The vast world of DNA testing may lead you to a lot of interesting facts about your life.
And did you know that there are numerous possibilities to select from? Whether you want to know about your family’s history and ethnicity there’s a good chance to learn all you can about it. MyHeritage keeps you on top of these aspects. Despite this, they’re in no way the only one working in this line of business.
Every one of us has our own reasons to choose different options. Namely: privacy, authentic information as well as the possibility of meeting prospective family members or relatives. Believe it or not, this could be the final item on their bucket lists before they are at peace. Some families are even okay with having relatives that do not have blood ties. Why? They are family too.
This article will review MyHeritage’s peers and the ways they can serve people from all walks of life find their roots. Let’s get going!
Before you go on, you may want to check out this video by Family History Fanatics on YouTube that gives a quick review. After, you will want to read the rest of our article for a more comprehensive review.
MyHeritage vs. AncestryDNA
Our first opponent is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies provide autosomal tests as well as tests kits, which is a must in DNA testing. These tests provide you with an estimate of ethnicity, as well as an analysis of the various lineages around the world. The main difference between this and MyHeritage is that the AncestryDNA database has 14 million records. Their results are slower than MyHeritage. The monthly cost is of $99 that allows the benefits of their reports.
Another issue is that you are unable to upload your personal DNA data. Plus you cannot make your personal information confidential is not available also. This can be a sign that you value their own privacy above all other things. Fortunately, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA given to remain private, so that it will not be given away to unwanted third parties.
As with many companies, they show a subscription plan. AncestryDNA has three plans to choose from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Some of them are self-explanatory, like those of the U.S Discovery tier. The records are provided by families in one of fifty states of the U.S. If you are not a resident there, you may opt for the World Explorer tier as it contains records from all countries across the globe. The third tier is more of a premium plan in which you get extra content like the access of Newspaper.com basic and Fold3.com.
While the number of records might be amazing, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, specifically those around Asia. MyHeritage’s smaller database is an advantage because it’s divided into 42 regions. The regions can then be searched to identify certain communities that are not mentioned too often. Consider any tribe There’s a good 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 discuss is Family Tree DNA.
From the beginning, Family Tree DNA has Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, not provided by MyHeritage. These tests are specifically designed to identify possible relatives 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 have active communities, and they place a high value on your personal privacy. So it’s up to you if you want that your genetic information be found by prospective families while searching for lost relatives. But, Family Tree DNA does not have the same number of regions that are covered as MyHeritage. They have 24 areas that are listed on their web site. However, this is an option in the event that neither meet your requirements.
For their offerings, Family Tree DNA has three kits available. These are:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test Cost: $159
- Test for paternity Test for paternity: $119
When you have the results, you can’t actually record it in the form of a family tree electronically despite their name. This could be a problem for some people as they want to find out how long their family tree goes. It is also impossible to locate any health information regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage helps with this because you can also look up common diseases in the 18-carrier status reports. If you’re seeking particular details regarding your family’s history, go for MyHeritage.
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MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our number three on the list is 23andMe.
This is the first to have received approval by the FDA as a risk screening tool for diseases. To complement it, you can access it either through their website or mobile application. In it, information about your health and ancestry is accessible. It is possible to build an ancestral tree of your family and explore topics such as genetic risks as well as the science of genealogy, and genetics as a whole.
23andMe has a wide range of privacy and consent preferences that you can choose from. Depending on your needs, you can retract your consent to the company if you are unsure. Samples are collected through saliva and the results are available within 3 to 4 weeks.
What 23andMe concentrates on is maternal and paternal, Neanderthal as well as autosomal tests. The most significant advantage in this is that they cover more than 1500 areas across the world. This might not be appealing to all people, but if would like to trace back smaller groups, they will accomplish the task. The results that are precise may be more effective than a more general outlook.
When availing of their services, there are three types of tests available. All tests include 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
Even if you can obtain enhanced DNA results using 23andMe, it may not be enough for everyone. For MyHeritage, you have the option of availing the tests via kit or through subscriptions. The subscription starts at $79/year which is the same as their base tests. As for the kits, at the slightly higher cost of $90, you will receive the same tests but with more capability. It is important to note that DNA tests aren’t low-cost; they undergo numerous procedures to obtain that result and find potential relatives.
MyHeritage and. FamilySearch
This genealogy service offers a different approach when it comes to information access.
The first and most important thing is that FamilySearch offers its services for absolutely no cost. This is due to the organization being a non-profit entity. They’re partnered with powerful platforms such as MyHeritage and AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books even if they are not correctly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees available for public and private use. In the case of family trees that are shared, users will be able to view potential relatives as well as loved ones and the ways they’re related. Private trees aren’t visible through a simple search because of privacy concerns.
They do have physical records like genealogical documents, including vital census records and records. The only difference is that when making the tree of your families, you are unable to download the tree. Additionally, setting up the tree can be a lengthy process as well. Another problem is that they don’t provide any type of DNA tests. If you don’t have the money or resources to determine your family’s lineage it is possible to start here and find out what happens.
If you are planning to take a genetic test for your DNA, then you can always visit MyHeritage.
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MyHeritage vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our review includes Xcode Life, a platform that is based in India.
Xcode Life has various reports that you can use. The majority of them are related to health such as fitness, nutrition, and of course, health. These general reports give results 24 hours a day in PDF format. However they do not provide any genealogy reporting services. However, they have more than what they do not have.
They accept raw DNA information that’s already been given from their partners. This includes:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
These DNA files are then utilized in their extensive health reports. The user is the sole judge on what kind of report they want to obtain. The company has its own privacy policy, but you have to erase the DNA information by hand. If any personal data is deleted, users 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, and methylation reports
- Mega Pack – $99: Includes all 9 individual report packages
The biggest downside to this platform is that it is not possible to trace your family tree. Although you are able to use your existing DNA for different applications, it’s for the individual you are. It is still possible to go here to find out more about your own DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
Short story, MyHeritage is the best option for all your DNA requirements.
You can learn which family ethnic lineage you have 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 your results, you are given the option of contacting those who are in line with your test. This is crucial for those who want to see their loved ones the last time.
The kits are easy to use and anyone who are of any age can utilize these kits. Results will be revealed within 3-4 weeks, with an email sent to you containing the results.
In the context of privacy, MyHeritage never sells personal information to third-party companies. This is to protect the DNA samples given to the company since it is also uploaded in their database. It will supply them when expressly requested by their owner of the DNA.
Although there is no information regarding health-related issues found in the DNA results, you’ll need to charge a fee for supplemental details. In the end, it’s the go-to place for all things genealogical.
