DNA advisor and avid family historian Karen Evans compares the pros and cons of the autosomal DNA tests on the market. Read on to learn which test is best for you; and if you’ve already taken a test, read on to ensure you’re getting the most from your DNA test results
I thought about taking a DNA test for years. My paternal grandfather was illegitimate and so was a great-grandmother and her mother! But I hesitated.
If I’m honest I wondered whether spending that amount of money would be worth it and, more importantly, whether it would help with any of my ‘missing father’ brick walls.
I watched as prices slowly began to fall and the choice in tests grew. I finally took the plunge in 2017 at a family history show where there was a tempting, too-good-to-resist offer on a FamilyTreeDNA test. And, oh what an exciting, educational and sometimes frustrating area of genealogy it opened up!
Goodness, I was naïve, having done little DNA research despite being a long-standing family historian. It was a steep learning curve and I made mistakes but, ultimately, I’m so glad I took that first step.
So here is my (hard learned) take on the tests available and the pros and cons they have.
I won’t be covering Y DNA or MtDNA tests here. Instead, I’m focusing on autosomal tests which are the most popular DNA tests taken by family historians from the following companies: 23andMe, Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA, LivingDNA and MyHeritage.
Let’s dive into the details!
Cost
Prices vary greatly depending on the time of year. Many of the companies offer discounted tests around Christmas and Black Friday; Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are also popular times to drop prices.
However non-sale prices are: 23andMe £99, Ancestry £79 plus shipping (£9.99 for one kit and then £4.99 for any additional kits ordered at the same time), FamilyTreeDNA £70 (depending on conversion rates from dollars to sterling), LivingDNA £74.95 and MyHeritage £84. Some of these companies require a subscription to access all the tools (see below) so this needs to be factored in.
Taking the test & waiting times
Whichever company you use they will need a sample of your DNA. Some companies (23andMe and Ancestry) ask for a small vial of your saliva, the others (FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and LivingDNA) require a cheek swab. Both methods are painless and all the companies give clear instructions on how to take a sample. I often see people on social media ask how long it will take
