Multi-generational family exploring their ancestry and heritage
4
Platforms
$39+
From
25M+
People in DB
Genomic Foundations

Discover Your Ancestral Origins

Intelligence analysis of microarray-based ancestry platforms based on 1,000+ verified user reports and official specifications. Data sovereignty assessment. Haplogroup resolution evaluation. Your genetic heritage deserves transparent analysis.

Microarray Analysis Data Sovereignty Haplogroup Resolution
Direct Answer

Which ancestry DNA test should I get?

It depends on what you want. If you want to find living relatives and build a family tree, AncestryDNA has the largest database — over 25 million people — giving you the best chance of finding matches. If family history through your direct paternal or maternal line matters to you, FamilyTreeDNA is the only company offering those specialist tests alongside a standard ancestry kit. MyHeritage is a great budget option, often available under $40 bundled with a free trial.

Note: all ancestry kits analyse less than 1% of your DNA. For a complete picture of your genetic health, consider a full genome test →

How They Compare

Platform Price SNP Coverage Data Export Fidelity
Ancestry $99 ~700K Raw TXT 78/100 Analysis
MyHeritage From $33 ~700K Raw TXT 76/100 Analysis
Living DNA $99 ~700K Raw CSV 74/100 Analysis
FamilyTreeDNA $79+ ~700K + Y-700 CSV/FASTA 82/100 Analysis
Our Score (out of 100) is a weighted composite: Data sovereignty 40% · Haplogroup resolution 30% · Export formats 20% · Privacy policy 10%. Scores are compared within the ancestry category. Full methodology →

Reviews

Independent analysis of data export, haplogroup coverage, and what you actually get for your money.

#1 Worldwide
Ancestry logo

Ancestry

Ancestry Test
78
Fidelity

The world's largest consumer DNA database with 25+ million users. Industry leader for finding DNA relatives. DNA matching is included with the $99 kit — the Ancestry records subscription is optional and separate. Microarray-based genotyping with ~700K SNP coverage.

  • 25M+ DNA database
  • Billions of historical records
  • Family tree builder
  • ThruLines DNA matching
SNPs
~700K
Method
Microarray
Raw Data
Raw TXT
Starting from $99 (kit)
Best for Europe
MyHeritage logo

MyHeritage

Ancestry Test
76
Fidelity

European heritage powerhouse. Best-in-class for EU record collections and the famous DeepNostalgia AI photo animation. Kit frequently on sale from $33; standard price $89. Complete subscription $149/yr. GSA v2 microarray platform.

  • European record strength
  • DeepNostalgia photo animation
  • Photo colorization
  • Smart Matches
SNPs
~700K
Method
Microarray
Raw Data
Raw TXT
Starting from From $33 (kit) + $149/yr
Living DNA logo

Living DNA

Ancestry Test
74
Fidelity

British Isles specialist offering granular UK regional breakdown that giants like Ancestry miss. Includes Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroups at no extra cost.

  • 21 UK regions
  • Maternal & paternal haplogroups
  • Viking ancestry
  • Wellbeing insights
SNPs
~700K
Method
Microarray
Raw Data
Raw CSV
Starting from $99
FamilyTreeDNA logo

FamilyTreeDNA

Ancestry Test
82
Fidelity

The genealogist's choice. Advanced Y-DNA (Big Y-700) and mtDNA testing for deep ancestral lineage research. ISOGG-standard haplogroup assignments.

  • Y-DNA testing (Y-700)
  • mtDNA full sequence
  • Big Y-700 deep ancestry
  • Surname projects
SNPs
~700K+
Method
Y-DNA: NGS
Raw Data
Raw CSV/FASTA
Starting from $79 - $449
GENOMIC UPGRADE PATH

Microarray covers 0.02% of your genome

For complete BAM/VCF sovereignty and 30X read depth, upgrade to Whole Genome Sequencing. Full 6.4 billion base pair coverage with ≥90% Q30 accuracy.

Explore WGS Intelligence Reports

Not sure which ancestry test to pick?

Our comparison guide breaks down all four tests side by side — who each one is best for, the pros and cons, and what you actually get for your money.

Which Ancestry Test Is Right for Me? →