MyHeritage DNA
#1 Best Choice
MyHeritage DNA
4.9/5
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Best DNA Kit

Which DNA Test Is Best for Finding Your Roots?

Thomas MacEntee
Thomas MacEntee
CEO and Founder of Genealogy Bargains
Hello! I’m genealogy expert Thomas MacEntee, and like many others
I used DNA tests to help me better understand my family history.

I took my first DNA heritage test back in 2008 when AncestryDNA was still in “beta” testing and I’ve written numerous articles and
e-books on how to get the most out of personal DNA testing for genealogy research. Many of my followers look to me for recommendations on a variety of products and services, including ancestry DNA test kits. You’ll always get the latest, up-to-date information from me in easy-to-understand terminology and an action plan for you to get started on your own DNA testing journey.

Navigating the myriad of DNA test kits so that you select the best one for your research can be daunting. There are so many factors to consider and most DNA test kits and tools look alike. I’m here to help you pick the BEST DNA TEST for your goals and needs and get it at the BEST PRICE.

Below, I’ll be comparing 3 of the best DNA testing kit companies and exploring their advantages and disadvantages: MyHeritage, Ancestry, and FamilyTreeDNA. But first things first:

What is ancestry DNA testing and how does it work?

Ancestry DNA testing basically takes a bit of your DNA from the cells of your body (usually from a saliva sample or cheek swab), analyzes its unique sequences, and compares those sequences to those of other people to learn about your genetic makeup.

DNA tests give you two things:
  • A rough estimate of your ethnic makeup: insight into where your ancestors came from
  • A list of people in the same database whose DNA matches yours and are therefore likely your relatives

Taking a DNA test usually works like this:
You order a DNA test kit from the DNA company or purchase it from a retailer, use the kit to collect a DNA sample, and send the sample to the lab using the instructions provided. The lab analyzes your sample and when your results are ready, the testing company emails you a link to view your results online.

#1 best choice
MyHeritage DNA
MyHeritage DNA
4.9/5
Visit Site
#2 best choice
Ancestry
Ancestry
4.4/5
Vist Site
#3 best choice
FamilyTreeDNA
FamilyTreeDNA
4.2/5
Visit Site

Which test is best?
I considered 8 different factors when comparing between MyHeritage, Ancestry, and FamilyTreeDNA. I’ll list them below in brief, and then, further down the page, I will expand upon each one of these factors.

1. Scope of DNA database:
1. Scope of DNA database:

A very important factor to consider when choosing a DNA kit is how large the company’s database is — that is, how many other people have taken a DNA test with that company or have uploaded their DNA data to that company’s website.

Why does this matter? Because the larger the database, the greater the chances of finding relatives — and by extension, the greater the chances of uncovering important genealogical insights.

Ancestry has the largest DNA database by far: more than 20 million people can be found on the Ancestry website. That gives them a serious advantage if your main goal is to find family members. Keep in mind, though, that their user base skews strongly towards the USA and other English-speaking countries. If you’re looking for family members in Europe, you might be better off with MyHeritage, which, with 7 million users, is the leading DNA test in Europe and caters to a more international crowd.

FamilyTreeDNA doesn’t state explicitly how many DNA kits are available on its database, but I’ve seen estimates of around 1.7 million. This may be significantly smaller than that of Ancestry or MyHeritage, but you should keep in mind that FamilyTreeDNA is the only one of the three that offers several different types of DNA genealogy test, so its database is the largest in the world for Y-DNA and mtDNA tests. We’ll explore that more below.

2. Ethnicity reports:
2. Ethnicity reports:

Many people who want to test their DNA are most interested in the ethnicity test. Most DNA testing companies offer some kind of ethnicity report as part of your DNA results. The ethnicity test will tell you, based on your DNA, where in the world your ancestors likely came from.

One factor to consider when trying to find the best DNA testing kit is how detailed the ethnicity reports you’ll receive will be. The DNA company that offers the most detailed ethnicity test, as of the writing of this article, is Ancestry, with results from across 2,600+ geographical regions, with MyHeritage in close second with 2,114. FamilyTreeDNA offers 90.

Ethnicity reports are generated based on the company’s user base and the quality of their founder populations. It’s important to note that because MyHeritage’s user base is more globally spread than that of the other two, the resolution of their ethnicity reports is higher and the insights you gain are extremely detailed, especially for people with European roots.

3. Cost:
3. Cost:

DNA test cost is also an important consideration, and naturally, if you find a cheap DNA test, you’ll want to go with what’s most affordable… but remember that a cheap DNA test is not necessarily a good one!
The simplest at-home DNA kits from reputable brands retail at around 100 U.S. dollars, while more specialized types of tests can cost twice that or more. FamilyTreeDNA’s Family Finder is the most affordable at list price, followed by MyHeritage DNA, and then Ancestry DNA’s basic kit. If you wait for a sale or promotion, you may be able to purchase them at significant discounts. But if you’re considering a cheap DNA test that costs significantly less than these prices, you should be extremely wary.

4. Ease of use:
4. Ease of use:

Another factor to take into account is how easy it is to use each of the DNA kits — both in terms of collecting the sample and in terms of reviewing your results on the website.

Samples are collected using either a tube that you spit into, or a cheek swab. The cheek swab is easier and quicker to use for all age groups. Both MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA use cheek swabs. The Ancestry DNA kit, on the other hand, requires you to spit into a tube, which is both more difficult (maybe impossible for older folks) and more time-consuming.

Viewing your ethnicity results on each website is fairly easy. Each website provides a map highlighting your ethnicities and explanations about each ethnic group. MyHeritage provides a spinning globe animation with music from different regions to reveal your results, which is an exciting way to encounter your results for the first time and share them as well.

Each site provides a list of DNA Matches with various sorting and filtering capabilities. Being able to sort and filter your results easily is important if you’re planning to look for new relatives or use DNA to break through brick walls in your genealogy. MyHeritage has the most versatile selection of filters and offers the highest number of details to look at when reviewing a DNA Match. Both MyHeritage and Ancestry offer a labeling option, which really helps focus on the matches that are most important to you. FamilyTreeDNA’s sorting and filtering options are more limited than those of the other two and can be somewhat confusing to use.

If your native language isn’t English, chances are that it will likely be much easier for you to use the MyHeritage website, because it’s available in 42 languages — more than any other DNA platform by far. Even if you are comfortable using an English-language site, the platform’s availability in other languages can make a difference to its user base. That’s why MyHeritage’s user base is more globally spread than both Ancestry’s and FTDNA’s, and you’re more likely to encounter information and relatives from different parts of the world on MyHeritage.

5. Privacy:
5. Privacy:

One very important thing to take into consideration when choosing a DNA kit is the company’s privacy policy. When you are providing a company with access to such sensitive personal data, you want to be sure that data is going to be safe and secure and is not going to be used by the company for any purpose without your informed and explicit consent.

This is a very real concern. In 2018, the DNA testing company 23andMe made headlines when they sold data to a pharmaceutical company. The possibility of the data being sold for such purposes had been mentioned in the small print, so technically they didn’t do anything illegal, but many users of 23andMe hadn’t been aware that they were agreeing to this and were understandably upset. This is why it’s so important to do your research about the company you’re testing with and understand what they might do with your data.

So where do MyHeritage, Ancestry, and FamilyTreeDNA stand on privacy?

MyHeritage is the only company that has placed an explicit commitment in their privacy policy to never sell or share users’ data. President and founder of FamilyTreeDNA, Bennett Greenspan, has made a verbal commitment to that effect, but as of yet it hasn’t entered the company’s privacy policy. The Ancestry website does claim on their website that they won’t sell your personal data, but admits that they will share it with certain entities under certain circumstances and doesn’t explicitly commit to getting your consent under these circumstances.

6. Types of DNA tests and reports:
6. Types of DNA tests and reports:

There are three main types of DNA test on the market:

  • Autosomal: This is currently the most common type of DNA test kit on the market and it tests for DNA inherited from both of your parents. Autosomal tests are the best DNA testing kits for beginners. They are highly accurate for confirming close family relationships (up to the level of second cousin) and cast the widest net for genealogical research.
  •  Mitochondrial or mtDNA: Mitochondrial or mtDNA tests trace your mother’s lineage. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down unchanged from mother to child, whether the child is male or female. This test is great for confirming maternal relationships or tracing your maternal line.
  • Y-chromosome or Y-DNA: Y chromosomes are only found in males and are passed down from father to son. This is a highly accurate way to trace paternal lineage. The disadvantage is that it can only be taken by someone who has a Y chromosome, so if you don’t have one, you’ll need to test a brother, a father, or biologically male cousin with direct paternal relationship to the line you are researching.

As mentioned, autosomal is the most popular type of DNA genealogy test, and both the MyHeritage and Ancestry DNA kits are autosomal only. FTDNA is the only one of the three that offers mtDNA tests and Y-DNA tests in addition to autosomal.

7. Advanced DNA tools:
7. Advanced DNA tools:

Let’s face it… one of the most challenging aspects of taking a DNA test is getting the most out of the DNA data especially if you want to use it to further your genealogy research. All three major DNA test sites – AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage – offer tools to help you find DNA matches as well as sort and filter results. But some tools are easier to use and can help you reach your research goal faster than others.

MyHeritage stands out in this category, as it offers the most comprehensive set of advanced DNA tools, including the One-to many Chromosome Browser that allows you to compare triangulated DNA with up to 7 DNA matches; AutoClusters, which organizes your DNA Matches into clusters of matches that likely share a common ancestor; and Theory of Family Relativity™, which analyzes millions of data points from family tree profiles and historical records to create easy-to-follow and accurate theories about how your matches might be related to you. Ancestry does offer a few interesting tools as well, such as SideView™, which tells you which parent you inherited your ethnicity results from; ThruLines®, which identifies which ancestor you might share with a DNA Match; and DNA Circles, which is similar to MyHeritage’s AutoClusters.

8. Wait time:
8. Wait time:

It generally takes a few weeks or up to 2 months to receive your DNA results once they are received at the lab. FamilyTreeDNA promises the shortest wait time for the Family Finder test at 2–4 weeks (though the mtDNA and Y-DNA tests take longer — 6–8 weeks and 3–6 weeks respectively); MyHeritage gives 3–4 weeks of wait time, while the Ancestry website gives 6–8 weeks. However, my sources at MyHeritage report that their average processing time is actually only 11 days in practice, and in my experience, the wait times provided by all 3 companies leave lots and lots of wiggle room. Most people receive their results within a couple of weeks.

And the winner is…

Now that we’ve explored the various factors to consider when purchasing a DNA test, here are the results of my comparison between these top 3 brands:
#1 best choice
MyHeritage DNA
MyHeritage DNA
4.9/5
Visit Site
#1 Best Choice
Review Image
4.9/5
Best for finding European origins & relatives (#1 DNA test in Europe)
Very detailed ethnicity reports (2,114 geographic regions)
Simple cheek swab
Best value for money
Best advanced DNA tools
Also offers genealogy platform with billions of profiles and historical records
Most robust privacy policy
Review Image
4.9/5
Visit Site
  • About MyHeritage

    MyHeritage was founded in 2003 by genealogist and entrepreneur Gilad Japhet. The company has since grown into one of the two biggest players in the family history world, offering billions of historical records and family tree profiles, sophisticated matching technologies, and the world’s most advanced tools for working with historical photos. Launched in 2016, MyHeritage DNA has become one of the world’s largest consumer DNA databases with more than 7 million customers. The platform is available in 42 languages and is the most popular DNA test and family history service in Europe.

  • About the MyHeritage DNA test

    MyHeritage offers an autosomal DNA test that provides a detailed ethnicity report, a list of DNA matches, and several advanced DNA tools.

    The ethnicity reports include results from across 2,114 geographic regions, including Genetic Groups, which can be precise enough to pinpoint the town or city your ancestors were from. These results are revealed via an exciting animation and can be accessed at any time on the MyHeritage website.

    The DNA Match list can be sorted and filtered according to a variety of criteria, and you can use color-coded custom labels to organize your matches. You can also contact matches through an internal messaging system (so your contact details will remain private unless you choose to share them).


    When you review your DNA matches, you can view the following information:

    For each match, you can view:

    • The name provided for the person
    • The person’s location
    • The person’s age group
    • Amount of shared DNA (in percentages and centimorgans)
    • Estimated relationship based on shared DNA
    • Number of shared segments
    • Length of longest shared segment
    • A chromosome browser chart of your shared segments
    • Shared DNA Matches with this person

    And, if available:

    • Smart Matches™ with this person’s tree on MyHeritage
    • Shared ancestral surnames
    • Shared ancestral places
    • A pedigree chart of this person’s tree

    MyHeritage also offers several advanced DNA tools, including:

    • One-to-many Chromosome Browser: Allows you to compare your shared and triangulated segments with up to 7 DNA Matches using a schematic “map” of your chromosomes
    • AutoClusters: Organizes your DNA Matches into clusters of people who match each other, which can indicate that you have a common ancestor
    • Theory of Family Relativity™: Provides theories as to how you are related to your DNA Matches based on an analysis of family tree data and historical records
    • cM Explainer™: Provides an estimate of your relationship to your DNA Matches based on shared DNA and your respective ages
  • How to take the MyHeritage DNA test

    • Purchase a DNA kit from MyHeritage
    • Follow the instructions in the kit to take your cheek swab sample
    • Mail your kit to the MyHeritage lab
    • Receive your results in 3–4 weeks
    Visit Site
#2 Best Choice
Review Image
4.4/5
Largest DNA database
Best for finding family in the United States
Most detailed ethnicity reports (2,600+ geographic regions)
Some useful DNA tools
Also offers genealogy platform with vast collection of historical records
Review Image
4.4/5
Visit Site
  • About Ancestry

    Ancestry was founded in 1983 as a publisher and later developed into an online genealogy service. It is currently the largest family history service in the world, with more than 3 million paying subscribers. AncestryDNA was launched as a service in 2012 and is currently the largest consumer DNA database in the world with more than 20 million kits. In 2020, Ancestry was acquired by Blackstone.

    When you review your DNA matches, you can view the following information:

  • About AncestryDNA

    Ancestry offers an autosomal DNA test that provides a detailed ethnicity report and a list of DNA matches with some handy features.

    The Origins ethnicity reports include detailed results from more than 3,000+ geographic regions. They also include ancestral journeys, which can help identify ancestral migration patterns. What’s more, those with a subscription can get information on which side of the family you inherited each of your regions from which they can identify, with around 95% accuracy.

    The list of DNA matches can be filtered and sorted by various criteria, and you can cluster them into custom groups and label them. Ancestry also offers some unique features including SideView™, which tells you whether a DNA Match is from your father’s or your mother’s side of the family; ThruLines, which uses family tree data to estimate how you might be related to your DNA Matches; and DNA Circles, which organizes your DNA matches into groups potentially related to a common ancestor.


    When you review your DNA matches, you can view the following information:

    • The name and location provided for the person
    • Amount of shared DNA (in percentages and centimorgans)
    • Predicted relationship based on shared DNA
    • Shared ethnicities
    • Shared DNA matches
    • This person’s public family tree on Ancestry
    • Identified common ancestors
    • Shared surnames
    • Ancestor birth locations

    Ancestry also offers a few advanced tools:

    • SideView™: Tells you whether a given DNA match is related to you via your mother or father
    • ThruLines: Uses family tree data to estimate how you might be related to your matches
    • DNA Circles: Organizes your DNA matches into clusters potentially related to a common ancestor
  • How to take an Ancestry DNA test

    • Purchase the kit from Ancestry or your favorite retailer
    • Follow the instructions to take your saliva sample
    • Mail your kit to the Ancestry lab
    • Get your results in 6–8 weeks
    Visit Site
#3 Best Choice
Review Image
4.2/5
Offers 3 types of tests: autosomal, mtDNA, and Y-DNA
Most popular in the world for mtDNA and Y-DNA testing
Pioneered using DNA testing for private genealogy research
Simple cheek swab
Review Image
4.2/5
Visit Site
  • About FamilyTreeDNA

    FamilyTreeDNA was founded in 2000 by Bennett Greenspan together with Max Blankfeld and Jim Warren. It was the first company to offer DNA testing to consumers for genetic genealogy, and remains one of the leaders in the field. Their mtDNA and Y-DNA tests are the most popular in the world.

  • About the FamilyTreeDNA test

    FamilyTreeDNA offers 4 types of DNA kit:

    Family Finder: an autosomal DNA test offering a percentage breakdown of origins and DNA matching

    Family Finder+myWellness: also includes health and wellness reports

    Paternal Ancestry: analyzes Y-DNA, providing information on paternal lines, Y-DNA matches, migration paths of male ancestors, and surname information

    Maternal Ancestry: analyzes mitochondrial DNA, providing information on maternal lines, mtDNA matches, and migration paths of female ancestors

    The ethnicity report from the Family Finder test includes origins from 90 geographic regions. One unique feature from FamilyTreeDNA is the Chromosome Painter, which maps out your origins along your chromosomes, showing you which parts of your chromosomes you inherited from which populations.

    The DNA match list allows you to filter by relationship as well as family tree type, the date the match was made, and the date the test was taken. You can sort your results by relationship, shared DNA, longest DNA segment, X match, haplogroups, most recent matches, assigned relationships, and ancestral surnames.


    When you review your DNA matches, you can view the following information:

    • Name
    • Email address
    • Self-reported earliest known ancestor
    • Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroup, if available
    • Self-reported ancestral surnames, with shared surnames highlighted
    • Whether this match is paternal, maternal, or both
    • Estimated relationship range
    • Shared DNA in centimorgans
    • Length of longest segment of shared DNA
    • Shared DNA on the X chromosome
    • Family tree, if public and available
    • Shared DNA matches
  • How to take a FamilyTreeDNA test

    • Purchase the test you’re interested in from FamilyTreeDNA
    • Follow the instructions in the kit to collect your sample
    • Ship your sample to the lab
    • Receive your results in 4–8 weeks
    Visit Site
Detailed review
  • Ethnicity reports

    Many people who want to test their DNA are most interested in the ethnicity test. Most DNA testing companies offer some kind of ethnicity report as part of your DNA results. The ethnicity test will tell you, based on your DNA, where in the world your ancestors likely came from.

    One factor to consider when trying to find the best DNA testing kit is how detailed the ethnicity reports you’ll receive will be. The DNA company that offers the most detailed ethnicity test, as of the writing of this article, is MyHeritage, with results from 2,114 geographic regions. The Ancestry DNA kit offers results from across 1,500 geographic regions, while FamilyTreeDNA offers 90.

    Ethnicity reports are generated based on the company’s user base and the quality of their founder populations. It’s important to note that because MyHeritage’s user base is more globally spread than that of the other two, the resolution of their ethnicity reports is higher and the insights you gain are extremely detailed, especially for people with European roots.

  • Privacy

    One very important thing to take into consideration when choosing a DNA kit is the company’s privacy policy. When you are providing a company with access to such sensitive personal data, you want to be sure that data is going to be safe and secure and is not going to be used by the company for any purpose without your informed and explicit consent.

    This is a very real concern. In 2018, the DNA testing company 23andMe made headlines when they sold data to a pharmaceutical company. The possibility of the data being sold for such purposes had been mentioned in the small print, so technically they didn’t do anything illegal, but many users of 23andMe hadn’t been aware that they were agreeing to this and were understandably upset. This is why it’s so important to do your research about the company you’re testing with and understand what they might do with your data.

    So where do MyHeritage, Ancestry, and FamilyTreeDNA stand on privacy?

    MyHeritage is the only company that has placed an explicit commitment in their privacy policy to never sell or share users’ data. President and founder of FamilyTreeDNA, Bennett Greenspan, has made a verbal commitment to that effect, but as of yet it hasn’t entered the company’s privacy policy. The Ancestry website does claim on their website that they won’t sell your personal data, but admits that they will share it with certain entities under certain circumstances and doesn’t explicitly commit to getting your consent under these circumstances.

  • Scope of DNA database

    Another factor to consider when choosing a DNA kit is how large the company’s database is — that is, how many other people have taken a DNA test with that company or have uploaded their DNA data to that company’s website.

    Why does this matter?

    Because the larger the database, the greater the chances of finding relatives — and by extension, the greater the chances of uncovering important genealogical insights.

    Ancestry has the largest DNA database by far: more than 20 million people can be found on the Ancestry website. That gives them a serious advantage if your main goal is to find family members. Keep in mind, though, that their user base skews strongly towards the USA and other English-speaking countries. If you’re looking for family members in Europe, you might be better off with MyHeritage, which, with 6 million users, is the leading DNA test in Europe and caters to a more international crowd.

    FamilyTreeDNA doesn’t state explicitly how many DNA kits are available on its database, but I’ve seen estimates of around 1.7 million. This may be significantly smaller than that of Ancestry or MyHeritage, but you should keep in mind that FamilyTreeDNA is the only one of the three that offers several different types of DNA genealogy test, so its database is the largest in the world for Y-DNA and mtDNA tests. We’ll explore that more below.

  • Types of DNA tests and reports

    There are three main types of DNA test on the market:

    • Autosomal: This is currently the most common type of DNA test kit on the market and it tests for DNA inherited from both of your parents. Autosomal tests are the best DNA testing kits for beginners. They are highly accurate for confirming close family relationships (up to the level of second cousin) and cast the widest net for genealogical research.
    • Mitochondrial or mtDNA: Mitochondrial or mtDNA tests trace your mother’s lineage. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down unchanged from mother to child, whether the child is male or female. This test is great for confirming maternal relationships or tracing your maternal line.
    • Y-chromosome or Y-DNA: Y chromosomes are only found in males and are passed down from father to son. This is a highly accurate way to trace paternal lineage. The disadvantage is that it can only be taken by someone who has a Y chromosome, so if you don’t have one, you’ll need to test a brother, a father, or biologically male cousin with direct paternal relationship to the line you are researching.

    As mentioned, autosomal is the most popular type of DNA genealogy test, and both the MyHeritage and Ancestry DNA kits are autosomal only. FamilyTreeDNA is the only one of the three that offers mtDNA tests and Y-DNA tests in addition to autosomal.

  • Advanced DNA tools

    Let’s face it… one of the most challenging aspects of taking a DNA test is getting the most out of the DNA data especially if you want to use it to further your genealogy research. All three major DNA test sites – AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage – offer tools to help you find DNA matches as well as sort and filter results. But some tools are easier to use and can help you reach your research goal faster than others.

    MyHeritage stands out in this category, as it offers the most comprehensive set of advanced DNA tools, including the One-to many Chromosome Browser that allows you to compare triangulated DNA with up to 7 DNA matches; AutoClusters, which organizes your DNA Matches into clusters of matches that likely share a common ancestor; and Theory of Family Relativity™, which analyzes millions of data points from family tree profiles and historical records to create easy-to-follow and accurate theories about how your matches might be related to you.

    Ancestry does offer a few interesting tools as well, such as SideView™, which tells you which parent you inherited your ethnicity results from; ThruLines®, which identifies which ancestor you might share with a DNA Match; and DNA Circles, which is similar to MyHeritage’s AutoClusters.

  • Ease of use

    Another factor to take into account is how easy it is to use each of the DNA kits — both in terms of collecting the sample and in terms of reviewing your results on the website.

    Samples are collected using either a tube that you spit into, or a cheek swab. The cheek swab is easier and quicker to use for all age groups. Both MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA use cheek swabs. The Ancestry DNA kit, on the other hand, requires you to spit into a tube, which is both more difficult (maybe impossible for older folks) and more time-consuming.

    Viewing your ethnicity results on each website is fairly easy. Each website provides a map highlighting your ethnicities and explanations about each ethnic group.

    MyHeritage provides a spinning globe animation with music from different regions to reveal your results, which is an exciting way to encounter your results for the first time and share them as well.

    Each site provides a list of DNA Matches with various sorting and filtering capabilities. Being able to sort and filter your results easily is important if you’re planning to look for new relatives or use DNA to break through brick walls in your genealogy.

    MyHeritage has the most versatile selection of filters and offers the highest number of details to look at when reviewing a DNA Match. Both MyHeritage and Ancestry offer a labeling option, which really helps focus on the matches that are most important to you. FamilyTreeDNA’s sorting and filtering options are more limited than those of the other two and can be somewhat confusing to use.

    If your native language isn’t English, chances are that it will likely be much easier for you to use the MyHeritage website, because it’s available in 42 languages — more than any other DNA platform by far. Even if you are comfortable using an English-language site, the platform’s availability in other languages can make a difference to its user base. That’s why MyHeritage’s user base is more globally spread than both Ancestry’s and FAMILYTREEDNA’s, and you’re more likely to encounter information and relatives from different parts of the world on MyHeritage.

  • Cost

    DNA test cost is also an important consideration, and naturally, if you find a cheap DNA test, you’ll want to go with what’s most affordable… but remember that a cheap DNA test is not necessarily a good one!

    The simplest at-home DNA kits from reputable brands retail at around $100, while more specialized types of tests can cost $200 or more. FamilyTreeDNA’s Family Finder is the most affordable, retailing at $79. MyHeritage DNA costs $89, and AncestryDNA’s basic kit at $99. If you wait for a sale or promotion, you may be able to purchase them at significant discounts. But if you’re considering a cheap DNA test that costs significantly less than these prices, you should be extremely wary.

  • Wait time

    It generally takes a few weeks or up to 2 months to receive your DNA results once they are received at the lab.

    FamilyTreeDNA promises the shortest wait time for the Family Finder test at 2–4 weeks (though the mtDNA and Y-DNA tests take longer 6–8 weeks and 3–6 weeks respectively); MyHeritage gives 3–4 weeks of wait time, while the Ancestry website gives 6–8 weeks.

    However, my sources at MyHeritage report that their average processing time is actually only 11 days in practice, and in my experience, the wait times provided by all 3 companies leave lots and lots of wiggle room. Most people receive their results within a couple of weeks.

Thomas MacEntee

What happens when a “tech guy” with a love for history gets laid off during the Great Recession of 2008?

You get me, Thomas MacEntee, a genealogy professional who’s also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, marketer, network builder, and more.

I was laid off after a 25-year career in the information technology field, so I started my own genealogy-related business called High-Definition Genealogy. You can find many of my articles and videos for free at GenealogyBargains.com!

I’m a lifelong learner with a background in a multitude of topics and I’ve finally figured out what I do best: teach, inspire, instigate, and serve as a curator and go-to-guy for concept nurturing and inspiration. If I had my way, I’d be in school forever, racking up degree after degree. I believe in success, and that we all succeed when we help each other find success.

I was born in New York, attended The George Washington University in Washington DC, and after living in Northern California for close to 20 years,I currently reside in Chicago.

I’m a Baby Boomer at heart, with a head full of useless pop culture trivia.

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