We break down which DNA testing kit is best for you
Are you distantly related to Beyoncé? You should probably find out.
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BEST FOR LITERALLY EVERYONE
23andMe
Health screenings plus a recent addition of over 1,000 regions makes it the most all-encompassing test out there.
$99 from Amazon
BEST FOR CONNECTING WITH RELATIVES
AncestryDNA
Get a seamless process from start to finish with a massive genealogical pool and the ability to connect with found relatives.
$99 from Amazon
BEST FOR UNIQUE GENEALOGY FINDINGS
National Geographic Geno 2.0
Instead of the traditional family tree, Nat Geo's whole exome sequencing will tell you how much you have in common with a Neanderthal.
$99.99
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BY LEAH STODART
JAN 31, 2019
DNA test kits like AncestryDNA and 23andMe have become increasingly popular over the past few years and were a big gift item during the holiday season. The possibilities are quite literally endless — from finding your birth mother after 47 years to discovering that you're related to a president.
Though DNA tests are being added to more and more people's bucket lists, the sheer number of kits you can choose from is overwhelming. The result? A lot of interested folks opt out simply because they're not sure which kit to buy. (Even DNA tests for your dog exist. Yeah.)
SEE ALSO: Best free dating sites and apps for singles on a budget
And that sucks, because finding out the who, what, and where that made you into the person you are is way too awesome to pass up. This Twitter thread proves it:
Rachel Hawkins
@LadyHawkins
Twitter, would you like to hear a story? Because WOW DO I HAVE ONE FOR Y'ALL. Okay. So.
This year for Christmas, I got J one of those 23 and Me DNA kits. As one does! J's sister ALSO got one,, but from Ancestry. FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE!
308
4:31 AM - Jan 24, 2019
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We did some digging to bring you the ultimate DNA test comparison guide. We've looked at seven of the most popular DNA test kits out there: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, Living DNA, Family Tree DNA, National Geographic Geno 2.0, and AfricanAncestry to give you the rundown on the differences between each kit so you can decide which one is the best for you.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of each kit, it's important to understand the fancy terms that will be mentioned frequently so you can get a handle on how DNA testing kits work.
Autosomal testing is the most basic and most popular means of genetic testing, commonly known as the family finder. Autosomal DNA tests look at 22 pairs of chromosomes not involved in determining a person's sex. It is used for cousin and distant relative matching as well as mixture percentages, or your ethnic mix (as shown in those fancy pie charts from the commercials), plus common genetic traits, like heritable diseases and eye color. Each kit evaluated below does autosomal testing — with the exception of Nat Geo's, which we'll explain later.
mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) testing traces your mother's lineage. These are the DNA strands passed down from mother to child. There's very little chance that these could be altered, so your direct maternal line can be traced back quite far.
Y-DNA testing focuses on the Y chromosome, which you probably recognize as the "male" chromosome, and can guess that this test traces your father's lineage. These are the DNA strands passed down from father to son, so your paternal line can be traced. However, it is important to note that only males can use a Y-DNA test directly. Most times, women can connect their DNA profile with a father, brother, or other male relative to get these results.
Note: While autosomal testing shows who your relatives are, remember that this is a mix of both sides — and does not necessarily show you which side of the family they came from. Another thing to note is that mtDNA and Y-DNA tests can trace back anywhere from 20-100 generations, while autosomal tests can only trace back to 5-8 generations.