Friday, January 17th
2025 DNA Testing Kit Reviews
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.
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.
Compare DNA Testing Kits
Select any 2 DNA Testing Kits to compare them head to head
Trending DNA Testing News
Related DNA Testing Kit Reviews
Since you're interested in DNA Testing Kits, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
