Friday, January 17th
2025 DNA Testing Kit Reviews
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.
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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