DNA TESTING CHOICES
Here is a list of consumer DNA testing companies. Which one do you choose? For starters, the larger the testing database, the more accurate your results will be and the more DNA matches you will have. AncestryDNA has been the clear winner since its launch.
However, other testing companies offer other advantages. I've included the top 4 companies.
Don't want to read through the whole article? I would recommend AncestryDNA as a runner-up or in addition, 23andMe.
There are additional non-testing websites where you can upload your DNA files for additional information and family matches. ADDITIONAL DNA ANALYSIS
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01.
Ethnic Makeup
Explore Your Ethnic Makeup Among 1500 Unique Regions.
02.
DNA Matches
DNA Matches Gives You Color Coding, Custom Labeling, and Other Tools so You Can Understand Your Matches Easily
03.
Relative Details
Discover In-Depth Details About Your Newfound Relatives Who Share Your DNA
04.
Largest Database
Largest Testing Database with over 20 Million People that Connects to 100 Million Family Trees & Billions of Records
01.
Paternal Ancestry
"Paternal Ancestry" which is a Biological Male-Specific to explore your heritage on your paternal line, connect with your paternal-line relatives in our Y-DNA database, follow the migration paths of your male ancestors, trace your surname to its roots and build your family tree
02.
Family Ancestry
"Family Ancestry" to get a percentage breakdown of your origins and view where each DNA segment comes from, connect with your autosomal DNA relatives within the last 5 generations, and compare matching segments of DNA (blocks) with your genetic matches
03.
Special Interest Projects
FamilyTree DNA sponsors free surname groups, haplogroup, and geographic and special interest projects.
They are also a partner of the National Geographic Society and participants from the Genographic project can transfer results into the Family Tree DNA database for free
04.
1.7 Million Database
FamilyTree DNA has 1.7 Million people in its database as of April 2022.
They offer a few different tests depending on your needs.
01.
Discover Shared DNA
With MyHeritage DNA, you can discover relatives who share DNA segments with you, inherited from the same common ancestor.
02.
Find Your Ethnicity and Geographic Origin
You will also uncover the ethnic and geographic origins of your ancestors across 2,114 geographic regions and 42 top-level ethnicities.
03.
6+ Million Database
My Heritage has 6+ Million people in its database as of April 2022.
01.
Ancestry Plus Traits
BASIC "Ancestry+Traits: 2000+ Geographic regions, Automatic Family Tree Builder, 30+ Trait reports, DNA Relative Finder
02.
Health Plus Ancestry
ESSENTIAL: Health+Ancestry Service: Everything BASIC includes plus 65+ health reports & features including Health Predisposition reports, Wellness reports, Genetic Health Risks, and Family Health History Tree
03.
23andMe Membership
23ANDME MEMBERSHIP: Everything in Essential plus instant access to exclusive reports such as heart health, pharmacogenetic reports, migraine reports, skin cancer, plus new reports as more discoveries are made.
04.
12 Million Database
What I really like about 23andMe is the automatic family tree builder-this tool is invaluable.
23andMe has 12+ Million people in its database as of April 2022.
Here are additional non-testing sites where you can upload your raw DNA file and gain access to new information and locate new DNA matches usually for free!
GEDMATCH
MY LIVING DNA
DNA PAINTER
ROOTSFINDER
DNA GED
GENEANET
ROOTSMAPPER
WIKITREE
MY FAMILY TREE DNA
GENOME LINK
MY TRUE ANCESTRY
Free DNA tests are sometimes available to encourage participation in surname projects. Offers are usually restricted to Y-DNA tests with sponsorship being provided by the relevant surname project. Some projects will underwrite the entire cost of a DNA test. Other projects will contribute towards the cost of a test or pay for tests for a limited number of markers. In order to qualify for the offer it is usually necessary to supply a list of your paternal line ancestors for at least three or more generations. A list of currently available sponsorship offers from ISOGG project administrators is given below.
A list of projects offering Free DNA tests will be used at all Genealogical Conferences (where ISOGG volunteers are in attendance) to encourage and locate participants.