From connecting with long-lost relatives to a unique gifting option, ancestry DNA testing kits have become increasingly popular. Among the many companies offering ancestry genetic testing services, 23andMe and MyHeritage stand out as two of the most well-known options. Whether you’re interested in tracing your family tree, discovering distant relatives, or understanding your genetic predispositions, choosing the right service is crucial. In this article, we’ll compare 23andMe and MyHeritage, examining their features, benefits, and key differences to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
Did You Know?
You can download your DNA data from your ancestry test provider and use it to learn everything about your health and wellness, from disease risk and sleep disorders to optimal nutrition and MTHFR status.
Overview of 23andMe Services
23andMe is a biotechnology and personal genomics company that was founded in 2006. It is based out of California and claims to have sold over 12 million DNA kits to date. The brand offers four different services.
One-time Payment Services
Ancestry
- Compares ancestry data from over 3000+ regions
- Includes 30+ trait reports
- Includes tools like DNA Relative Finder, Ancestry Composition, Family Tree Creation, and Ancestry timeline
Health + Ancestry
- Includes 150+ personalized reports + all services of Ancestry + Traits kit
- 10+ health predisposition reports
- 5+ wellness reports
- 40+ carrier status reports
Subscription Services
23andMe+ Premium
- Everything in Health + Ancestry and
- Pharmacogenetics reports
- Health Action Plan feature
- Health Tracks feature
23andMe+ Total Health
- Everything in 23andMe+ Premium and
- Clinical-grade exome sequencing
- Biannual blood tests
- Virtual consultation with clinicians
Overview of MyHeritage Services
MyHeritage is a freemium (free + paid service) genealogy company based out of Israel. The company was founded in 2003 and claims to have access to 18.8 billion historical records collected worldwide.
The company also has 105 million users and offers information in 42 languages.
MyHeritage sells a DNA kit that comes with the following features.
- Ancestry discovery across 2114 regions
- Discover family histories and find new relatives
- Build family tree
Free Tools For 23andMe, AncestryDNA Raw Data Analysis
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
What Are The Similarities?
When you compare MyHeritage vs 23andMe, there are a few similarities to be aware of.
Both are personal genomics companies and offer detailed ancestry exploration services.
The kits from both these companies can be ordered online and received via post. You have to collect the DNA sample and mail it back for the companies to start analyzing.
Both these companies have yearly subscription models, where you can explore your family history and ancestry details throughout the year and keep finding relatives from across the world.
What Are The Differences?
There are a lot of significant differences when you compare MyHeritage vs 23andMe, and the major pointers are captured in the table below.
MyHeritage vs 23andMe: Comparison Table
| Features | 23andMe | MyHeritage |
| DNA sample collected | Saliva | Cheek swab |
| Basic kit prices | Ancestry – $99 | Health + Ancestry – $199 | MyHeritage DNA kit – $89 + shipping |
| Subscription costs | $219 for the kit + $69 for the yearly membership per year | $129 – $299/year |
| Results in | 4-5 weeks | 3-4 weeks |
| Number of years of existence as of 2022 | 16 years | 19 years |
| Types of test | Autosomal DNAmtDNAY-DNA | Autosomal DNA |
| Products/tools available | Ancestry reports, Family tree, DNA relative finder, Trait reports, Health predisposition reports, Carrier status reports, Traits reports, Wellness reports, Pharmacogenetics reports | Ancestry reports, Family tree, DNA relative finder, Deep Story, AI Time Machine |
| Raw data available for download | Yes | Yes |
Ancestry Results: Which One Is Better?
If you are looking for exclusive ancestry data, compared to 23andMe, MyHeritage may provide slightly more advanced tools and a more extensive database.
The larger the database, the more accurate the ancestry results could be. The addition of tools like the AI Time Machine, Deep Story, and Ethnicity estimate can also make a MyHeritage account more attractive.
MyHeritage vs 23andMe: Which Company Provides More Tools?
From the ancestry point of view, MyHeritage could provide you with more tools to explore your background.
Some of the tools provided can be accessed for free after creating an account on MyHeritage, which is an advantage.
However, for every other part of personal genomic testing, including health and wellness predisposition, carrier status, and traits, 23andMe could be your only choice.
By choosing the health + ancestry kit from 23andMe, you can access multiple tools and get hundreds of personalized reports.
Advantages of 23andMe
MyHeritage discontinued its health DNA kits a while back.
So, if you want to understand health predispositions, the traits attached to your ancestry, or how your genes affect your lifestyle choices, then 23andMe should be your choice.
When you compare MyHeritage vs 23andMe, the latter has a slightly better user interface that makes it easy to explore the tools.
Out of the hundreds of reports generated by 23andMe, about 54 of them are FDA-approved.
When you opt for the subscription plan from 23andMe, you can get access to pharmacogenetic reports that may help understand your body’s reaction to different drugs.
In total, the 23andMe health + ancestry kit is more holistic, and you get access to varied categories of reports and tools that MyHeritage doesn’t offer.
Does 23andMe Allow Download of DNA Raw Data?
Yes. You can submit a request to download DNA raw data in your account on 23andMe. The files are usually sent to the associated email ID within an hour.
To get your 23andMe raw data, follow the instructions from this page:
How to download your 23andMe Raw Data for 3000+ Health Reports
Advantages of MyHeritage
MyHeritage’s ethnicity estimate and ethnicity map are both slightly more insightful. Also, the database used by this brand is more expansive than that used by 23andMe.
MyHeritage offers basic information on most tools without a premium subscription. Unless you want to explore some of the information in-depth, you can get away without subscribing.
For instance, the family tree software of MyHeritage allows you to create a tree with 250 members for free without needing to subscribe.
You can also use many of the photo tools without a premium subscription.
Does MyHeritage Allow Download of DNA Raw Data?
Yes. MyHeritage lets you download DNA raw data to a computer or an Android device.
Summary: 23andMe vs. MyHeritage
MyHeritage and 23andMe are personal genomic companies that analyze DNA to generate ancestry reports.
23andMe also generates health predisposition, traits, wellness, carrier status, and ancestry reports.
MyHeritage DNA kits may be a cheaper yet better option for people looking exclusively for ancestry information.
For people interested in learning about how their genes affect other aspects of their lives, including health and wellness, 23andMe kits work the best.
