The vast universe of DNA testing could provide you with a wealth of information about the world.
Did you know there are numerous choices to pick 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 keeps you in check of these aspects. However, they’re in no way the only one operating in this field of business.
Each one of us has our own intentions to choose different alternatives. Namely: privacy, authentic information as well as the possibility of meeting prospective relatives or friends. Believe it or not it could be the last thing on their bucket lists before they can be at peace. Some families even have no problem with relatives who do not have blood ties. Why? They’re also chosen family members.
This article will look at MyHeritage’s rivals and how they help people from all walks of life find their roots. Let’s go!
Before you continue, 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 rival is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies provide autosomal tests and tests kits, which is a must in DNA testing. Tests give an estimate of ethnicity, as well as an analysis of the various lineages across the globe. One difference here compared to MyHeritage is that AncestryDNA’s database contains 14 million records. The drawback is their results take longer than MyHeritage. It includes a monthly fee of $99 that allows for benefits from their reports.
Another issue is that you are unable to upload your own DNA data. In addition, the option to make your personal data private is not possible too. This can be a sign that you are concerned about their privacy above all else. Fortunately, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA you give to private so it would not be sold to unwelcome third parties.
Like other businesses, they also offer subscription plans. AncestryDNA offers three plans to select from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Some of them are easy to understand, such as those of the U.S Discovery tier. There are records of families in one of fifty states in the U.S. If you are not a resident in the United States, you can choose the World Explorer tier as it contains records from all countries all over the world. The last level is premium plans in which you can access additional content, such as access to Newspaper.com Basic and Fold3.com.
While the number of records could be remarkable, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, especially those located in Asia. MyHeritage’s smaller database is an advantage since it is divided into 42 regions. These regions can be further studied to find particular communities that aren’t mentioned all the time. Think of any tribal society There’s a good chance that the DNA test results could be related to them.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage and. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll be discussing is Family Tree DNA.
From the get-go, Family Tree DNA has Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, which are not available through MyHeritage. These tests are specifically designed to identify possible relatives that are on either the father’s or mother’s side exclusively. In case, they do offer the standard autosomal test, known as”Family Finder. “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms have active communities and they place a high value on your personal privacy. Therefore, it is up to you if you want that your genetic information be matched by potential families when searching for lost relatives. However, Family Tree DNA does not have as many regions 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 that are available. These are:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test: $159
- Paternal test The cost is $119.
When you have the results, you cannot simply record them in a family tree digitally despite their name. This may be frustrating to some people as they want to know how far their lineage goes. It is also not possible to obtain any health information regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage can help 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.
> > 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 by the FDA as a risk-screener for diseases. To complement it the platform, you can access it via their website or mobile app. In it, information about your health and your ancestry is available. You can build a family tree and learn subjects like genetic risks as well as the science of genetics, as well as genealogy in general.
23andMe offers a variety choices of consent and privacy options to choose from. Based on your personal preferences you can revoke your consent to the company if you are unsure. The samples are taken via saliva and the results are available 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 locations across the world. This might not be appealing to everyone, but if you would like to trace back less well-known groups, they could do the trick. More precise results are more beneficial 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 report of your DNA test 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, it may not be enough for everyone. For MyHeritage customers, there is the option of availing the tests through the kits, or by subscriptions. The subscription starts at $79/year, the same price for their base tests. For the kits, for the slightly higher cost of $90, you basically get the same services with a better efficiency. Do note that DNA tests aren’t cheap; they go through several steps to arrive at the results and identify potential relatives.
MyHeritage Vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service takes a distinct approach to accessing information.
First of all, FamilySearch offers its services at absolutely no cost. It is because the organization being a non-profit entity. They are partnered with powerful platforms such as MyHeritage and AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 books in digital format, even if they are not properly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees that are available for private and public use. If you have family trees that are shared, users can look up potential relatives and loved ones and how they are related. Private trees aren’t visible through a simple search due to privacy reasons.
They do have physical records such as genealogical reports, vital census records and records. The only difference is that when making the family tree, you are unable to download the tree. In addition, setting up the tree is a long process as well. Another problem is that they don’t provide any type of DNA testing. However, if you don’t have the funds or the time to trace your lineage You can start here and find out where it goes.
And if you plan to take a DNA test, you can always visit MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage Vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our list will be Xcode Life, a platform that is based in India.
Xcode Life has various reports to avail of. Many of them relate to health such as fitness, nutrition, and of course, health. The general reports provide results in 24 hours in PDF format. However they do not provide any ancestry reporting services. But don’t fret, they offer more than they don’t have.
They are able to 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 on what kind of report they wish to get. It is the company’s privacy guidelines however, you must delete the DNA data manually. If any personal data will be deleted, users have to send an email to Xcode Life.
Prices are available in Xcode Life also have bundles that you can pick from. What they offer is:
- Best Seller Pack – $49: nutrition, fitness, health, allergy, skin reports
- Super Pack $89: nutrition, fitness, health, allergies and skin care precision medicine, as well as reports on methylation
- Mega Pack – $99: includes the individual report packages for all nine
The main drawback of this platform is the fact you cannot trace your own lineage. While you can utilize your DNA from the past for other applications, it’s for your own personal benefit. You can still go here for information if you’re interested in learning more about your personal DNA, or at the very least.
The Final Verdict
Long story short, MyHeritage is the most suitable choice for all DNA requirements.
It is possible to discover which family ethnic lineage you have and trace it back to an entire family tree. It is autosomal, which is the industry norm for all genealogical tests. When you have your results, you are given the option of contacting those who match the test you took. This is especially important to people who want to meet their loved ones for one last time.
The kits are easy to use and anyone of all ages can benefit from the kits. Results will be revealed within 3-4 weeks, after which an email is sent to you containing the results.
In the context of privacy, MyHeritage never sells personal information to any third party. This is to protect the DNA samples provided to the company since it is uploaded to their database. They will supply the DNA samples if they are expressly requested by their owner.
While there are no data about any health-related issues in the DNA test results, you’ll have to charge a fee for extra details. Overall this is the best place for all things genealogical.