The vast world of DNA testing could lead you to a lot of things about life.
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 in check of these things. But they’re certainly in no way the only one working in this business.
Every one of us has our own intentions to choose different options. This includes privacy, authenticity of information, and the possibility of meeting potential family members or relatives. In reality it could be the very last thing on their bucket list before they are at peace. Some families even have no problem with relatives who are not blood-related. Why? They are family too.
This article will review MyHeritage’s rivals and how they can serve people from every walk of life to 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 review. After, you’ll want to read the rest of the article for a more comprehensive review.
MyHeritage and. AncestryDNA
Our first competition is Ancestry DNA.
Both companies offer autosomal tests as well as test kits, which is essential for DNA testing. The tests give you an ethnicity estimate along with a breakdown of various lineages around the world. A difference in comparison to MyHeritage is that the database of AncestryDNA contains fourteen million entries. Their results are slower than MyHeritage. They charge a monthly fee of $99, which provides for benefits from their reports.
Another problem is that you can’t upload your own DNA information. In addition it is not possible to keep your own information confidential is not available also. This can be a red flag that you prefer their privacy over anything other things. Luckily, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA given to private so it would not be sold to unwelcome third parties.
Like many other companies, they show a subscription plan. AncestryDNA offers three plans for customers that you can choose from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Some are self-explanatory, like those of the U.S Discovery tier. The records are provided by families in any of the fifty states in the U.S. If you don’t live there, you may opt for the World Explorer tier as it includes records from every country all over the world. The final level is premium plans in which you get extra content like the access of Newspaper.com Standard and Fold3.com.
Despite the volume of records might appear amazing, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, specifically those around Asia. MyHeritage’s database is smaller, which is an advantage since it is divided into 42 regions. These regions can be further searched to identify certain communities that are not mentioned all the time. Think of any tribe and there’s a chance that the DNA test results could be related to them.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage Vs. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll discuss will be Family Tree DNA.
From the start, Family Tree DNA has Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, not offered by MyHeritage. These tests are specifically designed to identify possible relatives from either the father’s or mother’s side exclusively. They do have the autosomal general test known as the “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 to decide if you would like that your genetic information be found by prospective families while searching for lost relatives. The problem is that Family Tree DNA does not have as many regions which are covered as MyHeritage. They have 24 areas that are listed on their web site. This is an option in the event that neither cater to your needs.
For 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 cannot actually record it in a family tree digitally despite their name. This could be a problem for those who wish to know how far their lineage goes. Additionally, it’s not possible to obtain details about your health status regarding your ethnicity. MyHeritage can help with this, since you can look up common diseases in 18 carrier status reports. If you’re looking for specific information about the family’s history, search for MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
The third option on our list is 23andMe.
This platform is the first company to be granted approval by the FDA as a risk screener for diseases. As a complement to it, you can use it either through their mobile or website. There, you will find information on your health and ancestry are accessible. You can build an ancestral tree of your family and explore subjects like genetic risks and the science behind genealogy, and genetics in general.
23andMe offers a variety in privacy options and preferences to select from. Based on your preferences, you can retract any consent you have given to the business at any time you decide to change your mind. The samples are taken via saliva and results are reported within 3 to 4 weeks.
What 23andMe concentrates on is paternal and maternal Neanderthal, and autosomal tests. The biggest benefit of this test is that it covers more than 1500 locations across the world. This factor may not please everyone, but if you are looking to trace your roots to less well-known groups, they could help. More precise results are more beneficial than a general view.
In order to avail their services There are three kinds of tests available. All tests come with customer service and a customized report of your DNA test results. You can select:
- 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 enough for everyone. For MyHeritage customers, there is the option of taking advantage of the tests through kits or subscriptions. The cost of a subscription is $79 per year, the same price for their basic tests. In terms of the kits, at an additional $90, you basically 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.
The first and most important thing is that FamilySearch offers its services for no cost. It is because the company being a non-profit organization. They’re partnered with powerful platforms like MyHeritage as well as AncestryDNA. Their online databases include more than 300,000 digital books, even if they are not properly indexed.
FamilySearch’s database has family trees for both public and private use. For the shared tree, one can see potential relatives and loved ones and how they are related. Private trees will not be visible through a simple search because of privacy concerns.
There are physical reports like genealogical documents, including vital census records and records. However, when you are setting up the family tree, it is not possible to download it. In addition, setting up the tree is a tedious process as well. Another problem is that they don’t provide any type of DNA testing. If you don’t have the money or resources to trace your lineage, you can start from here and find out what happens.
If you are planning to take a testing for DNA you could always visit MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs. Xcode Life
The last platform on our review will be Xcode Life, a platform 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 in 24 hours in PDF format. However they do not provide any genealogy reporting services. Don’t worry; they do offer more 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 are then utilized in their extensive health reports. The user is the sole judge on what kind of report they wish to get. The company has its own privacy policies, but you have to remove the DNA information manually. If any personal data is deleted, users have to send an email to 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, as well as methylation reports
- Mega Pack – $99: Includes all 9 individual report packages
The main drawback of this platform is the fact you cannot trace your own lineage. While you can use your existing DNA for different uses, it only benefits you personally. You are still able to visit if you want to learn more about your own DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
Long story short, MyHeritage is the best option for any DNA-related requirements.
You can find out the origins of your family and trace it back to the family tree. This test for DNA is also autosomal, which is the industry standard for every genealogical test. When you have your results, you are given the option of calling the ones who match your test. This is particularly important for people who want to meet their loved ones for one last time.
The kits are easy to use, and anyone of any age can use these kits. The results will be available within 3-4 weeks after which an email is sent out to you with 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 uploaded to their database. It will release them when specifically requested by its owner.
Although there is no information about any health-related issues in the DNA results, you’ll need to charge for supplemental information. Overall it’s the place to go to find everything related to genealogy.
