At-home DNA testing kits are all the rage now, and it’s easy to see why.
Tracing your roots through time is a somewhat romantic journey that can lead you to expected paths. This need for discovery has given rise to the at-home DNA testing industry. You can have your DNA tested from the comfort of your home by sending in a saliva sample.
DNA test kits are not made equal. Some are better than others at achieving certain goals. Here is a round-up of some of the Best DNA test kits available on the market today.
1. Best Overall: 23andMe
23andMe is, without a doubt, one of the most popular providers on the market today. The company is the perfect prototype for what everyone else is offering. You can trace your lineage all the way back to the Neanderthal age. The service also comes in handy when you want to screen for the risk of hereditary diseases such as Parkinson’s and celiac disease.
23andMe gives you the opportunity to connect with long-lost relatives and solve long-standing family mysteries. If you share a connection with other users, then it’s possible to reach out to them. They should have this feature enabled for this to work.
23andme is the best DNA test kit overall and comes in two options. You can opt for the genetic only part, which tells you where your ancestors came from. Alternatively, you can combine the health and genetic kit, which helps detect diseases common in people with whom you share genetic code. You need to remember that the test is not a diagnosis. Consult with a doctor in case you have any health concerns.
2. Best for Health: TellMeGen
Worried about your health?
TellMeGen is the best DNA test kit for you. It provides genetic screening for more than 125 diseases as well as insights into how you’ll react to certain medications. After you’ve sent in your sample DNA, you get a detailed “healthmap” that gives a snapshot of all your medical information. For an additional fee, you can be connected to genetic counselors, nutritionists, and physicians to give you guidance on how to manage your health.
While 23andMe does provide health data, TellMeGen is more comprehensive and marginally more accurate. Taking the TellMeGen test is a great way to start taking a proactive approach to your health.
3. Best for Ancestry: AncestryDNA
AncestryDNA is one of the providers who have been around for years. However, they only got into the at-home DNA testing business recently. The company does an excellent job helping people trace their genetic lineage. With a database of 1.4 million people, it is easy to see why AncestryDNA provides the best DNA test kit for ancestry. You get to discover new family members and build new relationships. It goes back five generations and covers 350 regions across the globe.
AncestryDNA is one of the more affordable at-home DNA services available on the market. You’re bound to find the ethnic breakdowns really interesting. It’s unfortunate that the science behind it is not yet fully developed. The only downside to AncestryDNA is that it doesn’t test for health conditions, diseases, or genetic mutations. The other provider we recommend in this niche is CRI genetics.
4. Best Budget: MyHeritage
MyHeritage is considerably cheaper than the competing products and is still as feature-rich as some of the other more expensive providers. You’ll get an ethnicity estimate that matches you with possible relatives. The test is available internationally and pulls from a larger sample size than the competition. For this reason, the results are more accurate.
While the initial cost may be attractive, it is important to note that their report has a content paywall for some elements. For this, you’ll need to pay for premium membership.
5. Best for Genealogy: Family Tree DNA
Family Tree DNA offers three types of ancestry DNA tests – Autosomal, mtDNA, and Y-DNA. It is one of the few providers who do this. Y-DNA comes in handy when your only interest is your paternity lineage. The mtDNA test is for those interested in finding out more about their maternal line. If you’re looking to dig deep into your lineage, then Family Tree DNA is the best DNA test kit for your needs.
6. Best Fitness: DNAFit
Are you a fitness junkie and want to improve your workout sessions? DNAFit is worth a shot. This company takes a completely different approach from its competitors. It uses your genealogical data to determine how your body responds to endurance training and how it deals with certain sports injuries. You’ll also get tips on nutrition, vitamin supplementation, and whether you should be taking antioxidants. After sending in your sample, the results should take about 2 weeks to arrive. The reports generated after the tests cover training intensity, carbohydrate sensitivity, and post-exercise recovery. DNAFit can help you develop a cohesive and personalized fitness and nutrition plan.
7. Best for Pets: Wisdom Panel 3.0 Breed Identification DNA Test Kit
Interested in learning about the ancestry of your dog? You might want to check out the Wisdom Panel Breed Identification Kit. With a simple cheek swab, you’ll be able to determine your dog’s breed. You’ll also get details about their drug sensitivities that can come in handy when they need to see the vet. The company’s database has more than 250 breeds. This is by far the largest pet DNA database in existence.
8. Best Comprehensive Ancestry: National Geographic DNA Test Kit
If you need a deep dive into your ancestry (up to 500,000 years back), then you might want to give the National Geographic DNA Test a shot. They have the best DNA test kit for this kind of assignment. They check for more than 200,000 genetic markers and compare your DNA with 60 populations in their database. You’ll get the opportunity to compare your DNA to that of famous people such as Benjamin Franklin. You might just find that you’re related.
The National Geographic DNA Test Kit is great for digging deep into your genealogy but doesn’t perform as well for your more recent lineage. It also does not have a health feature.
