then they're denied a refund)? Or they have another data breach (like the one that has current clients being required to submit copies of official IDs via fax)? Customers don't understand why they need to give that kind of information to access something they've already paid for.

Customer service is awful

Another customer comment said that they were charged months after they canceled and after "17 attempts at contact with the company, not one person can provide basic billing history, receipt for charge, or confirmation to end services”. Trustpilot feedback is similar, with nearly 80% of the 500+ reviews left there being an abysmal 1-star (for an overall average of just 1.3 stars out of 5).

Features are being dropped

Finally, users leaving complaints within just a few weeks of this review said that 23andMe has removed some of its previously-included features. On that list are the chromosome browser, the ability to enter a haplogroup in the search and find corresponding DNA matches, and the visibility of the smaller percentages of one's ancestry. There's not much about this DNA testing kit that seems to be improving and expanding (and that's probably why the Better Business Bureau has 23andMe as "Not Rated” - they say that the company is being reevaluated because it's "in the process of responding to previously closed complaints”).

From first to almost-worst

As much as we used to love 23andMe's DNA testing kits, we have too many concerns to give the company our recommendation. It's difficult to see how 23andMe finds its way out of its financial troubles and data breach concerns, and there's no way of knowing what happens to your DNA if another company buys 23andMe - there's no guarantee that the buyer would protect your data or be totally scrupulous with how it handles your extremely personal information.

CRI Genetics

• Tests over 520,000 specific markers across the entire genome
• $189 list price for Dual Ancestry, Timeline, and 15 trait reports (on sale for $89 at the time of this review)
• $349 for Ancestry + Health (on sale for $109 at the time of this review); includes all of the Ancestry + Traits package plus 80+ health reports
• $10.87+ for shipping
• Extra reports available (mtDNA, "Famous Relatives”)
• Results guaranteed to be delivered within 8 weeks (but most results should come within 4 weeks)
• No information shared without explicit consent

CRI (short for Cellular Research Institute) Genetics is directed by Dr. Alexei Fedorov, who is a former apprentice to the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Walter Gilbert and who brings over 35 years of experience as a molecular geneticist to the table. It's his proprietary DNA analysis algorithm that CRI Genetics uses to "advance mankind's understanding of the human genome into new frontiers.”

Can test for both ancestry and health

There are two main packages you can consider with CRI Genetics' DNA testing kits:

• Ancestry + Traits: list priced at $189 (but seemingly at a "forever on sale” price of $89), this kit comes with ancestry tracking for both your maternal and paternal sides and 15 trait reports. CRI Genetics asserts that their "advanced ancestry timeline” goes back up to 50 generations, and their "Trait Tracer” can show you which unique traits were inherited from the specific ancestries in your heritage.
• Health + Ancestry: list priced at $349 (but, again, apparently always "on sale” for $109), this tier comes with all of the benefits of the first package but also 80+ health reports.

At the time of our evaluation, CRI Genetics was also offering a "fall sale” of 5 extra reports for Social Adaptability, Self-Esteem, Skin Elasticity, Flexibility, and Fear Memory.

Extra testing and reports offered at checkout

As you proceed to the checkout with the kit you've selected, you'll be offered some extras. (And, be aware that they're automatically selected unless you click on the "no thanks” box.) The first is the Maternal Haplogroup Report for $82.45 (list price of $100). CRI Genetics says that your mtDNA can help you trace your ancestry "up to 150,000 years”. The next is a Famous People Report ($9.99 "on sale”, list $60), showing which celebs, royalty, and other big names share your same mtDNA or Y-DNA (if you're male and you've opted into that test.) CRI Genetics will then offer you a discounted second kit (the Health+Ancestry DNA testing kit was $99.99 for the second one in the shipment, for a savings of roughly $10). Finally, expect shipping and handling costs of about $11.

Bait-and-switch?

We found several complaints mentioning CRI Genetics' hiding some reports behind a paywall and unwanted subscriptions. There was no mention of having to pay anything in the future during checkout, or anywhere obvious on their website. One item in the FAQ talks about getting refunds on the "annual renewal” of an "all-access membership”, and we found reviews that said they were asked to pay more for reports they thought were included with the DNA testing kit and service they had purchased initially. Keep an eye out for that if you decide to do your DNA test here.

Results within 4-8 weeks

CRI Genetics offers an 8-week "efficiency guarantee”: if your DNA testing kit hasn't been processed and the results delivered within that timeframe, you'll get a full refund. But, don't think that means it will likely take that long to get your report: the company assures prospective clients that most results are delivered within 4 weeks.

Security protocols are solid

How about security? At CRI Genetics, your personal information is separated from your DNA sample from the moment they receive it, and from that point forward they only identify your DNA through the random serial number on the kit. All data is encrypted, and they don't share any of your information without your explicit consent. But, we're not really impressed by CRI Genetics' offer to "take a free tour of [their] genetics reports” by providing our first name and email. Why should you have to opt into marketing emails just to see how the service works?

Complaints are concerning

And reputation? That's where things get really iffy for CRI Genetics. Although the company has a decent-enough "B+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, there were still 30 complaints closed in the 12 months leading up to this review, and 144 in the three years prior to it. Those complaints frequently mention tests that never get delivered and difficulties getting an answer (or a refund), or reports that don't come even close to within the 8-week guaranteed timeframe (and refunds are equally hard to come by). Other clients say that their results were extremely off (like finding traces of Punjabi Indian for people who were 100% Scandinavian, suggesting that the equipment might not have been properly cleaned).

Huge civil penalty for fraudulent marketing

We're also not sure how the BBB still comes up with a "B+” rating when the BBB site itself references a $700,000 civil penalty that CRI Genetics had to pay to the state of California in November 2023. That verdict came down when this DNA testing kit company was found to have used fraudulent marketing claims about the accuracy of its testing compared with others on the market, about its "patented algorithm” for genetic matching, and for using "dark patterns” in online billing to get customers paying for products they never agreed to buy. Not a good look for CRI Genetics. That's what makes those newer complaints even more frustrating: clearly, the civil penalty hasn't gone far enough if reviews from after 2023 are still citing the same issues (and new ones).

Worst DNA testing kits on our list

So, let's consider what you don't get when you choose a DNA testing kit from CRI Genetics: connections with living relatives, ancestry results that are accurate (and don't err on the side of being sensationalistic), and an actual guarantee that your results will be delivered in the promised timeframe. Fortunately, there are a number of DNA test providers on our list that do provide all of those benefits and more, so don't think twice about skipping CRI Genetics completely.