Genealogy DNA Testing Services

Where you spit in the tube. The autosomal majors fight over cousin-match database size; FamilyTreeDNA is the only Y/mtDNA option at scale; whole-genome services trade higher cost for full data. For analyzing the raw data after you have it see Genealogy DNA Third-Party Analysis; for adoption / unknown parentage workflows see Genealogy Adoption & Unknown Parentage; for the privacy debate see Genealogy Privacy & Ethics.

Autosomal majors (cousin matching + ethnicity)

• ★ ★ AncestryDNA — paid kit ($59–99 sale, $99–139 retail) + Ancestry subscription strongly recommended for ThruLines / record matching. Largest database (~25M+ kits) — cousin matches are deepest here, especially for US trees. Doesn't accept uploads from competitors. ThruLines uses other people's trees to surface common ancestors automatically (powerful, but only as good as the trees).
• ★ 23andMe — paid kit ($99–199); originally health-flavored, genealogy-second. Database ~14M but declined relative to peers post-2024 data breach (7M users' relatives data exposed in October 2023; class-action settlement and bankruptcy filing in 2025 pushed users to MyHeritage / FamilyTreeDNA). Honest flag: privacy posture is now a liability. Health reports remain a differentiator if you want them.
• MyHeritage DNA — paid kit (~$39–89 sale) + MyHeritage subscription strongly recommended for record matches. Database ~9M; accepts free uploads from AncestryDNA / 23andMe / FTDNA / Living DNA with paid Premium unlock for advanced tools (Theory of Family Relativity, Chromosome Browser, Ethnicity, AutoClusters). The smart move: test at Ancestry, upload free to MyHeritage + FTDNA + GEDmatch.
• Living DNA — paid (~$79); UK-origin, strong on regional British / Irish ethnicity, smaller cousin database. Accepts uploads from competitors.

Y-DNA / mtDNA (deep paternal / maternal)

• ★ FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) — paid; the only mainstream provider doing Y-DNA STR + Y-SNP (Big Y-700) and mtFull mtDNA sequencing at scale. Essential for surname / paternal-line projects, deep ancestry, brick-wall paternal lines. Y-DNA tests $119–449 depending on resolution. Autosomal Family Finder $79; accepts free autosomal uploads from Ancestry / 23andMe / MyHeritage / Living DNA.
• Y-Seq — paid Y-DNA specialist; scientist-flavored; bespoke SNP testing.
• Yfull — paid analysis service for raw Y-DNA from Big Y / WGS.

Whole genome / WGS (the future, slowly)

• Nebula Genomics — paid (~$249 30× WGS + monthly subscription for analyses). Full genome data; raw FASTQ / BAM / VCF download. Genealogy use is early-days.
• Dante Labs — paid; 30× WGS sales as low as $199 on promo; raw data delivery has been historically slow. Read reviews carefully.
• Sequencing.com — paid analysis platform; you upload WGS or autosomal raw and get reports; some free reports available.
• Veritas Genetics — paid clinical-flavored WGS; expensive.

Regional / niche

• WeGene — paid; East Asian-focused (China / Korea / Japan); ethnicity granularity competitors lack.
• CRI Genetics — paid; markets chromosome painting reports; reviewer skepticism is widespread.
• HomeDNA — paid budget brand (DNA Diagnostics Center); thinner database.
• AfricanAncestry.com — paid; specialist in African paternal/maternal haplogroups for African American researchers.
• DNA Tribes — sunset 2018.

Forensic / Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)

• GEDmatch Pro — paid law-enforcement tier; opt-in only by GEDmatch users. Ethically contentious — flag for users who want privacy.
• DNA Doe Project — non-profit volunteer org using GEDmatch + FTDNA to identify John/Jane Does; donations and skilled volunteer applications.
• Othram — private forensic lab; clients are law enforcement, not consumers.

What's changing in 2024–2026

• 23andMe data breach aftermath — October 2023 breach exposed 7M users' relatives data; bankruptcy filing in 2025; pricing and feature roadmap unstable. Users have migrated kits to MyHeritage / FTDNA. Treat as a "transitional" recommendation.
• FamilySearch + DNA — still no FamilySearch DNA product; they partner with Ancestry/MyHeritage data via integrations.
• GDPR / state law — California GIPA, Maryland forensic-DNA restrictions, Florida DNA-privacy law all tightened consumer protections; more required disclosure of law-enforcement access.
• Big Y-700 cost dropping — FTDNA flagship Y-test more accessible; Y-haplogroup tree resolution grows.
• Whole-genome going mainstream — Nebula and Dante promo prices crossing the "I'd actually do that" threshold for hobbyists.

Pricing summary

• Cheapest path to cousin matching: AncestryDNA on sale ($59) + free uploads to MyHeritage / FTDNA / GEDmatch.
• Most data for your dollar: Nebula or Dante WGS at $199 promo prices, but analysis tooling is rougher.
• Y-DNA only choice at scale: FTDNA Big Y-700 (~$449 sale).

Pick this if…

• One kit, biggest cousin match pool (US-flavored): AncestryDNA.
• You want regional ethnicity, especially British Isles: Living DNA or MyHeritage DNA.
• Y-DNA / mtDNA / paternal brick wall: FamilyTreeDNA Big Y-700.
• Already tested at Ancestry — what next: free upload to MyHeritage + FTDNA + GEDmatch; consider Big Y for paternal line.
• Health + ancestry, post-breach concerns acknowledged: 23andMe (with eyes open) — or skip and use Promethease successor tools on raw data from another provider.
• Whole-genome obsessive: Nebula or Dante WGS.
• Privacy-first: test at FTDNA (kits stored in US, opt-out of LE matching), don't upload to GEDmatch Pro tier, read Genealogy Privacy & Ethics.