DNA kits are useful, popular ways for discovering your roots, as well as identifying potential health conditions. AncestryDNA and 23andMe are the most well-known consumer DNA services, and they cost roughly the same amount of money. So, which DNA kit should you pick to learn more about your family history and genetics? We pit the DNA giants against each other to help you make an informed decision.
DNA Reports
Once Ancestry processes your DNA sample, your dashboard displays an interactive map of your ethnicity estimate, possible DNA matches, and a map of where your ancestors lived. If you cancel your account, you can download your raw DNA report and take it with you.
Ancestry continually updates your results as the company collects more reference samples and builds better tools. My profile was last updated in September 2021. Subscribers can access an array of historical records, including Census data; create family trees; and contact other Ancestry members.
The company offers three subscription options: AncestryDNA (the original version), AncestryDNA + World Explorer Membership, and AncestryDNA Traits + All Access Membership. The World Explorer Membership opens up access to international records, and the All Access Membership includes access to Fold3 and Newspapers.com. Fold3 has over half a million military records and millions of nonmilitary. A membership to Newspapers.com comes with more than 2 billion articles that go back to the 1700s.
The third-tier plan includes AncestryDNA Traits, which tests for more than 30 traits. These tests reveal many traits, including eye color, vitamin levels, and muscle fatigue. You can view how AncestryDNA determined your results, and learn which factors besides genetics affect those traits, such as diet.
23andMe reports cover a few categories: Ancestry Composition, DNA Relatives List, Neanderthal Ancestry, and Maternal and Paternal haplogroups. You unearth more detail by interacting with the map on the ancestry composition page, including the exact heritage percentages. You can also see the last time when that information was updated (our data was refreshed in June 2021).
Based on your mitochondrial (maternal) DNA, the maternal haplogroup section shows which haplogroup you belong to, as well as subgroups. People in the same haplogroup have a common ancestor. For example, the haplogroup T2b shares an ancestor who lived 10,000 years ago; most people in this haplogroup live in Europe. The Y chromosome determines paternal haplogroups.
If you’re genetically male (as in, you have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome), you can view both your maternal and paternal lines. People with two X chromosomes can’t access this data unless their father or brother submits their DNA.
23andMe offers three options: Ancestry + Traits Service; Health + Ancestry Service; and 23andMe+ membership, including the Health + Ancestry kit. The membership includes more in-depth health information, advanced DNA Relative filters, and access to more than three times the DNA Relatives.
Winner: 23andMe
Genetic Health Screening Services
AncestryDNA briefly offered DNA-based health testing starting in 2019, but discontinued the service in winter 2020 to focus on its core products. Members who used this product during its brief lifespan had a chance to download their results in 2020, but they’re no longer available in their profiles.
23andMe’s Health and Traits reports are available in several categories, such as Health Predisposition, Carrier Status, and Wellness. The company tests for many conditions, including Celiac disease, macular degeneration, and Type-2 diabetes. As mentioned earlier, it also tests for traits like your alcohol flush reaction, muscle composition, and even asparagus odor detection (very likely in our case). The company continues to add new reports.
Even if you’ve opted out of health testing, you can optionally fill out 23andMe’s health questionnaires to help with company research. You can also choose to save your saliva samples at 23andMe’s labs for future testing. Otherwise, 23andMe will destroy your sample once it’s processed (Ancestry will destroy your sample on request).
Winner: 23andMe
Finding Your Relatives Using DNA
AncestryDNA searches its database for matches using the service’s DNA Matches feature. Only your username, possible relationship, and genetic ethnicity are visible to other members. AncestryDNA continues to search for matches as its database grows.
Ancestry started as family tree software, and it incorporates your AncestryDNA results into your existing family trees. Aside from that, AncestryDNA has a feature called ThruLines, which uses public Ancestry family trees and your private trees to show common ancestors you share with your matches. It also displays potential ancestors from your grandparents to multiples of great grandparents. If you mouse over a probable ancestor, AncestryDNA shows you how many DNA matches are in its system. You can view as much information about your matches as the matches allow, which can be as little as their relationship to you.
Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe looks for DNA matches among its other members, but only if you opt-in to its DNA Relatives program. You’ll get email alerts about possible matches and their relationship with you. You can turn on open sharing to make specific details available for other members, such as your full name. If you leave this off, other users must send you a share request. Depending on profile settings, you can either send a message or an introduction.
Winner: Ancestry
Family Tree vs. Health Screening
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are both excellent DNA testing services, but they have different focuses. The former is a good choice if you’re building a family tree, but the latter has robust health-testing capabilities, and rich reports on maternal/paternal lines and Neanderthal ancestry. In short, 23andMe is the DNA kit you should buy if you’re looking for a wide view of your genetics.
Overall Winner: 23andMe
Note that it’s not just your family’s human members whose ancestry might interest you. The best dog DNA test kits can help you tell a Maltese from a mutt, and we’ve reviewed the top choices in that category.
