The vast world of DNA testing can reveal a variety of interesting facts about your life.
And did you know there are many possibilities to select from? If you’re interested in finding out more about your family’s history and ethnicity there’s a good chance to learn all you can about it. MyHeritage keeps you in check of these aspects. But they’re certainly in no way the only one in this line of business.
Each person has their own personal reasons to choose different choices. This includes privacy, authenticity of information and the possibility of getting to meet potential relatives or family. In reality this may be the last thing on their list of priorities before they are at peace. Certain families are okay with having relatives who aren’t blood related. Why? They’re also chosen family members.
This article will discuss MyHeritage’s peers and the ways they can serve people from all walks of life discover their roots. Let’s get going!
Before you go on, you may want to watch this video by Family History Fanatics on YouTube that gives a quick overview. Afterward, you will want to read the rest of our article for a more comprehensive review.
MyHeritage and. AncestryDNA
Our first rival is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies offer autosomal tests as well as tests kits, which is essential for DNA testing. The tests give you an estimate of your ethnicity as well as a breakdown of various lineages across the globe. The main difference between this and MyHeritage is that the AncestryDNA database has 14 million records. The drawback is their results are slower than MyHeritage. They charge a monthly fee of $99 that allows for benefits from their reports.
Another issue is that you can’t upload your personal DNA data. In addition it is not possible to keep your own information private isn’t possible too. This can be a red flag, especially for people who value their own privacy above anything other things. Luckily, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA you give to confidential so that it won’t be sold to unwelcome third parties.
Like many other companies, they show a subscription plan. AncestryDNA offers three plans for customers to choose from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Some of them are easily explained, such as those of the U.S Discovery tier. You get records from families in one of fifty states of the U.S. If you don’t live in the United States, you can choose the World Explorer tier as it contains records from all countries across the globe. The last option is an expensive plan where you will get exclusive content such as access to Newspaper.com Basic and Fold3.com.
Although the amount of data might be impressive, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, especially those located in Asia. MyHeritage’s database is smaller, which is an advantage as it is split into 42 distinct regions. The regions can then be searched to identify particular communities that aren’t mentioned frequently. Think of any tribal society and there’s a chance that a DNA test result may be related to these tribes.
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MyHeritage and. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll discuss will be Family Tree DNA.
From the beginning, Family Tree DNA has the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests which are not available through MyHeritage. These specific tests find potential relatives on either the father’s or mother’s side exclusively. They do have the standard autosomal test, known as the “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms have active communities, and they place a high value on your personal privacy. So it’s up to you whether you’d like that your genetic information be used by potential families when searching for missing relatives. But, Family Tree DNA does not have the same number of regions covered compared to MyHeritage. There are 24 regions available on their site. This is an option if they are unable to cater to your needs.
In terms of their offerings, Family Tree DNA has three kits that are available. These are:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test Test for pregnancy: $159
- Test for paternity: $119
Once you get the results, you can’t really record it on the form of a family tree electronically despite the name. This can be bothersome to those who wish to know how far their family tree goes. It is also not possible to obtain any health information regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage helps with this because you can also view common disorders in the 18-carrier status reports. If you’re looking for specific information about your family’s history, go to MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our third one 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. In addition to it, you can use the platform via their mobile or website. There, you will find information on your health and ancestry are accessible. You can build your family tree and study subjects like genetic risks as well as the science of genetics, as well as genealogy as a whole.
23andMe provides a range of privacy and consent options that you can choose from. Depending on your needs, you can retract or withdraw your agreement to 23andMe at any time you decide to change your mind. The samples are taken via saliva and the results are available within 3 to four weeks.
What 23andMe is focused on are maternal and paternal, Neanderthal tests, and autosomal tests. The most significant advantage of this test is that it covers more than 1500 areas across the world. This factor may not please all, but if you would like to trace back smaller groups, they will accomplish the task. More precise results are more beneficial than an overall view.
When availing of their services, there are three types of tests to choose from. Each test comes with customer service and a customized walkthrough of your DNA results. You can select:
- Basic Ancestry and Traits – $79
- DNA Health Test – $129
- VIP Health and Ancestry – $429
If you are able to receive improved DNA results through 23andMe’s pricing, it might not be enough for everyone. For MyHeritage You have the option of availing the tests either through the kits, or by subscriptions. The cost of a subscription is $79 per year, the same price for their base tests. As for the kits, at an additional $90, you get the same services but with more capability. It is important to note that DNA tests are not cheap; they go through several steps to arrive at the result and also identify possible relatives.
MyHeritage vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service takes a distinct approach when it comes to accessing information.
First of all, FamilySearch offers its services at free of charge. This is due to the company being a non-profit entity. They have a strong partnership with platforms such as MyHeritage or AncestryDNA. Their online records contain more than 300,000 digital books even if they’re not correctly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees for both private and public use. If you have the shared tree, one are able to look up potential relatives and loved ones , and the way they’re connected. Private trees won’t be seen in a search engine due to privacy reasons.
They do have physical records such as genealogical records, vital documents and census records. The only difference is that when creating the tree of your families, you cannot download the tree. In addition, setting up the tree is a long process too. Another issue is that they don’t provide any type of DNA tests. If you don’t have the budget or resources to track your family tree, you can start from here and then discover what happens.
If you are planning to take a testing for DNA you can always go to MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage Vs. Xcode Life
The last platform on our evaluation will be Xcode Life, a platform located in India.
Xcode Life has various reports that users can access. The majority of them are related to health that include fitness, nutrition, and of course, health. These general reports give results in 24 hours in PDF format. Despite this they don’t offer any ancestry reporting services. Don’t worry; they do have more than what they do not have.
They accept raw DNA information that’s already been given from their partners. They can also accept:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
The DNA files are used in their vast health reports. The user is the sole judge on the kind of report they wish to get. The company has its own privacy policies However, you need to erase the DNA information by hand. For any personal information that is to be removed, customers need to contact Xcode Life.
Pricing for 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, as well as methylation reports
- Mega Pack – $99: Includes each of the 9 individual report packs
The most significant drawback to this platform is that it is not possible to trace your family tree. Although you are able to use your DNA from the past for other purposes, it’s only for your own personal benefit. It is still possible to go here for information if you’re interested in learning more about your personal DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
The short version is that MyHeritage is the best choice for all DNA requirements.
You can learn where your family comes from and can be traced back into an entire family tree. It is also autosomal which is the industry norm for all genealogical tests. Once you get the results, you will have the option to contact those who are in line with the test you took. This is crucial for people who want to meet their loved ones the last time.
The kits are also easy to use, and anyone of all ages can benefit from them. Results will come within 3-4 weeks, after which an email is sent out to you with the results.
For privacy reasons, MyHeritage never sells personal information to third parties. This is to protect the DNA samples given to the company, as they also upload them into their database. The company will only provide them if it is specifically requested by its owner of the DNA.
Although there is no information regarding health-related issues found in the DNA test results, you’ll have to charge a bit for extra information. In the end this is the best place to find everything related to genealogy.
