The vast universe of DNA testing can lead you to a lot of things about life.
Did you know there are many possibilities to select from? Whether you want to know about your lineage and ethnicity you’ll be able to find everything you need to know about it. MyHeritage keeps you on top of these aspects. Despite this, they’re not the only ones working in this field of business.
Each one of us has our own intentions that lead them to other alternatives. This includes privacy, authenticity of information, and the possibility of getting to meet potential relatives or family. It’s true it could be the final item on their bucket list before they’re at peace. Certain families are okay with having relatives who do not have blood ties. Why? They’re also chosen family members.
This article will discuss MyHeritage’s peers and the ways they help people from all walks of life discover their roots. Let’s go!
Before you go on, you may want to check out 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 of MyHeritage.
MyHeritage and. AncestryDNA
Our first competition is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies offer autosomal tests and tests kits, which is an essential part of DNA testing. Tests give an ethnicity estimate along with an analysis of the various lineages across the globe. A difference in comparison to MyHeritage is that AncestryDNA’s database includes 14 million records. However, their reports take longer to produce than MyHeritage. They charge a monthly fee of $99 that allows for benefits from their reports.
Another catch is that you cannot upload your own DNA data. In addition you cannot make your personal information private is not possible as well. This could be a warning particularly for those who value their own privacy above anything other considerations. Luckily, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA given to confidential so that it won’t be given away to unwanted third-party.
Like many other companies, they provide a subscription plan. AncestryDNA offers 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 within the U.S. If you do not live there, you can go with the World Explorer tier as it includes data from every country around the globe. The last option is premium plans in which you will get exclusive content such as access to Newspaper.com basic and Fold3.com.
While the number of records might appear amazing, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, especially those located in Asia. MyHeritage’s smaller database has an advantage as it is split into 42 distinct regions. These regions can be further researched to locate specific communities not heard of frequently. Think of any tribal society; there’s a possibility that a DNA test result could be related to the tribes.
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MyHeritage vs. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll talk about is Family Tree DNA.
From the beginning, Family Tree DNA has mtDNA and Y-DNA tests that are which are not available through MyHeritage. These tests can help you identify potential relatives from either the mother’s or father’s side only. They do have the standard autosomal test, known as”FamilyFinder” “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms have active communities, and they place a high value on your personal privacy. It’s your choice to decide if you would like the information you provide to 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 offer 24 areas available on their site. Nonetheless, this can be an option if they are unable to meet your requirements.
To offer their services, Family Tree DNA has three kits that are available. They include:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test Test for pregnancy: $159
- Paternal test: $119
After you’ve gotten the results, you cannot actually record it in the form of a family tree electronically regardless of their name. This can be bothersome to some people as they want to see how far their lineage goes. Also, it is not possible to obtain health-related information about your ethnicity. MyHeritage helps with this since you can look up common diseases in the 18-carrier status reports. If you’re looking for 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 platform is the first company to receive approval by the FDA as a risk-screener for diseases. To complement it, you can access the platform via their website or mobile app. It contains information about your health and your ancestry is accessible. You can build an ancestral tree of your family and explore subjects like genetic risks and the science behind genetics, as well as genealogy as a whole.
23andMe offers a variety choices of consent and privacy options that you can choose from. Based on your preferences you are able to revoke or withdraw your agreement to 23andMe at any time you change your mind. The samples are taken via saliva, and results come within 3 to four weeks.
What 23andMe is focused on are maternal and paternal, Neanderthal tests, and autosomal tests. The most significant advantage here is they cover more than 1500 areas across the globe. This factor may not please all people, but if are looking to trace your roots to lesser-known groups, they can help. Precise results may be better than a more general outlook.
In order to avail their services, there are three types of tests you can choose from. Each test comes with customer support and a custom report of your DNA test results. You can select:
- 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 affordable for everyone. For MyHeritage You have the choice of availing of the tests either through kits or subscriptions. The subscription starts at $79/year and is the same cost for their basic tests. For the kits, for an additional $90, you receive the same tests with a better efficiency. It is important to note that DNA tests aren’t low-cost; they undergo numerous procedures to obtain the result and also identify possible relatives.
MyHeritage vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service has another approach when it comes to information access.
First of all, FamilySearch offers its services at free of charge. The reason for this is the company being a non-profit institution. They have a strong partnership with platforms like MyHeritage and AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books even if they are not properly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database has family trees that are available for public and private use. In the case of shared trees, you are able to look up potential relatives and loved ones and the ways they’re related. Private trees won’t be seen through a simple search due to privacy reasons.
They do have physical records like genealogical documents, including vital records and census records. However, when you are creating the family tree, it is not possible to download it. Additionally, setting up the tree is a long process too. Another problem is that they do not offer any kind of DNA testing. However, if you don’t have the money or resources to track your family tree it is possible to start here and then discover where it goes.
And if you plan to get a proper genetic test for your DNA, then you can always go to MyHeritage.
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MyHeritage Vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our evaluation is 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 reports are general and provide results in 24 hours and in the format of PDF. But they do not provide any genealogy reporting services. However, they have more services than they do not have.
They accept raw DNA information which has been obtained from their partners. They can also accept:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
These DNA files can be utilized in their extensive health reports. The user is the sole judge to decide what type of report they wish to obtain. This company’s own privacy guidelines, but you have to erase the DNA information by hand. If any personal data 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 the individual report packages for all nine
The biggest downside to this system is that you cannot trace your own lineage. Although you are able to use your DNA from the past for other uses, it only benefits your own personal benefit. It is still possible to go here to find out more about your own DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
The short version is that MyHeritage is the most suitable choice for all DNA needs.
You can learn where your family comes from, and it’s traceable into one family tree. It is autosomal that is the standard for every genealogical test. Once you get the results, you have the option of calling the ones who match your trial. This is crucial for people who want to meet their loved ones for one last time.
The kits are easy to use and anyone who are of any age can utilize the kits. 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 third parties. This is to safeguard the DNA samples that are provided to the company as it is also uploaded in their database. The company will only provide the DNA samples if they are specifically requested by its owner of the DNA.
Although there is no information regarding health-related issues found in the DNA results, you’ll need to charge a bit for any additional information. In the end it’s the place to go for everything genealogical.