While MyHeritage’s DNA testing service may be similar to its older rival, AncestryDNA, its uniqueness lies in its consumer base, mainly European or those interested in their European ancestry. The company is currently testing for 42 different ethnic regions and has around 45 million monthly users, making it a compelling choice for anyone looking at genealogical testing. In this article, we take a deep dive into the service. What do they offer, how does it work, and most importantly, is MyHeritage DNA worth it?
About MyHeritage DNA
MyHeritage was founded in 2003 by Gilad Japhet.
Initially a simple genealogical service, it soon implemented facial recognition features to help match users’ facial features across populations.
By 2012, the company had expanded massively, surpassing a billion user records, acquiring its competitors, and adding several useful services to its product.
In 2019, MyHeritage DNA acquired both SNPedia and Promethease.
Today, it is a giant in the field of genealogical analysis, with millions of monthly users and billions of user records.
Tests Offered
MyHeritage DNA Kit
While the kit costs $89 (excluding shipping), it is often on sale.
It includes an ancestry analysis across over 2000 regions.
Additionally, it helps match you to relatives you may not have been aware of.
MyHeritage DNA Kit + 30 Day Free Trial
This pack also costs $89, excluding shipping.
However, it includes a free month-long trial that commences your subscription to the website.
This pack allows access to more features, along with a regional analysis of your genome and a relative searcher service.
You can learn more about your family history and build a family tree.
Billions of historical records are also available upon subscription.
Their latest AI photo tool, called Deep Nostalgia, can animate photos of your ancestors.
It is also made available to subscribers.
After the free trial ends, the first year’s subscription will cost $149.
From the second year onwards, MyHeritage charges a fee of $299.
| MyHeritage DNA Kit | MyHeritage DNA Kit + 30 Day Free Trial |
| Costs $89 | Costs $89 |
| Subscription not included | Subscription included at $150 for the first year and then $299 |
| Offers Ethnicity Estimate and DNA Match | Offers Ethnicity Estimate, DNA Match, family trees, historical records, and Deep Nostalgia |
Ordering A MyHeritage DNA Test Kit
To order a kit, you must create an account with MyHeritage, which will help deliver your results.
Shipping costs $5 and can take up to 7 business days.
However, paying $19 for shipping can reduce this to 3 business days.
The payment methods include PayPal and paying directly with your credit/debit card.
What’s In A MyHeritage DNA Kit?
Instead of collecting your saliva, MyHeritage DNA has two cheek swabs and vials you send off. Here’s what’s in the kit:
- Two cheek swabs
- Two vials filled with DNA-preserving liquid
- One plastic bag
- Return envelope (not prepaid)
- Activation card
- Instruction manual
What Do MyHeritage DNA Results Look Like?
MyHeritage has a turnaround of 4 to 6 weeks after the sample arrives at the lab.
That’s faster than competitors AncestryDNA and 23andMe, which require 6 to 8 weeks.
Eventually, the company will mail your results to your registered email address.
The ancestry report contains two main parts, ‘Ethnicity Estimate’ and ‘DNA Matches,’ each with several different features.
Ethnicity Estimate is a detailed breakdown of your unique DNA composition.
Your ethnicity breakdown, covering 42 ethnicities from around the world, is presented in your report both as a map and as a percentage.
You learn about where your ancestors lived, how they migrated, their names and surnames, and the various ethnicities in your lineage.
DNA Matches is a technology that lets you connect with your ‘relatives.’
It compares autosomal DNA test results and family tree data to identify shared genetic sequences that indicate a family relationship.
You can also connect with your newfound ‘relatives’ via MyHeritage.
MyHeritage also allows you to upload your family tree from an existing genealogy program.
Premium users can avail of the following features:
Family Relativity matches to theorize how you are related to your DNA Matches.
Detailed family trees and pedigree charts
A list of common relatives between you and your DNA Match
Common locations shared by your and your DNA Match’s ancestors
AutoClusters that depict several DNA Matches that descended from a common ancestor
Did You Know?
You can download your DNA raw data from MyHeritage and learn your genetic risk status for over 50+ health traits and 280+ inherited conditions.
Results Section: Raw DNA Data Download
Downloading your raw DNA data is a helpful feature that the company does not advertise as strongly.
You can download your DNA raw data file by following these simple steps.
- In your account, head to the DNA tab and go to ‘Manage DNA kits.’
- On the right-hand side of the MyHeritage kit, click on the three dots and choose ‘Download.’
- You will see a pop-up on your screen with information on what you are about to download. Click the ‘Continue’ button on the pop-up.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions before clicking on the ‘Continue’ button.
- You will receive an email with instructions on how to download the data.
- Find this email in your mailbox and click on the download link.
Important: The link is only valid for 24 hours. If you haven’t used the link within 24 hours, you must start the process again from step 1.
- The link will take you back to the site, where you enter your email ID and password and click the ‘Download’ button.
- The file will be downloaded to your computer.
MyHeritage DNA Acquired Promethease And SNPedia In 2019
In September 2019, MyHeritage officially announced its acquisition of Promethease and SNPedia.
It was their first customer health acquisition.
The article read, “Promethease will be made free through the end of 2019, and SNPedia will remain a free wiki resource for academic and non-profit use,”.
SNPedia
SNPedia, launched in 2006, is an encyclopedia of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
SNPs are genetic variants, and SNPedia helps link them to medical conditions and traits.
MyHeritage plans to maintain SNPedia as a free resource under the same terms and will utilize this comprehensive knowledge base to enhance future versions of MyHeritage’s DNA health products.
However, the database has not been updated properly for the last few years.
Promethease
Promethease is a program developed by the SNPedia team that generates a DNA report from users’ raw DNA data files. Promethease reports contain references from all medical and scientific literature.
Promethease currently charges $12 for its service and lets its consumers store their DNA data.
Following the acquisition, MyHeritage temporarily transformed Promethease into a free service.
MyHeritage intends to keep Promethease separate from its MyHeritage DNA health product line.
Unlike Promethease, MyHeritage does not provide health reports based on DNA data uploaded from other vendors.
All of MyHeritage DNA’s health reports are based on clinical validation of the underlying DNA data.
DNA Raw Data Transfer And Privacy
As of November 1st, 2019, the DNA raw data of the existing non-European Promethease users was copied to MyHeritage along with a new account accessible only by the user.
This account also comes with free services like ethnicity estimates and DNA matching for relatives.
Users who did not wish to transfer their DNA data or reports to MyHeritage were invited to delete their accounts before November 2019.
Promethease notified all its users of these changes by email.
People who wish to take a genetic health test or receive health reports are encouraged to purchase tests from MyHeritage DNA.
2024 Update: MyHeritage DNA Kit
Previously, MyHeritage DNA offered a Health Kit and an Ancestry Kit.
In 2024, they offer just one DNA Kit.
As mentioned previously, you can purchase this kit either as a standalone or as part of a subscription bundle.
2022 Update: Deep Nostalgia By MyHeritage
Deep Nostalgia is a new addition to MyHeritage’s suite of photo tools.
This feature allows you to animate the faces of your loved ones in still photos.
It detects faces from old photos and imagines what those people would look like if they had been recorded on video.
You need to create a free account with MyHeritage to avail this feature.
Announcing MyHeritage LIVE 2020
MyHeritage LIVE brings together family history enthusiasts, top international experts, and MyHeritage staff for two days of fascinating lectures covering the latest topics in genealogy and DNA.
Each year, hundreds of MyHeritage users from around the world attend.
MyHeritage LIVE 2020 took place in October 2020 at the Hilton Tel Aviv.
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