DNAtestAncestryDNA vs 23andMe: Which DNA Test Should You Buy?
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are the two best-known DNA tests, and they're built for different jobs. The short version: AncestryDNA is best for finding relatives and building a family tree. 23andMe is best if you want health reports alongside your ancestry. Here's the detail.
Quick verdict
- Choose AncestryDNA if your main goal is finding relatives, researching family history or building a family tree.
- Choose 23andMe if you want health and wellness reports, or you're mainly curious about your traits.
- Not sure? Take our 30-second quiz.
Side-by-side comparison
| AncestryDNA | 23andMe | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical list price | About $99 (often on sale) | About $119 for Ancestry + Traits; Health + Ancestry costs more |
| Relative-matching database | The largest of any company | Large |
| Ancestry breakdown | Detailed, with regional "communities" | Detailed, with haplogroups |
| Health reports | No | Yes, on higher tiers |
| Family tree and records | Yes, the biggest records service (subscription) | Basic family tree tools |
| Raw data download | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Accepts uploads from other tests | No | No |
Prices change often and both companies run frequent sales. See the comparison chart for the latest.
Finding relatives: AncestryDNA wins
Relative matching depends on how many people are in a company's database, and AncestryDNA's is the largest. More testers means more matches, from close family to distant cousins.
AncestryDNA also connects to Ancestry's huge collection of historical records and family trees. If you want to trace your family back several generations, that combination is hard to beat. Be aware that the records and full tree features require a paid Ancestry subscription on top of the kit.
Health insights: 23andMe wins
23andMe is the only one of the two that offers health reports. Its higher tiers include FDA-authorized reports on certain genetic health risks and carrier status, plus wellness and trait reports. AncestryDNA focuses on ancestry and relatives.
A consumer DNA test isn't a diagnosis. Health reports cover a limited set of variants, and a clear result doesn't mean zero risk. Talk to a doctor or genetic counselor about anything concerning.
Ancestry detail: roughly a tie
Both give a detailed ethnicity estimate. AncestryDNA adds "communities," which trace groups your ancestors likely belonged to in the last few hundred years. 23andMe adds maternal and paternal haplogroups, which trace your direct maternal line (and paternal line, for people with a Y chromosome) back thousands of years.
Privacy: read the fine print
Both companies store your DNA and let you download or delete your data. In 2025, 23andMe went through bankruptcy and was sold to a new owner, a nonprofit led by its co-founder. Customers' genetic data was part of that sale. If privacy matters to you, read each company's current privacy policy before you buy, and check whether your data can be used for research.
One practical approach, whichever you pick: once your results arrive, download your raw data, then decide whether to keep your account and sample on file.
Already tested with either one? Explore your raw data privately. It's never uploaded.
Try the free analyzerWhat about other tests?
- MyHeritage DNA is strong for families from Europe and outside the US, and accepts uploads from other companies.
- FamilyTreeDNA is the choice for deep Y-DNA and mtDNA testing, useful for researching a surname or a direct line.
- Living DNA offers very detailed regional ancestry for Britain and Ireland.
See all of them side by side on our DNA test comparison page.
Frequently asked questions
Is AncestryDNA or 23andMe more accurate?
Both use similar genotyping technology and are highly accurate at reading your DNA. Differences in ethnicity estimates come from each company's reference populations and methods, not from errors reading your sample.
Can I take both?
Yes, and some genealogists do to reach more relatives. A cheaper option is to test with one, then upload your raw data to companies that accept uploads, like MyHeritage or FamilyTreeDNA.
Do I need a subscription?
The kit price covers your core results. AncestryDNA's records and advanced tree features need an Ancestry subscription, and some 23andMe features sit behind a membership.