The vast universe of DNA testing may provide you with a wealth of interesting facts about your life.
Did you know that there are a variety of possibilities to select from? Whether you want to know about your lineage and ethnicity you’ll be able to find everything about it. MyHeritage keeps you on top of these aspects. However, they’re not the only ones in this field of business.
Every one of us has our own reasons why they go for other choices. For instance, privacy, genuine information and the possibility of meeting potential relatives or friends. Believe it or not this may be the last thing on their bucket lists before they are at peace. Some families even have no problem with having relatives who do not have blood ties. Why? They’re family too.
This article will review MyHeritage’s peers and the ways they help people from all walks of life find their roots. Let’s get going!
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 the article for a more comprehensive review of MyHeritage.
MyHeritage vs. AncestryDNA
Our first competition is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies offer autosomal tests and tests kits, which is essential for DNA testing. Tests give an estimate of ethnicity, as well as a breakdown of various lineages across the globe. A difference in comparison to MyHeritage is that the database of AncestryDNA contains 14 million records. The drawback is their reports take longer to produce than MyHeritage. The monthly cost is of $99 which allows advantages from their reports.
Another issue is that you are unable to upload your personal DNA data. Plus you cannot make your personal data confidential is not available also. This can be a sign, especially for people who value their own privacy above anything other things. Fortunately, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA you give to remain private, so that it will not be given away to unwanted third-party.
Like many other businesses, they also offer subscription plans. AncestryDNA offers three plans for customers to select from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Certain of them are easily explained, such as the U.S Discovery tier. The records are provided by families in any of the fifty states of the U.S. If you don’t live there, you can go with the World Explorer tier as it includes records from every country all over the world. The last level is premium plans in which you get extra content like access to Newspaper.com basic and Fold3.com.
Although the amount of data may seem remarkable, AncestryDNA may not cover certain countries, particularly those around Asia. MyHeritage’s database is smaller, which is an advantage since it is broken down into 42 areas. The regions can then be searched to identify certain communities that are not mentioned all the time. Consider any tribe There’s a good chance that a DNA test result may be related to these tribes.
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MyHeritage Vs. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll talk about the next one is Family Tree DNA.
From the beginning, Family Tree DNA has the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests which are not available through MyHeritage. These tests are specifically designed to identify possible relatives from either the mother’s or father’s side only. In case, they do offer the standard autosomal test, known as the “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms have active communities, and they prioritize your own privacy. It’s your choice to decide if you would like the information you provide to be matched by families who are looking for lost relatives. The problem is that Family Tree DNA does not have the same number of regions which are covered as MyHeritage. They offer 24 areas available on their site. Nonetheless, this can be an option if they are unable to satisfy your needs.
To offer their services, Family Tree DNA has three kits available. They are:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test: $159
- Test for paternity Test for paternity: $119
Once you get the results, you cannot really record it on the form of a family tree electronically despite the name. This may be frustrating to those who wish to see how far their family tree goes. Additionally, it’s not possible to find details about your health status regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage can help with this, as you can even view common disorders in the 18-carrier status reports. If you’re looking for particular details regarding your family’s history, go to MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our number three on the list is 23andMe.
This platform is the first to have received approval by the FDA as a risk screener for diseases. To complement it to it, you can use the platform via their mobile or website. It contains information about your health and ancestry are available. It is possible to build your family tree and study things like genetic risk as well as the science of genealogy, and genetics as a whole.
23andMe provides a range of privacy and consent choices to choose from. Based on your preferences you can revoke your consent to the company at any time you change your mind. The samples are taken via saliva, and results come within 3 to 4 weeks.
What 23andMe focuses on are maternal and paternal, Neanderthal tests, and autosomal tests. The biggest benefit here is they cover more than 1500 areas across the world. This factor may not please all people, but if want to trace back to less well-known groups, they could do the trick. More precise results are more beneficial than a general view.
In order to avail their services There are three types of tests to choose from. All tests come with the customer service and a personalized walkthrough of your DNA results. You have the option of choosing:
- Basic Ancestry and Traits – $79
- DNA Health Test – $129
- VIP Health and Ancestry – $429
If you are able to obtain enhanced DNA results using 23andMe, it may not be affordable for everyone. For MyHeritage customers, there is the choice of availing of the tests through kits or subscriptions. The cost of a subscription is $79 per year which is the same as their base tests. As for the kits, at a slightly higher price of $90, you receive the same tests with a better efficiency. Do note that DNA tests are not affordable; they must go through numerous procedures to obtain that result and find potential relatives.
MyHeritage Vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service offers a different approach to accessing information.
First of all, FamilySearch offers its services at no cost. This is due to the fact that it’s being a non-profit entity. They have a strong partnership with platforms like MyHeritage and AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books, even if they’re not correctly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database includes family trees that are available for private and public use. For family trees that are shared, users will be able to see potential relatives and loved ones and the way they’re connected. Private trees aren’t visible on a simple search due to privacy reasons.
There are physical reports such as genealogical reports, vital documents and census records. However, when you are setting up your family tree you are unable to download it. Additionally, setting up the tree is a long process too. Another issue is that they don’t provide any type of DNA tests. However, if you don’t have the budget or resources to determine your family’s lineage You can start here and see where it goes.
And if you plan to get a proper DNA test, you could always go to MyHeritage.
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MyHeritage Vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our evaluation will be Xcode Life, a platform located in India.
Xcode Life has various reports to avail of. Most of them are health-related such as fitness, nutrition and, of course health. These reports are general and provide results in 24 hours and in the format of PDF. Despite this, they do not offer any ancestry reporting services. But don’t fret, they offer more than they do not have.
They accept raw DNA information which has been obtained from their partners. These include:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
These DNA files are then used to create their huge health reports. It is up to the individual on what kind of report they want to obtain. It is the company’s privacy guidelines however, you must remove the DNA information manually. For any personal information that is deleted, users have to contact Xcode Life.
Prices 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, skin precision medicine, as well as methylation reports
- Mega Pack – $99: includes all 9 individual report packages
The most significant drawback to this system is that you cannot trace your own lineage. While you can utilize your DNA from the past for other purposes, it’s only for the individual you are. You can still go here if you want to learn more about your personal DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
Long story short, MyHeritage is the most suitable choice for any DNA-related needs.
You can learn where your family comes from and can be traced back into an entire family tree. The DNA test is autosomal, which is the industry standard for every genealogical test. After you’ve received your results, you are given the option of contacting those who match your test. This is particularly important for those who wish to visit their loved ones the last time.
The kits are also easy to use, and anyone of all ages can benefit from these kits. The results will be available within 3-4 weeks with an email sent to you with the results.
In the case of privacy, 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. The company will only provide them if it is expressly requested by their owner.
While there are no data about any health-related issues in the DNA results, you need to charge for supplemental information. All in all, it’s the go-to place for everything genealogical.
