DNA testing kits are becoming increasingly popular as a way to learn more about your ancestry and genetic makeup. With the introduction of services such as AncestryDNA and 23andMe, users can gain insight into their unique genetic history. Both companies offer comprehensive DNA testing services, allowing customers to discover their family history, living relatives, and health information. But which one is better? In this article, we'll do a detailed review and comparison of AncestryDNA vs 23andMe.
Did You Know? You Can Download Your DNA Raw Data And Get Insights Into 3000+ Traits. Learn More:
Overview of 23andMe
23andMe is a personal genomics company founded in 2006 in California.
The company has sold more than 12.5 million DNA kits to date.
23andMe’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the information present in the human genome.
What Can You Discover with 23andMe?
23andMe offers two kinds of personal genetic services.
- Health + Ancestry
- Ancestry + traits
Health + Ancestry - Opting for this service will help you access more than 150 reports in the following categories.
| Report | Description |
|---|---|
| Ancestry | - Find out where exactly your DNA is from across more than 2000 regions. - Understand your ancestry background, including food habits, culture, and history based on DNA ancestry. - Find out where exactly your DNA is from across more than 2000 regions. - Understand your ancestry background, including food habits, culture, and history based on DNA ancestry. |
| Health predisposition | - 10+ reports - Understand how a person’s DNA may affect the risk of developing certain health conditions. - Health conditions analyzed include diabetes, anxiety, Coronary Artery Disease, Eczema, Glaucoma, Hypertension, and more. |
| Wellness status | - 5+ reports - Understand how a person’s DNA may affect wellness factors/quality of life like developing allergies, sleep quality, weight, and muscle composition. |
| Carrier status | - 40+ reports - Find out what health conditions you may pass on as parents to your children. |
| Family health history tree | The ability to track family health history |
Ancestry + traits - Opting for this service will help you access more than 80 reports in the following categories.
| Report | Description |
|---|---|
| Ancestry | - Find out where exactly your DNA is from across more than 2000 regions. - Understand your ancestry background, including food habits, culture, and history based on DNA ancestry. - Use the DNA relative finder to find matches from across the world. - Trace your ancestry timeline |
| Traits | - 30+ reports - Find out what makes you who you are, including how you look, your preference for specific tastes, your risk of going bald, and your unique abilities |
How Much Does 23andMe Cost?
The Ancestry + Traits package of 23andMe costs $99, and the Health + Ancestry package costs $199. The company offers occasional discounts on these, bringing the original cost down.
23andMe Timeline
There are three basic steps when you opt for genetic testing services from 23andMe.
Step 1 - Order the service required, and the company will ship the testing kit to your location. This may take 1-2 business days.
Step 2 - Spit in the saliva collection tube, register the same using the barcode given online and then mail it back using the pre-labeled cover.
Step 3 - The company will run the tests, and you can expect the reports to be ready in 3-4 weeks. You will receive an email when the reports are ready. Log into the website and check these out.
On average, it may take anywhere from a month to 10 weeks to get your reports after making the payment.
Overview of AncestryDNA
AncestryDNA is a part of Ancestry LLC, founded in 1996. The parent company is based out of Utah.
As of date, the company has sold 18 million testing kits and has 3 million subscribers.
What Can You Discover with AncestryDNA?
AncestryDNA focuses exclusively on a person’s ancestral traits and origin. You can order two kinds of testing services from the Ancestry website.
- AncestryDNA
- AncestryDNA traits
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| AncestryDNA | - Explore origin and ethnicity - Find DNA matches from over 10 billion records - Trace your ancestors’ journeys from the past - Build a family tree |
| AncestryDNA Traits | - All features of AncestryDNA - Access to 35+ traits that could tell you why you look and behave in a certain way |
How Much Does AncestryDNA Cost?
The AncestryDNA kit costs $99, and the AncestryDNA Trait kit costs $199. You can find occasional discounts on both on the website.
AncestryDNA Timeline
There are three basic steps when you opt for genetic testing services from AncestryDNA.
Step 1 - Order the service required, and the company will ship the testing kit to your location in 1-2 business days.
Step 2 - Collect the saliva in the given tube and mail it back using the prepaid return mailer.
Step 3 - The company will run the tests, and you can expect the reports to be ready in 6-8 weeks. You will receive an email when the reports are ready. Log into the website and check these out.
On average, it may take up to two months to get your reports after making the payment.
Ancestry vs 23andMe: The Similarities
When comparing both, there are a couple of similarities, which is expected because these are directly competing companies.
Both companies are personal genomic brands that analyze the DNA of individuals to provide information on ancestry, health, and other traits.
You can order the kit from the website of these companies and get them home delivered.
Both brands require only your saliva to run tests.
You can also use the prepaid mailer option in both to send your samples for free through mail.
Ancestry vs 23andMe: Differences In Ancestry Services
If you are purely interested in exploring your family history, then the ancestry services offered by AncestryDNA may be more detailed and accurate.
AncestryDNA has more historical records to work with, given the years the brand has been collecting them.
AncestryDNA also has about 8 million more user data than 23andMe, giving you a more detailed comparison and analysis.
Which Company Offers More Tools To Interpret Ancestry Services?
AncestryDNA has slightly more advanced tools to interpret ancestry services than 23andMe.
Some of these tools include:
- Ethnicity matcher
- Historical details collection
- DNA matches
- Optional World Explorer membership
- Ancestry tracing tool
- Family tree builder
Which Company Is Better For Health Information?
Ancestry no longer offers the option to test for health risks genetically. It discontinued selling its health kits in January 2021.
As a result, 23andMe may be your only option if you want to get your genes tested for health risks and disease concerns.
Another advantage of choosing 23andMe is its carrier status report. You will have access to 40+ reports that may help you know if you are a carrier for certain inherited health conditions that could get passed on to your children.
Some of the reports generated by 23andMe are FDA-approved, which adds to their authenticity.
DNA Raw Data Download
Both companies let you download your DNA raw data file using simple instructions.
To get your 23andMe raw data, follow the instructions in this video:
To access your AncestryDNA account, follow the instructions on this page:
How To Login To Your Ancestry DNA Account + Get Health Reports At 70% Off!
Ancestry vs 23andMe: Which Company Protects Your Privacy Better?
Privacy is always a concern when you let any company access your personal information.
As a user, you need to be aware of what information these companies collect and store and what they share with third parties.
When you compare privacy promises between the two companies, both have similar terms and conditions.
AncestryDNA stores DNA details and samples without using your name or other personal details.
You can choose to download or delete the reports anytime you want.
The company will not share your information with third parties unless you opt for it.
With 23andMe, the privacy terms are very similar too. You can choose to save your samples or destroy them after use.
Unless you choose to participate in their sharing features, 23andMe will not share your information with third parties.
You can also delete your account permanently anytime you wish to.
Ancestry vs 23andMe - Which Is Better?
Both AncestryDNA and 23andMe come with their strengths.
The choice between them depends on what you want from genetic testing.
If you are interested in learning more about your ancestry, lineage, and possible family connections, then Ancestry may have a larger data pool to compare your DNA.
If you want to understand health risks or carrier status data, 23andMe will offer detailed reports that may help.
If you are in a hurry to get your genetic testing report, 23andMe promises results within a month, while AncestryDNA may take up to eight weeks to upload your results.
Cost-wise, both companies may charge you similarly depending on your chosen service.
Explore the available packages and see which fits your requirements better before making a choice.
