

Updated · Feb 17, 2022
Are you looking for the best DNA test kit you can purchase on the web in 2022?
Then you’ve come to the right place. We reviewed the 7 top DNA testing services, covering ancestry, health screening, and even paternity. Our reviews homed in on:
Whether you want to find out your genetic makeup, build a family tree, or learn how at-risk you are for certain diseases, we’ll help you find the best DNA test kit for you.
The DNA genealogy test kit from Living DNA is one of the most affordable options out there. At just $69 you get the full ancestry experience, covering over 150 regions of the world. When you come to build your family tree their machine learning tool will be able to populate a lot of it automatically. There’s also a wellbeing kit that gives advice on diet and exercise based on your genetics. Living DNA truly has it all!
at Living DNA
Price
Affordable
Subscription fees
No
Additional health information
Available
The oldest and most well-known commercial DNA ancestry tests, AncestryDNA provides one of the best DNA test kits 2022 has to offer. If you want to learn your genetic makeup, where your ancestors came from, and build your family tree, look no further. It even lets you contact genetic relatives via their online profile. Due to its massive database and positive reviews, it’s considered the most accurate DNA test for ancestry.
at Amazon
DNA Database
Billions of records
Historical Timeline and Ancestral Movements
Yes
Ease of Use
5/5
23andMe was one of the first public DNA testing companies to offer a health screening kit. You can learn whether you are predisposed to certain genetic diseases or lighter health markers. On top of that, 23andMe has a great wealth of ancestry data. Their online tools are some of the best! The community is only second in size to AncestryDNA, making it the most accurate ancestry test to include health screening.
at Amazon
Turnaround time
Fast
Records Database
Large
Additional Health Data
Yes
MyHeritage has a large online database and some of the best health screening available, allowing you to know whether you are predisposed to certain diseases or bad genes. It also has one of the best DNA ancestry kits. There are great online maps and visuals to help you learn about your ancestors, the regions they settled, and where your current genetic family members reside.
at MyHeritage
Turnaround
Fast
Records Database
Large
Additional Health Data
Yes
FamilyTreeDNA is the genealogy test of choice for professionals, thanks to its combination of Y-DNA, mtDNA, and Autosomal DNA testing. Get detailed and accurate results going back 5 generations! It has a responsive online system that allows you to view your results and dig into the data. Pricing starts at just $79. It’s the best heritage DNA test for combining a range of different testing methods.
at FamilyTreeDNA
Use case
Professional
Family Tree Builder
Yes
Range of testing methods
Complete
HomeDNA is a great all-rounder when it comes to genetic genealogy testing, giving you detailed ancestry, as well as health markers. You can discover allergies, how well your skin fairs in the sun and how you can look after it, and the genetics associated with your weight. Kits are affordable, starting at $64 and the website is easy to use. Overall, this is currently the best genealogy test for health sensitivities and personal genomics.
at Amazon
Price
Affordable
Ancestry Migration Route
Yes
Additional Health Data
Yes
The STK home paternity test kit is the ideal solution to confirm parenthood, without having to arrange a test at the doctor’s office. The kit arrives within a few days - all you have to do is perform cheek swabbing. Once sent back you’ll get the results within 5 days. The best option, if you’re looking for your biological father.
at Amazon
Ease of use
5/5
Accuracy
99.999%
Turnaround
Fast
Learn more about the best DNA test kits on the market with our detailed DNA kit reviews.
The science behind DNA testing and screening is now well established. Unless something happens to the sample itself, most tests are extremely accurate. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid can be understood as the unique coding that allows all cells in the body to function. DNA is passed on from our parents and is the reason why we look like them. For the purposes of ancestry and health screening, scientists can match common parts of the DNA to tell the populations it came from, and for example, the diseases it’s associated with. Those that share genetic ancestry are in the same haplogroup and therefore share the same common ancestors.
Despite commonalities, because DNA is overall unique to an individualр it can also be used for genetic fingerprinting, i.e. distinguishing between two or more people. That’s what it’s used for in criminal cases and paternity testing.
Different types of tests track different time periods. For example, a Y-Chromosome or mitochondrial DNA test focusses on 10,000 to 50,000 years ago. An autosomal test traces your family history between a few hundred and a few thousand years. The best DNA testing kits will combine different methods to give you a good overview of your genome.
Because DNA is found in every cell, a simple cheek or saliva swab is the basis for the best DNA test kit products you can buy on the web. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions, send them to the lab with the prepaid envelope, and wait to receive the results via the associated online account. You’ll then get access to any number of tools and features to explore your ancestry, connect with genetic matches, research archives, and records, and build a family tree. You do not need to download any genealogy software as it is all web-based.
Obviously, sharing your genetic data comes with privacy concerns. Fortunately, like most health information it remains confidential. Those who work in DNA testing labs and might access your data are not permitted to share it. Access itself is heavily restricted.
Due to the nature of family tree building and mapping DNA, sharing your results and accessing other people’s information is part of the experience. However, you are not obligated to do this and can opt not to make anything public. Furthermore, having your DNA in a database does not necessarily mean it is personally identifiable to you, i.e. in the broader sets of data, there is no name or identifier. It is also up to you whether you allow people access to your profile.
If you allow your health information to be public, i.e. whether you are at risk of a genetic disease, it too will not include any personal identifiers. Researchers will know a person with this DNA is susceptible to x disease, but not that ‘Mark Jones’ is the person in question.
Typically, any personal information (such as your account details) are stored in a separate area, not directly linked with your DNA, and encrypted like any other secure online account.
Of course, there are public databases with identifiers that you can choose to engage with, but this is your choice.
Ultimately, before proceeding with a DNA test and using the associated online tools, you should read the terms and assess their privacy protocols which you can find on all provider websites. It may also be wise to use a throwaway email address that you usually don’t use for social purposes.
Below you’ll find the explanations of some of the terms we used throughout the article.
Ancestry testing is the process of using your DNA to learn where your ancestors came from and to help you identify relatives. Most tests can go back in detail for multiple generations while giving a broad overview of thousands of years. DNA ancestry tests allow you to find out details about your roots. The best DNA ancestry kits also give you access to a variety of public records and information archives.
Ethnicity is a broad term that refers to a group’s shared attributes, including race, religion, culture, and geographic region. In the context of ancestry DNA testing companies will often display your ethnicity as a broad percentage, such as 40% African, 30% European, 20% Asian, 10% unknown. It does not necessarily reflect how you currently define your ethnicity. Think of it as an insight into the migration process your ancestors went through.
Your family tree is a visual chart that starts with your immediate family and follows familiar relationships back through time and across living relationships. It can be as complex as the data you have access to. Our genetic ancestry test reviews show that the majority of direct-to-consumer genetic testing services provide you with family tree building tools. Some even let you interact with genetic family members who are also using the service.
Some genes have been isolated by scientists as contributors to disease and numerous health issues. Health screening is the process of identifying these genes from your DNA test. Many DNA services will provide you with information such as how at risk you are from developing or passing on a disease, how prone you are to allergies and sensitivities, and your optimum diet and exercise regime based on these genetics.
The Human mitochondrial genome refers to all of the hereditary information within the body’s cells. This DNA, known as mtDNA, is passed down from the mother. The mtDNA test is one method for tracing back human genetics tens of thousands of years across an ancestral line.
The Y-chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in humans and is passed on only from father to son. It is used to explore the patrilineal male line. Y-DNA testing is typically performed alongside mtDNA testing.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism testing analyses a large amount of single DNA variations within a person’s genome and compares them with other people in the DNA database. This helps ascertain specific percentages of ethnicity as opposed to Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA testing which focuses on single ancestral lines.
A haplogroup is a group of people whose DNA matches and can be traced to a common ancestor on either the male or female line. The people within haplogroups are not necessarily in the same ‘family’ or otherwise closely related but at one time their ancestors were. For example, the mtDNA haplogroup H is a haplogroup that came from Southwest Asia between 20,000 and 25,000 years ago. Descendants are now primarily in Europe.
In ancestry groups, the most recent common ancestor is the person from which everyone within a certain haplogroup descended from.
Genomics or genome research refers to the study of all a person’s genes (i.e. their genome), how they interact with each other, and the environment. Analyzing genes for a disease is a form of genomics.
The Human Genome Project is an international research project with the goal of identifying and mapping all of the genes of the human genome and their purpose.
If you want to learn about where your ancestors came from, build your family tree, or even connect with genetic relatives, home DNA testing can be a fun and rewarding experience. It can also provide you with practical information about your health and disease risk factors.
Our genealogy test reviews narrowed down 7 of the best DNA test kits. Each provides detailed results, great online tools, and active online communities, all at an affordable price.
Go on, now! Your family history awaits!
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For the most detailed ancestry reports and the largest database of users, AncestryDNA provides the best ancestry DNA test kit on the market. However, 23andMe has the best screening for genetic/ genealogical diseases, while HomeDNA is currently the best for food and pet sensitivities and other skin conditions. STK is the overall best home paternity test service. Therefore, the best DNA test kit for you will depend on the type of information you find the most important.
Your choice between Ancestry vs 23andMe will depend on what you want from your DNA testing kit. While they both provide similar results when it comes to finding your genetic makeup, ancestral roots, and building your family tree, AncestryDNA has a larger database and more active users, making it the best DNA test for finding relatives. The service also has a better range of resources, such as military records and newspaper archives to add context to your results. However, 23andMe provides a lot of extra health results, allowing you to check for genetic diseases and other predispositions. So, if you’re looking for the best DNA test kit for ancestry, go with AncestryDNA, but 23andMe provides the best human DNA tests for health. You can read about 23andMe or our Ancestry DNA review above.
All of the DNA testing companies we’ve reviewed carry out the highest standard tests from certified labs, using your saliva from a direct sample or cheek swab. Unless something goes physically wrong with the sample or it is somehow swapped with another person’s, they can successfully obtain your DNA with 100% accuracy. The next step is to compare your DNA with their reference populations to determine your ethnicity and ancestry. The quality of this result is dependent on the size of their database and the number of regions covered.
Fortunately, all of the companies we’ve reviewed cover hundreds of regions and have substantial databases. What’s more, the bigger their database gets the more accurate your results become, and you do not have to redo your testing. If you log in 20 years later, you’ll have a much more detailed picture of your genetics. Due to its database size, AncestryDNA is currently the best DNA test for ethnicity.
Other types of testing, such as the paternity one, are simpler - all they do is compare the DNA of two people. STK for example has a 99.9% accuracy rate.
The kits we’ve reviewed all cost money and sometimes even charge extra for a subscription to their online tools. However, occasionally you might find promotions and get free DNA testing for ethnicity and ancestry. In some cases, you may get the ‘kit’ for free but then must pay for the lab work. Fortunately, even the best DNA ancestry kit won’t be more than $200. Some can be picked up for less than $100. Have another look at our DNA testing kits reviews to find the best DNA test kit for your needs.
Deyan G.
Techjury.net's manager. Deyan has been fascinated by technology his whole life. From the first Tetris game all the way to Falcon Heavy. Working for TechJury is like a dream come true, combining both his passions – writing and technology. In his free time (which is pretty scarce, thanks to his three kids), Deyan enjoys traveling and exploring new places. Always with a few chargers and a couple of gadgets in the backpack. He makes mean dizzying Island Paradise cocktails too.
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