Tuesday, January 14th
2025 DNA Testing Kit Reviews
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.
More DNA Testing Kit Reviews
The 10 Best DNA Testing Kits
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?
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.
DNA Testing Kit FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Purpose. Are you more interested in ancestry, health insights, or connecting with relatives? Different tests specialize in different areas, so choose one that fits with what you want to learn.
- Privacy. DNA is personal. Look into how the company handles your data. Do they share it with third parties (like law enforcement trying to solve crimes)? Can you delete your information? Make sure you're comfortable with their privacy policies.
- Accuracy and detail. Some kits provide more detailed ancestry reports, while others focus more on health. Read reviews and check out what kind of results people have received from specific tests to see if it matches your expectations.
- Cost. DNA tests vary in price. Some offer simple ancestry results using autosomal DNA, while others dig into your paternal and maternal lines. Still others provide comprehensive reports on both ancestry and health. Consider what you're getting for the price and whether it's worth the investment for the information you want.
- Additional services. Do you want to connect with relatives or have access to ongoing updates about your health? Do you also want access to historical records and documents (like birth certificates and census images)?
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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