The vast universe of DNA testing could provide you with a wealth of information about the world.
And did you know there are numerous options to choose from? Whether you want to know 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 things. But they’re certainly not the only ones in this line of business.
Each person has their own personal reasons that lead them to other options. Namely: privacy, authentic information as well as the possibility of meeting prospective relatives or friends. In reality it could be the very last thing on their list of priorities before they can be 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 peers and the ways they assist people from all walks of life find their roots. Let’s get going!
Before you continue, you may want to watch this video by Family History Fanatics on YouTube that gives a quick overview. Afterward, you’ll 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 as well as test kits, which is a must in DNA testing. These tests provide you with an estimate of your ethnicity as well as a breakdown of various lines of descent around the globe. A difference in comparison to MyHeritage is that AncestryDNA’s database contains 14 million records. Their reports take longer to produce than MyHeritage. The monthly cost is of $99 that allows for benefits from their reports.
Another issue is that you can’t upload your personal DNA data. Additionally, the option to make your own information confidential is not available also. This can be a red flag that you value their own privacy above everything other considerations. Luckily, MyHeritage lets you set the DNA you give to remain private, so that it will not be sold to unwelcome third parties.
Like many other companies, they show subscription plans. AncestryDNA offers three plans that you can choose from:
- U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month
- World Explorer – $39.99/month
- All Access – $49.99/month
Certain of them are self-explanatory, like the U.S Discovery tier. The records are provided by families in one of fifty states within the U.S. If you don’t live there, you can opt for the World Explorer tier as it includes data from every country all over the world. The final level is premium plans in which you can access additional content, such as the access of Newspaper.com Standard and Fold3.com.
Despite the volume of records could seem amazing, AncestryDNA may not cover specific countries, specifically those in Asia. MyHeritage’s database is smaller, which is an advantage because it’s split into 42 distinct regions. These regions can be further searched to identify certain communities that are not mentioned too often. Think of any tribe; there’s a possibility that a DNA test result might be related to one of them.
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MyHeritage and. Family Tree DNA
The next platform we’ll talk about will be Family Tree DNA.
From the start, 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 on either the mother’s or father’s side only. There is also the standard autosomal test, known as”Family Finder. “Family Finder” for any lineage.
Both platforms are active in their communities, and they are committed to your privacy. It’s your choice whether you’d like your DNA to be used by families who are looking for missing relatives. But, Family Tree DNA does not have as many areas that are covered as MyHeritage. They have 24 areas available on their site. However, this is an option in the event that neither meet your requirements.
To offer their services, Family Tree DNA has three kits to choose from. They are:
- Family Ancestry: $59
- Maternal test: $159
- Paternal test Test for paternity: $119
After you’ve gotten the results, you cannot simply record them in a family tree digitally despite the name. This may be frustrating to some people as they want to find out how long their family tree goes. Also, it is not possible to obtain details about your health status 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 specific information about your family’s history, go to MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs 23andMe
Our third one on the list is 23andMe.
The platform was the first company to receive approval by the FDA as a risk screener for diseases. To complement it to it, you can use it either through their website or mobile app. It contains information about your health and ancestry is accessible. You can create an ancestral tree of your family and explore topics such as genetic risks and the science behind genealogy, and genetics in general.
23andMe offers a variety choices of consent and privacy options to choose from. Based on your preferences you are able to revoke any consent you have given to the business at any time you change your mind. The saliva samples are collected, and results come within 3 to four weeks.
What 23andMe focuses on are maternal and paternal, Neanderthal as well as autosomal tests. The biggest benefit here is they cover 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. Precise results may be better than an overall view.
If you are interested in their services, there are three types of tests available. Each test comes with customer service and a customized review of your DNA results. You can choose:
- 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, the price may not be affordable for everyone. For MyHeritage You have the option of availing the tests through kits or subscriptions. The annual subscription costs $79 and is the same cost for their basic tests. In terms of the kits, for an additional $90, you basically receive the same tests with a better efficiency. Be aware that DNA tests are not affordable; they must go through many processes to get that result and find potential relatives.
MyHeritage vs. FamilySearch
This genealogy service offers a different approach when it comes to access to information.
First and foremost, FamilySearch provides its services at absolutely no cost. It is because the organization being a non-profit organization. They have a strong partnership with platforms such as MyHeritage or AncestryDNA. Their online records contain more than 300,000 books in digital format, even if they are not indexed correctly.
FamilySearch’s database contains family trees for both private and public use. For the shared tree, one can view potential relatives as well as family members and the way they’re connected. Private trees will not be visible 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 making the tree of your families, it is not possible to download the tree. In addition, setting up the tree is a long process as well. Another problem is that they do not offer any DNA testing. If you don’t have the budget or resources to trace your lineage it is possible to start here and find out what happens.
If you’re planning to take a testing for DNA you could always visit MyHeritage.
> > Click Here to Try MyHeritage for Free < <
MyHeritage vs. Xcode Life
The final platform in our review is Xcode Life, a platform based in India.
Xcode Life has various reports that you can use. Many of them relate to health such as fitness, nutrition and, of course, health. These reports are general and provide results within 24 hours and in the format of PDF. However, they do not offer any genealogy reporting services. Don’t worry; they do have more services than they lack.
They accept raw DNA information which has been obtained from their partners. This includes:
- 23andMe
- Family Tree DNA (FTNDA)
- Ancestry DNA
- MyHeritage
These DNA files can be used to create their huge health reports. It’s up to the user on what kind of report they wish to get. It is the company’s privacy policies however, you must erase the DNA information by hand. For any personal information that is to be removed, customers must contact Xcode Life.
Prices in Xcode Life also have bundles to choose 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 most significant drawback to this system is that it is not possible to trace your family tree. Although you are able to use your existing DNA for different uses, it only benefits you personally. You can still go here if you want to learn more about your DNA, at least.
The Final Verdict
Long story short, MyHeritage is the best choice for any DNA-related requirements.
You can learn the origins of your family and can be traced back into the family tree. It is also autosomal, which is the industry norm for all genealogical tests. Once you get the results, you have the option of contacting those who are in line with your trial. This is crucial for those who want to see their loved ones for one last time.
The kits are also easy to use, and people who are of any age can utilize the kits. Results will be revealed within 3-4 weeks with an email sent to you containing the results.
In the case of privacy, MyHeritage never sells personal information to any third party. This is to safeguard the DNA samples given to the company, as it is uploaded to their database. The company will only release the DNA samples if they are specifically requested by the owner.
There isn’t any information regarding health-related issues found in the DNA results, you need to charge a fee for any additional information. All in all it’s the place to go for everything genealogical.
