Those wondering what the differences are between 23andMe and Ancestry DNA should read this article. This comparison of the two companies’ services will help you decide which one is right for you. Both offer results of your genetic profile, but they do different things. 23andMe compares your genetic profile to millions of others, and its algorithms are designed to find genetic markers that match specific regions of the world. Depending on where you come from, these results can help you determine your ethnicity and ancestral background.
AncestryDNA
The biggest difference between 23andMe and AncestryDNA is in how they process your raw DNA data. While both sites offer raw data, 23andme includes mtDNA and YDNA results, whereas AncestryDNA doesn’t. In addition to the differences in DNA types, each site also has different regions covered. 23andMe has a wider coverage of DNA regions, which should give you more accurate ethnicity results.
- A FEW SIMPLE STEPS: Discover your DNA story with our easy-to-follow instructions. Simply activate your DNA kit online and return your saliva sample in the prepaid package to our state-of-the-art lab. In roughly six to eight weeks, your results will be ready online.
- TOP-SELLING CONSUMER DNA TEST: From your origins in over 1,500 regions to the most connections to living relatives, no other DNA test kit delivers an experience as unique and interactive as an AncestryDNA kit.
- ETHNICITY ESTIMATES AND INHERITANCE: A more precise ethnicity estimate with greater geographic detail and in-depth historical insights connects you to the places in the world where your story started—and with our specialized SideView technology, we can show you which ethnicities were passed down to you from each parent, even without them taking a DNA test.
- BUILD A FAMILY TREE: Combine what you learn from your DNA with an Ancestry subscription for access to millions of family trees and billions of records—for even more insight into your genealogy and origins.
- PROTECTING PRIVACY: When you send your DNA kit to us, we employ industry-standard security measures in every stage of our process, work to protect your data, and give you control over it—with data encryption, secure databases, and easy-to-use controls.
If you want to build a large family tree and find out your roots, AncestryDNA is the better choice. Because of its vast database, you’re likely to find extended family members. 23andMe, on the other hand, has a simple family tree builder and ancestry report, and it’s not that expensive. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial of the family resource library.
While AncestryDNA has a stricter privacy policy, 23andMe stores DNA information separately from personal details. They store DNA data with a barcode that is unique to you. 23andMe also requests your permission before sharing your genetic data with researchers. This gives you more control over how your DNA is used. Ultimately, you should choose which company suits your needs best. When it comes to DNA testing, there are several advantages to 23andMe over AncestryDNA.
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two services that claim to offer the most accurate ancestry data. Neither of them offers matching services, but both boast the world’s largest database and over seven million users. In addition to the genetic information, 23andMe and AncestryDNA offer health-related information as well. If you want to find out more about your heritage, you should choose 23andMe.
The cost of genealogical DNA testing is similar. AncestryDNA claims the entire process takes six to eight weeks, while 23andMe says it takes three to four weeks. Of course, you can choose which service to use based on how you’d like to use the results. Regardless of your choice, both sites are easy to use. All you have to do is place saliva in a vial and mail it back in sealed packaging.
23andMe
There are many advantages to 23andMe, and one of these is its chromosome painting feature, which allows users to see the ancestral origins of specific people, places, or groups. The chromosome painting feature is available in both tests, but 23andMe has a slightly more interesting map. Both companies give you hundreds of ethnic regions, but 23andMe offers more visualizations, including Your Ancestry Timeline and Your Chromosome Painting.
- WHAT YOU GET: At-home DNA test kit with access to 80+ personalized reports. Our innovative ancestry composition estimates your ancestry to the 0.1% across 3500+ geographic regions. Learn when your most recent ancestors from each population lived. Opt in to find DNA relatives and automatically build your family tree. Find out what makes you unique with personalized traits reports.
- ANCESTRY FEATURES: Dig deeper into your ancestry with the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown. Go back in time with the Ancestry Timeline to gain a clearer picture of where your ancestors lived and when they lived there. Discover your family origins with the Haplogroup feature. Opt-in to DNA Relative Finder to discover and connect with people who share your DNA. The automatic Family Tree feature makes it easy to see your DNA relationships.
- TRAIT REPORTS: Do you have freckles, a taste aversion to cilantro, perfect musical pitch, prefer sweet or salty, have a fear of heights, or get more mosquito bites than others? See what your DNA might have to say about these traits and others from 30+ reports that uncover how your genes make you unique.
- SIMPLE & EASY: DNA-based ancestry test in 3 simple steps, all from home. No blood, no needles. Our at-home saliva collection kit is all you need to send your DNA to the lab. We have made the process as simple as possible. Spit in the provided tube, register your kit using the barcode, and return the saliva sample back to our lab in the pre-paid package. Get results back in 4-5 weeks. Upgrade to our essential Health + Ancestry Service at anytime from your account.
- PRIVATE AND PROTECTED: Know that you are in control of your DNA. Discovery should never come at the expense of privacy. Your data is encrypted, protected, and under your control. You decide what you want to learn and what you want to share. Subject to 23andMe’s Terms of Service at 23andme. com/tos and Privacy Statement at 23andme. com/about/privacy.
A detailed privacy policy is available on both services, describing how the data is stored and used. Both companies have security measures in place to keep your personal information safe. Furthermore, both companies have different uses for your DNA data, and you can choose which one is right for you. In addition, 23andMe is easier to use and provides more information about your ancestry, including ethnic regions, migration patterns, and more.
In addition, 23andMe offers genetic health screening, whereas AncestryDNA does not. If you’re curious about your family’s genetic makeup, you can download your raw data from both services. AncestryDNA also offers the option to download raw DNA, which is valuable if you’re unsure of where to find it elsewhere. Both sites have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose your service wisely, though. If you’re in doubt, try a free DNA analysis to determine your ancestry.
When it comes to health tests, 23andMe wins hands-down. The health test includes a Carrier Status report, which tells you whether you carry a recessive or dominant gene variant. This can be a valuable tool for family planning. In addition to health reports, 23andMe also offers a variety of ancestry reports. You can also find relatives who have taken the test or view your grand tree, which is an incredible way to trace your ancestry.
Both 23andMe Vs AncestryDNA test comes with health reports, although AncestryDNA’s is more comprehensive. The $99 test only gives you ancestry information, whereas the $199 test includes health tests and screening. Moreover, you can upload your results to several programs later on if you’d like to. In order to do a 23andme test, you have to send your spit to a tube, and the results will be revealed in just a few weeks. Both test companies offer their results online, which is convenient for consumers.
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two of the most popular genetic testing services, so which is better for your family? 23andMe offers more genetic information, including maternal and paternal haplogroups, while Ancestry’s DNA database is smaller. Ancestry also has a superior family tree feature, but neither offers a traits report. Both companies have their strengths and weaknesses.
The company claims that its genome-based health report will reveal your genetic makeup, but studies have shown that only 2% of people will benefit from these tests. In addition, some people are concerned about the use of personal data, ranging from the privacy of individual results to sharing of data with partners. The company is working with the USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery to develop the health report. And it partnered with Calico, a Google-backed longevity startup.
AncestryDNA launched in 2012 and has 15 million users. In comparison, 23andMe currently has 10 million customers. As the leading direct-to-consumer genetic testing company in the world, Ancestry is expanding its DNA health service. AncestryHealth Plus, meanwhile, is a membership service and will include a detailed genetic report. Regardless of the service, both services will give consumers a detailed analysis of their genetic makeup, and will provide recommendations based on that information.
Another important difference between 23andMe and AncestryDNA is their DNA pool. 23andMe has a larger database of customers with more than three billion base pairs, while Ancestry DNA has only twelve million. This may limit your odds of finding contemporary relatives and ethnicity estimates. However, 23andMe is easier to use and navigate. The site also offers a convenient summary of your DNA analysis.
FamilyTreeDNA
When comparing FamilyTreeDNA vs 23&Me, one of the most important considerations is whether or not you want to share your DNA with the public. FamilyTreeDNA offers many different testing options, including bundled mitochondrial tests with 67 markers. Most users will choose a basic autosomal test, however. Both services have extensive knowledge bases and frequently asked questions sections, which walk you through testing, results, and interpretation. Additionally, both companies offer a wide variety of scientific papers and recommended reading.
- Connect with Relatives – Our DNA test kit is equipped with interactive tools that track your genealogy, trace your lineage, and determine family connections. With our Family Matching and Chromosome Browser features, connect with your genetic relatives across the globe while also comparing the DNA segments that you share.
- Explore Your Genetic History – Explore your origins further using the myOrigins Chromosome Painter feature. The myOrigins Chromosome Painter uses colors representing the populations in your myOrigins results to paint segments of your genome. Use the Chromosome Painter to see where each DNA segment in your ancestry comes from.
- Explore Your Ancient Roots – Our DNA ancestry test kit unravels your ancient DNA and history. With ancientOrigins, find out the amount of autosomal DNA you carry from ancient European groups: Neolithic Hunter/Gatherers, Early Farmers, and Bronze-age Metal Invaders.
- Convenient Self-Test Kit – Collect your samples in the comfort of your home! This non-invasive ancestry testing kit only requires a simple cheek swab. After extraction, mail your kit back using our return shipping envelope or, for US residents, our prepaid return shipping label.
- Trusted and Secured Testing – Our DNA & ancestry tests are covered by our data privacy and terms of service policies. The DNA kit findings are also processed in our in-house laboratory by our team of experts.
Privacy is a big concern for many consumers, and FamilyTreeDNA allows its customers to opt out of law enforcement searches. But it has recently amended its privacy policy without notifying users. While this policy may be a dealbreaker for some consumers, it raises broader concerns about the privacy of personal data. To that end, it is important to learn about the privacy policies of both services.
Another significant difference between FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe is the price. 23andMe charges $9-58 for each test. FamilyTreeDNA is less expensive, but requires you to pay an additional $19-58 to upload your results. For this cost, you can access a database of your genetic results. In addition, both companies offer extensive ethnicity information, family migration histories, and a way to get in touch with genetic matches via email. Lastly, both services have an impressive user database.
FamilyTreeDNA vs 23&Me: Which service is better? It depends on what you’re looking for. 23andMe is more expensive, but it is the most widely available direct-to-consumer DNA test. FamilyTreeDNA offers health reports and ancestry reports. The company is based in San Francisco. The company was founded by Anne Wojcicki, Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza.
Both services offer health reports, although FamilyTreeDNA is more comprehensive than 23andMe. You can access detailed information through its website. But you should know that you can’t upload your raw genetic data. If you’re interested in learning about your history, then 23andMe is the better choice. However, you may want to use the former if you’re just beginning to discover your family heritage.