The wide range of DNA testing can reveal a variety of things about life.
And did you know there are a variety of possibilities to select from? If you’re interested in finding out more about your lineage and ethnicity you’ll be able to find everything you need to know about it. MyHeritage helps you keep track of these aspects. But they’re certainly far from being the sole ones in this line of business.
Each individual has his or her own personal reasons that lead them to other alternatives. For instance, privacy, genuine information, and the possibility of getting to meet potential relatives or friends. It’s true it could be the very last thing on their bucket lists before they can be at peace. Some families are even okay with having relatives that aren’t blood related. Why? They are family too.
This article will look at MyHeritage’s peers and the ways they assist people from all walks of life discover their roots. Let’s go!
Before you continue, you may want to check out this video by Family History Fanatics on YouTube that gives a quick overview. After, you’ll want to read the rest of our article for a more comprehensive review of MyHeritage.
MyHeritage vs. AncestryDNA
Our first competition is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies offer autosomal tests as well as test kits, which is an essential part of DNA testing. Tests give an ethnicity estimate along with the breakdown of different lineages around the world. A difference in comparison to MyHeritage is that the database of AncestryDNA has fourteen million entries. Their results are slower than MyHeritage. They charge a monthly fee of $99 which allows for benefits from their reports.
Another problem is that you are unable to upload your own DNA information. Additionally, the option to make your personal information confidential is not available as well. This can be a red flag, especially for people who value their own privacy above all else. Luckily, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA given to remain private, so that it will not be given away to unwanted third parties.
Like other companies, they provide a subscription plan. AncestryDNA has three plans to select from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Some are easy to understand, such as those of the U.S Discovery tier. There are records of families from one of fifty states in the U.S. If you don’t live in the United States, you can go with the World Explorer tier as it contains records from all countries across the globe. The third level is premium plans in which you get extra content like accessibility to Newspaper.com basic and Fold3.com.
While the number of records could seem remarkable, AncestryDNA may not cover certain countries, particularly those located in Asia. MyHeritage’s smaller database is an advantage as it is broken down into 42 areas. The regions can then be researched to locate particular communities that aren’t mentioned too often. Think of any tribal society and there’s a chance that the DNA test results may be related to these tribes.
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MyHeritage vs. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we will talk about will be Family Tree DNA.
From the start, Family Tree DNA has the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests which are not available through MyHeritage. These specific tests find potential relatives that are on either the mother’s or father’s side only. They do have the general autosomal test called the “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms are active in their communities, and they are committed to your privacy. It’s your choice if you want your DNA to be matched by families who are looking for lost relatives. The problem is that Family Tree DNA does not have as many areas that are covered as MyHeritage. They offer 24 areas on their website. This is an option in the event that neither meet your requirements.
In terms of their offerings, Family Tree DNA has three kits to choose from. They include:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test Cost: $159
- Paternal test: $119
Once you get the results, it is not possible to simply record them in an online family tree despite their name. This may be frustrating to some people as they want to find out how long their family tree goes. Also, it is not possible to obtain details about your health status regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage helps with this as you can even examine common illnesses in the 18-carrier status reports. If you’re looking for particular details regarding your family’s history, go for MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our third one on the list is 23andMe.
The platform was the first company to receive approval from the FDA as a risk screener for diseases. As a complement to it, you can use it either through their website or mobile app. There, you will find information on your health and your ancestry is available. You can build an ancestral tree of your family and explore things like genetic risk as well as the science of genealogy, and genetics as a whole.
23andMe has a wide range in privacy options and preferences to choose from. Depending on your needs, you can retract any consent you have given to the business when you are unsure. Samples are collected through saliva and the results are available within 3 to 4 weeks.
What 23andMe focuses on are paternal and maternal, Neanderthal, and autosomal tests. The biggest benefit of this test is that it covers more than 1500 regions around the world. This may not be a favorite for everyone, but if you want to trace back to smaller groups, they will do the trick. Precise results may be better than an overall view.
When availing of their services, there are three types of tests you can choose from. Each test comes with the customer service and a personalized review of your DNA results. You have the option of choosing:
- Basic Ancestry and Traits – $79
- DNA Health Test – $129
- VIP Health and Ancestry – $429
Even if you can receive improved DNA results through 23andMe, it may not be sufficient for all. For MyHeritage You have the option of availing the tests either through the kits, or by subscriptions. The annual subscription costs $79 and is the same cost for their basic tests. In terms of the kits, for the slightly higher cost of $90, you basically get the same services at a more efficient approach. Do note that DNA tests aren’t affordable; they must go through many processes to get the result and also identify possible relatives.
MyHeritage vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service offers a different approach to accessing information.
The first and most important thing is that FamilySearch offers its services for no cost. The reason for this is the company being a non-profit institution. They have a strong partnership with platforms like MyHeritage or AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books, even if they are not correctly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees for both the public as well as for private use. For family trees that are shared, users are able to see potential relatives and loved ones and how they are related. Private trees won’t be seen through a simple search due to privacy reasons.
They do have physical documents such as genealogical reports, vital records and census records. The only difference is that when making your family tree you cannot download it. Additionally, setting up the tree is a tedious process as well. Another issue is that they don’t provide any type of DNA testing. But if you do not have the funds or the time to determine your family’s lineage You can start here and find out the direction it takes.
If you are planning to get a proper testing for DNA you can always go to MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage Vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our list will be Xcode Life, a platform based in India.
Xcode Life has various reports that you can use. Most of them are health-related that include fitness, nutrition and, of course, health. These reports are general and provide results within 24 hours with PDF formats. Despite this they do not provide any genealogy reporting services. Don’t worry; they do have more services than they lack.
They are able to accept raw DNA information which has been obtained from their partners. These include:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
The DNA files are utilized in their extensive health reports. The user is the sole judge on the kind of report they would like to receive. It is the company’s privacy policies however, you must delete the DNA data manually. For any personal information that is deleted, users have to contact Xcode Life.
Pricing are available in Xcode Life also have bundles that you can pick from. This is what they have:
- Best Seller Pack – $49: nutrition, fitness, health, allergy, skin reports
- Super Pack $89: nutrition fitness, health, allergy and skin care Precision Medicine, and reports on methylation
- Mega Pack for $99: contains each of the 9 individual report packs
The main drawback of this system is that it is not possible to trace your family tree. While you can utilize your existing DNA for different purposes, it’s only for you personally. You can still go here for information if you’re interested in learning more about your DNA, or at the very least.
The Final Verdict
Short story, MyHeritage is the best option for any DNA-related requirements.
You can find out where your family comes from and can be traced back into an entire family tree. The DNA test is also autosomal, which is the industry standard for every genealogical test. Once you get the results, you have the option of calling the ones who match your test. This is especially important to people who want to meet their loved ones one last time.
The kits are also easy to use, and anyone of all ages can benefit from the kits. The results will be available in 3-4 weeks, after which an email is sent to you with the results.
For privacy reasons, MyHeritage never sells personal information to third-party companies. This is to safeguard the DNA samples that are provided to the company as it is uploaded to their database. They will supply them when specifically requested by the owner of the DNA.
While there are no data regarding health-related issues found in the DNA test results, you’ll have to charge a bit for extra details. All in all this is the best place for everything genealogical.
