The vast universe of DNA testing may provide you with a wealth of things about life.
Did you know that there are numerous options to choose from? If you’re interested in finding out more about your family’s history and ethnicity you’ll be able to find all you can about it. MyHeritage helps you keep track of these things. But they’re certainly not the only ones in this line of business.
Each person has their own intentions that lead them to other alternatives. This includes privacy, authenticity of information and the possibility of meeting potential relatives or family. It’s true this may be the last thing on their bucket list before they are at peace. Some families are even okay with having relatives who do not have blood ties. Why? They’re family too.
This article will look at MyHeritage’s competitors and how they help people from every walk of life to find their roots. Let’s go!
Before you go on, you may want to watch this video by Family History Fanatics on YouTube that gives a quick review. After, you’ll want to read the rest of our article for a more comprehensive review of MyHeritage.
MyHeritage and. AncestryDNA
Our first opponent is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies provide autosomal tests and test kits, which are an essential part of DNA testing. Tests give an estimate of your ethnicity as well as an analysis of the various lineages across the globe. One difference here compared to MyHeritage is that the AncestryDNA database contains fourteen million entries. However, their results are slower than MyHeritage. It includes a monthly fee of $99 which allows for benefits from their reports.
Another problem is that you are unable to upload your own DNA data. Plus, the option to make your own information confidential is not available too. This can be a red flag particularly for those who value their own privacy above everything other considerations. Fortunately, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA to be private so it would not be sold to unwelcome third-party.
As with many companies, they provide subscription plans. 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. You get records from families from one of fifty states in the U.S. If you are not a resident there, you can go with the World Explorer tier as it contains records from all countries across the globe. The third option is premium plans in which you can access additional content, such as accessibility to Newspaper.com basic and Fold3.com.
Although the amount of data might appear impressive, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, especially those located in Asia. MyHeritage’s smaller database is an advantage because it’s broken down into 42 areas. The regions can then be searched to identify particular communities that aren’t mentioned all the time. Think of any tribe There’s a good chance that the DNA test results might be related to one of the tribes.
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MyHeritage vs. Family Tree DNA
The next platform that we’ll be discussing is Family Tree DNA.
From the start, Family Tree DNA has mtDNA and Y-DNA tests that are not provided by MyHeritage. These tests can help you identify potential relatives from either the father’s or mother’s side only. There is also the autosomal general test known as the “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms have active communities and they are committed to your privacy. It’s your choice to decide if you would like the information you provide to be found by potential families when searching for missing relatives. But, Family Tree DNA does not have as many areas which are covered as MyHeritage. They have 24 areas on their website. Nonetheless, this can be an option when either cannot satisfy your needs.
For their offerings, Family Tree DNA has three kits available. They include:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test: $159
- Paternal test: $119
After you’ve gotten the results, you can’t actually record it in the form of a family tree electronically despite the name. This could be a problem for those who wish to find out how long their lineage goes. Additionally, it’s impossible to locate health-related information about your ethnicity. MyHeritage can help with this, because you can also examine common illnesses in the 18-carrier status reports. So if you are finding precise details about the family’s history, search for MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our number three on the list is 23andMe.
This platform is the first company to be granted approval from the FDA as a risk screening tool for diseases. As a complement to it, you can use it either through their website or mobile application. In it, information about your health and ancestry are available. You can create your family tree and study subjects like genetic risks, the science of genetics, as well as genealogy as a whole.
23andMe has a wide range choices of consent and privacy options that you can choose from. Based on your preferences you can revoke any consent you have given to the business at any time you change your mind. Samples are collected through saliva and results are reported within 3 to 4 weeks.
What 23andMe concentrates on is paternal and maternal Neanderthal, and autosomal tests. One of the biggest advantages here is they cover more than 1500 regions around the globe. This factor may not please all, but if you would like to trace back lesser-known groups, they can do the trick. Precise results may be better than an overall view.
If you are interested in their services, there are three types of tests to choose from. All tests come with customer support and a custom 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
Although you may get added DNA results from 23andMe, the price may not be enough for everyone. For MyHeritage customers, there is the choice of availing of the tests either through kit or through subscriptions. The subscription starts at $79/year and is the same cost for their base tests. In terms of the kits, at an additional $90, you basically get the same services but with more capability. Do note that DNA tests aren’t affordable; they must go through many processes to get the results and identify potential relatives.
MyHeritage Vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service offers a different method of information access.
The first and most important thing is that FamilySearch offers its services for no cost. The reason for this is the fact that it’s being a non-profit organization. They’re partnered with powerful platforms such as MyHeritage as well as AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books even if they are not correctly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees that are available for private and public use. If you have family trees that are shared, users will be 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.
There are physical reports like genealogical documents, including vital records and census records. Except, when creating the tree of your families, it is not possible to download it. In addition, setting up the tree is a long process too. Another catch is that they don’t offer any DNA tests. If you don’t have the budget or resources to trace your lineage it is possible to start here and then discover the direction it takes.
And if you plan to conduct a thorough DNA test, you could always visit MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs. Xcode Life
The last platform we evaluation includes Xcode Life, a platform based in India.
Xcode Life has various reports that users can access. Most of them are health-related, including nutrition, fitness, and of course health. The general reports provide results 24 hours a day in PDF format. Despite this they do not provide any genealogy reporting services. However, they have more than what they don’t have.
They will accept DNA data in raw form that’s already been given from their partners. These include:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
These DNA files can be used to create their huge health reports. The user is the sole judge on what kind of report they wish to receive. The company has its own privacy guidelines however, you must delete the DNA data manually. If any personal data is deleted, users must contact Xcode Life.
The prices are available in Xcode Life also have bundles to select from. What they offer is:
- Best Seller Pack – $49: nutrition, fitness, health, allergy, skin reports
- Super Pack $89: nutrition, fitness, health, allergies, skin Precision Medicine, and reports on methylation
- Mega Pack for $99: contains the individual report packages for all nine
The most significant drawback to this platform is that you cannot trace your own lineage. While you can utilize your existing DNA for different uses, it only benefits you personally. You are still able to visit for information if you’re interested in learning more about your personal DNA, but at a minimum.
The Final Verdict
The short version is that MyHeritage is the best choice for all your DNA requirements.
You can find out the origins of your family and trace it back to one family tree. The DNA test is autosomal which is the industry standard for every genealogical test. When you have your results, you are given the option of calling those who are in line with your trial. This is especially important to those who wish to visit their loved ones the last time.
The kits are also easy to use, and people of all ages can benefit from them. Results will be revealed within 3-4 weeks, after which an email is sent to you containing the results.
In the case of privacy, MyHeritage never sells personal information to any third party. This is to ensure the security of the DNA samples given to the company since it is uploaded to their database. It will supply the DNA samples if they are expressly requested by their owner.
Although there is no information on health-related issues that are included in the DNA results, you’ll need to charge a fee for any additional details. All in all, it’s the go-to place to find everything related to genealogy.
