Best DNA Testing for Building Your Family Tree

MyHeritage DNA offers a full genealogical package that includes DNA testing and matching, free family tree software, and other unique features. To take advantage of the site’s automated searching, you’ll want to put a family tree on the site, which is free for up to 250 relatives. New users are asked to enter basic information about themselves, as well as their parents and grandparents, as part of the registration process. If you’ve never used MyHeritage before, you may get a free report with Instant Discoveries — names in MyHeritage records and family trees that match names in your tree.

If you already have a family tree on another site or in genealogy software, you can import it into MyHeritage and upload a GEDCOM. You can also use the free Family Tree Builder software available on the site. MyHeritage automatically syncs your tree so it's up to date on all devices, whether you edit it online, on your computer with Family Tree Builder, or on your mobile device. You have the option of making your tree public or limiting access to MyHeritage members you invite, as well as allowing your members of the family to edit it.

One of the best things about MyHeritage is that their Basic plan, which lets you build a family tree of up to 250 family members, is completely free. The MyHeritage DNA test kit costs $89 + shipping unless you order two or more kits, and in that case, no shipping fees will be charged. To access the company's huge database of historical records and other premium records, you'll need to sign up for a paid subscription, which can get a bit pricey. However, using their family tree software is still free of charge, which makes it a great site when it comes to building a family tree.

23andMe DNA testing service that offers a trove of information about your genetics and deeper ancestry, and it also provides checks for genetic health risks and your carrier status for many conditions. Your personalized reports dissect your genetic data, the science, and possible next steps. But did you know that you can build your family tree and find out potential relatives? 23andMe's Family Tree is a new feature that automatically predicts a family tree based on the DNA you share with your relatives in 23andMe. If you choose to opt-in to DNA Relatives, your Family Tree will show you your close family members that have also been genotyped by 23andMe and who have also opted into the DNA Relatives tool.

The family tree illustrates your genetic relatives who have opted into 23andMe's DNA Relatives feature, so you can see how these other customers are actually related to you. Once you've created your family tree, you can add notes like ancestor names, important dates, pictures, and other details. In the future, you'll be able to edit relationships on your personal tree and share them with others. You can also get family members on board: by using the 23andMe service, they can help add even more information to your family tree.

Building a Family Tree is only available after taking a DNA test. To order a kit from 23andMe's website, first, enter your name and then agree to the company's terms of service. The price of your DNA kit includes standard shipping as well. The company also covers shipping costs in its $99 fee, and they ship their kits to every US state, as well as more than 50 countries around the world. This price is considered expensive when compared to other services, however, other than building a Family Tree, the DNA testing kit will also help you see how your DNA breaks out across 2000+ regions worldwide, discover DNA relatives from around the world, and share your reports with family and friends. In this regard, 23andMe's ancestry testing kit is definitely worth its price.

LivingDNA is one of the world's leading personal genomics companies focusing on using DNA testing to help transform lives. The service provides deep ancestry details from all around the world, using a unique process of analysis and using linked DNA. The company conducts three types of DNA analyses: autosomal, Y-chromosome, and mitochondrial. The DNA testing kit offers reliable ancestry discovery and family tree-building features. DNA matching with Family Networks can help you build your family tree using machine learning rather than time-consuming manual work.

Family Networks scans its database and builds your family tree using machine learning technology. With it, you should be able to verify relatives you know and task LivingDNA with verifying your guesses. Family Networks goes back 13 generations to find potential relatives based on your DNA results, sex, and age. LivingDNA’s matching tool will take the guesswork out of relationships by predicting relationships with more specificity than any other competitor. With input as minimal as DNA and birthdate, LivingDNA can build a family tree that shows where matches fit in. This is especially useful for adoptees and family searchers who are looking for long-lost family members but don't know anything about their biological family.

LivingDNA's prices are relatively affordable: the cheapest kit, which is the basic ancestry DNA testing, costs $119, whereas the expensive one, including the well-being kit, costs $199 only. You can also get a free 7-day email course that will give you the tools to decide which test to take. The cost of the kit, shipping to you, shipping from you to the lab, and processing are all included in the fee. Unfortunately, this price isn't considered cheap compared to other DNA testing companies, and the processing time is far too long, often taking much longer than stated.

FamilyTreeDNA focuses mainly on finding relatives and knowing who your ancestors were by a simple DNA test. Their Family Finder kit is the site's signature autosomal DNA test designed to find relatives on all your ancestral lines within the last five generations and it also provides you a breakdown of your ethnicity and your geographic origins as well. This test offers a broad range of interactive tools that can be used to identify DNA matches and determine the ancestry based on the migration paths of your ancient ancestors, along with other advanced features.

FamilyTreeDNA is more than identifying common ethnic traits – it connects you to your family’s story and the diverse people who made your history so rich and fascinating. While the company does provide tests that a genealogist could use to track common ancestors between distantly related families, the name is a little misleading because its platform does not allow for the creation of a family tree. However, you can match to other users, and use a chromosome browser to see where your genes came from.

Prices vary depending on the kit you order. The Family Finder kit costs only $79, and that's a reasonable and affordable price. If you wish to purchase the kit along with other plans will cost you more but that's a small price considering the information you'll get. The Maternal Ancestry (mtDNA) is the kit priced the highest among the four kits offered and stands at $159. Bear in mind that shipping is not included, and you'll have to add an additional $19, approximately.