AncestryDNA VS 23andMe
If you want to test your DNA and reveal your ancestry and ethnicity with great precision, AncestryDNA and 23andMe should be on top of your list. Both companies offer cutting-edge ancestry DNA tests, but they also add certain features that make their services unique.
AncestryDNA pertains to the largest genealogical conglomerate on the planet, which means you'll also be able to explore billions of genealogical sources and complement the results of your genetic testing with genealogical data. 23andMe, on the other hand, is one of the few companies that offer health-related results with ancestry examination.
Our detailed 23andMe vs. AncestryDNA comparison is designed to list all the important features of both companies, pointing out their advantages and potential shortcomings.
Highlights
- More than 700,000 DNA markers checked for optimal precision
- Search for potential matches among 7 million DNA signatures
- Download your raw DNA data file to use with other companies
- Price: $99.00
- Shipping:35 Countries
- 50+ ancestry estimates down to the 0.1% with 1,500+ regions
- 80+ health reports, FDA-cleared testing kit, raw data download
- CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited processing laboratories
- Price: $99.00
- Shipping:Worldwide (Not Available In All Countries)
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- Submitted By Alan on 04/27/2019Interesting results that align closely with the likes of Gedcom/gedmatch. When you think about that many people constantly migrate from one region to another (or historic invations and conquests) everyone's bloodline gets pretty much mixed up so no test will be able to guess where our ancestors decided to locate. Despite this, I was shown to have 25% French. We always thought it was Germanic, but then, there was a lot of migration across the ages through this area. It accurately showed our dna from 3 continents, though there was much discussion in my family of the countries selected. Only downside is that Ancestry won't accept results from other testers (eg, Myheritage etc) but accuracy is probably about as good as it could get.
- Submitted By STEVEN WOOTEN on 04/13/2019AncestryDNA is a complete rip off. Everything they told us, we knew from googling our last name (which I had done). They did not include anything outside of that information. They did not include anything from my Native American ancestry at all. A person can look at me and tell it's there. I certainly do not look like I am completely Irish and British considering my dark skin, hair, and eyes. What a total waste of time and money. I do not recommend ever using them. There has to be more reputable companies out there.
- Submitted By Sofia on 19/02/2019I have been really disappointed with my results!!!! I am 100% sure I am half Russian and half Italian but the results showed that I am 0% Russian an 27% Italian. Even my Native American results (which were 1%) were higher than Russian! I can not believe it, because my mums side is fully Russian. I hope the company will improve in the future.
- Submitted By Abigail Hunt on 10/15/2018After testing with Family Tree DNA, my husband and I decided to expand our list of relatives and explore the database offered by Ancestry. We found so many new relatives, some of which were located in Europe, out of all places. If you’re adamant about researching your genetic past in-depth, doing a single test is not enough, not by a long shot. Ancestry gave us much more information than FTDNA, but we still have to do the 23andMe test and check their database as well.
- Submitted By Annette Glendenning on 10/12/2019I first found this through the one and only Dr. Ben Lynch who specializes and is the pioneer in the study of our Methylation system. I got a wealth of information regarding my MTRR mutation and explains why my B12 was always so incredibly low. Also, I found a mutation in which 60% of Vitamin A can not be absorbed which answers the question of "why my eyes are deteriorating" and my skin doesn't heal very well. Lastly, I received an email letting me know that they added a new gene test called the APOE mutation which detects and rates Alzheimer's disease and its alleles. My mother passed from Alzheimer's and it's still alarming to me that I have APOE 4 and APOE3 alleles. YIKES! Time to be super Proactive in my diet and lifestyle. 23andme also couples with Ben Lynch with Stratagene, an amazingly easy to read break down of all your problematic SNPs. Thank you so very much for everything, I got everything I needed to know and more.
- Submitted By Sir Francis Baron Von Ross. on 03/19/2019After my stepfather passed away as he was the only father who I knew growing up I did the 23andme DNA to see if I had family or cousins on my real fathers side. I was shocked to learn I had so many people related to me. Everyone was so excited at first but then that faded very fast. Then I found 1st cousins and was great but then they did not bother to talk with me and realized I was not welcomed on my real fathers side. I am all by myself now since no one cares about me. It's a shame that people just don't care if they hurt a person. All I can say is you may be hurt by others but doing the 23andme DNA sure was great.
- Submitted By Walt Jenner on 01/16/2019I did the 23andme test and I found it simple to perform and easy to read the results. After submitting my saliva, it took about 4 weeks to process. I did this around the Christmas holiday, so they were perhaps running a little slower than they would during the summer. I didn't expect to see any "family secrets" revealed, so that wasn't a reason for me to take the test. However, my results DID reveal a family secret: my Aunt is my half-aunt. Whoops! So even if you don't expect to see family secrets, remember that you might reveal one. I wish the 23andme web site would pool "matching relatives" into groups so I can more easily determine which side of the family all the relative matches are from. Sure, it'd be easy if I had my entire family take the test, but many are deceased. And with a surprise half-aunt in the picture, I don't want to ask anyone.
- Submitted By Anna Bennett on 09/02/2018My daughter bought me this test and I was amazed (to say the least) to learn of my origins! It looks like I'm mostly from Europe. Fascinating!
Winner
AncestryDNA offers one of the best and most precise ancestry DNA tests on the market, paired with an active online community and billions of historical records to complement your exploration. Learn more about its complete offer in our objective AncestryDNA review.
Scope Of DNA Tests
23andMe offers ancestry DNA testing + health-related results. The basic ancestry service checks 570,000 genetic markers and covers 31 genetic populations across 150+ regions around the world. The final report will also include your potential Jewish, Native American, and Neanderthal percentages. The company database currently holds more than 2 million genetic profiles, but it doesn’t feature family tree integration. The health portion, which is optional, includes results concerning 43 carrier reports, 8 wellness factors, 8 health risks, and 22 trait reports.
AncestryDNA test examines 700,000 genetic markers and covers 350 geographical regions. The results also include your potential Jewish and Native American percentages but not your Neanderthal genetic “leftovers.” AncestryDNA also allows you to generate your personal family tree and connect with potential relatives across 7 million profiles in its database. AncestryDNA doesn’t feature health results, but its parent company offers a database with more than 16 billion genealogical sources.
Test Processing Times
Both companies take between 6 and 8 weeks to generate the final report.
Privacy & Security
23andMe offers anonymous testing and its website is encrypted with SSL technology. Additionally, the company will not share your sensitive information with third parties without your explicit consent.
AncestryDNA features a strict privacy policy, which puts you in charge of your account and personal information. You can customize the information visible to the public or transfer your administrator privileges any time. Bottom line, no one will be able to access your personal information without your permission.
Value For Money
23andMe’s pricing policy is rather simple. Its ancestry service costs 99$ and you’ll have to pay 100$ extra if you want to receive your health report as well. In our opinion, this service is definitely worth the money if you’re interested in your genetic roots and DNA health risks.
AncestryDNA also charges 99$ for its ancestral exploration. The company doesn’t provide any health-related testing, but you can use additional services offered by its parent company, Ancestry.com LLC. If you’re more interested in genealogical research than health risks, AncestryDNA is a clear-cut choice here.
Overall Experience
23andMe is probably the most popular service of its kind and it pioneered the direct-to-customer model employed by all other similar companies today. The overall experience is smooth from the moment you place your order to the time you receive your final report. 23andMe is a serious company and it leaves zero room for errors.
AncestryDNA belongs to the largest genealogical conglomerate in the world. As such, it has a reputation to uphold, so every service is as seamless as you can possibly imagine. Apart from genetic ancestry, you’ll also be able to delve deeper into your past with numerous brands and services offered by Ancestry.com LLC.