I Took 5 DNA Tests and Compared Them | Which One Is Best?

Matt Baker compared five consumer DNA testing services to determine which are most useful for genealogy, ancestry research, and personal health information. The tests were CircleDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage DNA. He personally took all five and compared their prices, collection methods, reports, and practical value.

Some testing kits were provided free for review purposes. Baker disclosed this arrangement and stated that he intended to evaluate the services fairly. His conclusions were based partly on how well each company's findings matched his existing knowledge of his family history.

DNA testing companies frequently offer substantial discounts. Baker reported that holiday promotions, including those around Mother's Day and Christmas, could reduce advertised prices by approximately 30–40%. All prices in his comparison were quoted in US dollars and reflected the offers available when the video was made.

Consumer DNA tests generally use either cheek swabs or saliva samples. Cheek-swab kits require rubbing a swab against the inside of the cheek and placing it into a preservation vial. Saliva kits require collecting enough spit in a tube, which Baker found somewhat slower and more difficult.

Users should avoid eating, drinking, or brushing their teeth for at least 30 minutes before collecting a DNA sample. Baker emphasized following this preparation rule regardless of which collection method the company uses.

Every DNA sample must be registered before being returned to the laboratory. The customer uses the identification number supplied with the kit to connect the sample to their account. Without registration, the testing company cannot reliably associate the sample with its owner.

DNA testing kits include packaging designed to preserve samples during shipping. Baker described placing the collection vial inside a protective bag containing a special piece of paper intended to help maintain sample quality. The packaged sample is then returned using the supplied mailing materials.

DNA results typically take several weeks to arrive. Baker estimated approximately one month for a company to receive the sample, analyze it, and notify the customer by email that the reports are available.

CircleDNA was the most expensive service examined, with basic testing priced at $189 and premium testing at $629. Unlike the other services, its principal focus was genetic health information rather than constructing family trees or finding relatives.

CircleDNA positioned itself as the world's most comprehensive DNA test. Baker considered its health reports the most detailed of the five services he tried, although that judgment reflected his personal comparison rather than an independent assessment of every available test.

CircleDNA offered viewers a promotional discount of 33% using the code MATTB33. The offer applied through a special link associated with the video. This was a promotional arrangement described at the time of publication, not evidence that the discount remains available.

CircleDNA uses cheek swabs rather than saliva collection. Baker used its premium testing package, giving him access to the company's extensive health, carrier-status, medication-response, and personal-trait reports.

CircleDNA's premium test examined genetic risk associated with 36 hereditary cancers and 79 additional medical conditions. Baker received individual risk assessments across these categories rather than a single general health score.

Baker's CircleDNA report did not identify elevated genetic risk for any of the 36 cancers tested. He regarded this as reassuring, while recognizing that genetic testing cannot establish that someone will never develop cancer.

CircleDNA identified an elevated genetic risk of type 2 diabetes. Baker already knew diabetes occurred in his family, so the finding reinforced an existing concern rather than revealing an entirely unexpected risk. He interpreted it as an additional reason to reduce his consumption of sweets.

CircleDNA failed to identify increased genetic susceptibility to ulcerative colitis, despite Baker having developed the disease in his twenties. He used this discrepancy to illustrate the limits of genetic risk prediction: a person can develop a condition even when a consumer DNA report does not flag elevated susceptibility.

Genetic predisposition does not determine an individual's medical future. Baker emphasized that health outcomes reflect interactions among inherited genes, environmental factors, and personal behavior. He cautioned against treating DNA reports as substitutes for maintaining healthy habits.

CircleDNA screened Baker's carrier status for 163 hereditary conditions, many of them rare. Carrier screening differs from general disease-risk assessment because it can identify inherited genetic variants that may be relevant to children or other family members.

Carrier screening identified a genetic variant potentially dangerous for heavy smokers. Baker said he had never smoked and neither of his two children smoked. Although the finding did not suggest an immediate problem in those circumstances, he intended to mention it to his doctor.

CircleDNA examined potential responses to 103 FDA-approved medications. Its pharmacogenetic reports identified drugs that might work less effectively for a particular individual at standard doses, providing information that could be relevant to medical treatment decisions.

CircleDNA also supplied more than 100 reports about physical characteristics, behavioral tendencies, and other personal traits. Baker regarded these as interesting supplementary features rather than the main justification for purchasing the expensive health-focused test.

The personal-trait reports predicted heightened taste sensitivity, morning-person tendencies, and potentially greater vitamin D needs. They also suggested relatively low wrinkle formation and increased sensitivity to pesticides. Baker recognized some of these descriptions but was surprised by others.

CircleDNA's behavioral predictions described Baker as introverted, relatively unlikely to develop addictions, and unlikely to possess exceptional musical ability. He agreed with the introversion assessment and jokingly suggested his wife would confirm the musical finding.

The reports also predicted blue eyes, limited potential for exceptional muscular development, and an absence of the tendency to sneeze when looking toward the sun. Baker included these examples to demonstrate the unusual range of characteristics the company attempted to predict.

CircleDNA also predicted high intelligence. Baker treated the finding humorously, illustrating how some reports offered entertaining descriptions rather than clearly actionable information.

CircleDNA's ancestry report was basic and appeared inaccurate to Baker. Although the company included ancestry information, he found it substantially less useful than its health reports and did not consider genealogy its main strength.

FamilyTreeDNA offered a basic autosomal DNA test for $80. The company used cheek-swab collection and concentrated primarily on genealogical research, with additional tests available for more specialized genetic ancestry investigations.

Autosomal DNA combines genetic material inherited from both parents. Baker explained that an individual receives approximately half of their autosomal DNA from their mother and half from their father, making this the most useful general-purpose test for exploring multiple branches of a family tree.

Autosomal inheritance allows researchers to estimate contributions from numerous ancestors. Baker illustrated this using 16 ancestral lines, each contributing approximately 6% on average. The actual contribution inherited from any particular ancestor can vary considerably.

Autosomal ancestry reports estimate the geographic origins of a person's inherited DNA. This makes them especially interesting for people whose ancestors migrated from several different countries or populations.

FamilyTreeDNA estimated substantially more Eastern European ancestry than Baker expected. His existing family-history knowledge did not support such a large contribution, leading him to question that particular ethnicity estimate.

Ethnicity percentages are estimates rather than exact measurements of family history. Baker stressed that different DNA companies use different methods and reference populations, producing potentially conflicting ancestry percentages for the same person.

FamilyTreeDNA provides genetic relative matching, a feature absent from Baker's CircleDNA experience. It identifies other people in its testing database who share DNA with the customer and ranks potential relatives according to estimated genetic closeness.

Relative matching can be particularly valuable for adoptees and people with incomplete knowledge of their biological families. Shared DNA provides potential leads to parents, siblings, cousins, and more distant relatives who might otherwise remain unknown.

Discovering a genetic match does not automatically establish the precise family relationship. Baker explained that users may need to contact their matches, exchange family information, and conduct further research to determine how they are related.

A DNA test does not automatically produce a completed family tree. Genetic matches and ancestry estimates supply evidence, but reconstructing relationships, identifying ancestors, and connecting family branches still require genealogical investigation.

Mitochondrial DNA provides information about a person's direct maternal line. Unlike nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA is inherited through the mother, creating a lineage connecting an individual to their mother, maternal grandmother, and successive generations of maternal ancestors.

Mitochondrial DNA represents only one narrow branch of a person's ancestry. It cannot independently describe all maternal ancestors or the complete family tree because it follows the continuous mother-to-mother line.

Mitochondrial DNA can reveal ancestral relationships extending tens of thousands of years into the past. Baker explained that it changes relatively slowly, with mutations providing markers that researchers can use to identify ancient maternal lineages.

Mitochondrial mutations allow researchers to classify people into haplogroups. People sharing particular inherited mutations can be assigned to related maternal lineages, which are identified using alphabetic codes.

Baker's maternal haplogroup was U. FamilyTreeDNA provided a map illustrating the history of this lineage and where it separated from older maternal branches.

Y-chromosome DNA traces the direct paternal line. It is inherited from father to son and can therefore be used to investigate a lineage extending through a person's father, paternal grandfather, and earlier male-line ancestors.

Y-DNA testing differs from ordinary autosomal testing because it follows only one ancestral line. Like mitochondrial DNA, the Y chromosome accumulates mutations over generations, allowing genetic genealogists to identify ancient paternal branches and haplogroups.

Direct Y-chromosome testing is available to people who possess a Y chromosome. Baker explained this using the usual XX and XY chromosome patterns and noted that Y-chromosome inheritance makes the test especially useful for reconstructing male-line ancestry.

Baker's paternal haplogroup was R-M343, also known as R1b. He described R1b as Europe's most common paternal haplogroup, stating that it represented well over half of European men.

FamilyTreeDNA provided a separate haplogroup map for Baker's paternal ancestry. Together with the mitochondrial map, it allowed him to examine two direct ancestral lines extending much further into the past than ordinary autosomal ethnicity estimates.

Women researching their direct paternal ancestry can ask a suitable male relative to take a Y-DNA test. Baker identified a brother, father, or paternal uncle as possible testing candidates because they can carry relevant information about the same paternal lineage.

FamilyTreeDNA charged separately for autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-DNA testing. The basic autosomal test cost $80, mitochondrial testing added $160, and Y-DNA testing added $120.

Purchasing all three FamilyTreeDNA test categories cost $360. This made the complete package considerably more expensive than the general-purpose ancestry tests from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, and 23andMe.

FamilyTreeDNA's principal advantage was the depth of its mitochondrial and Y-chromosome analysis. Baker said the company provided extensive information about genetic mutations and lineage differences that other services did not present in comparable detail.

FamilyTreeDNA was best suited to advanced genetic genealogists. Baker acknowledged that parts of its technical reports exceeded his own understanding and recommended the more expensive specialist testing primarily to people with sufficient expertise to interpret it.

23andMe offered genealogy-only testing for $100 or combined genealogy and health testing for $200. It used saliva collection rather than cheek swabs and occupied a middle position between ancestry-focused services and CircleDNA's health-focused approach.

23andMe included ethnicity estimates and genetic relative matching. Its general genealogy features were similar to those provided by FamilyTreeDNA, allowing customers to explore their ancestral origins and identify potential relatives.

23andMe included haplogroup information without requiring separately purchased mitochondrial or Y-DNA packages. Baker highlighted this as an important advantage for customers interested in ancient maternal and paternal ancestry but unwilling to pay FamilyTreeDNA's additional testing charges.

23andMe's health reports were less comprehensive than CircleDNA's. Nevertheless, Baker said the company examined several dozen genetic diseases and supplied meaningful information about inherited health risks.

23andMe also reported less medically significant inherited traits. Examples included predicted earwax characteristics and whether someone might be especially attractive to mosquitoes.

23andMe continued to update its research and provide additional reports over time. Baker considered this useful because customers could receive new genetic interpretations after their original samples had been analyzed.

Baker had previously published a separate examination of his 23andMe ancestry results in 2019. Consequently, the comparison video concentrated on the service's main distinguishing features and health reports rather than repeating his earlier genealogy analysis.

AncestryDNA cost $100 and required a saliva sample. Its principal purpose was genealogical research rather than medical genetic testing.

AncestryDNA did not provide health reports or haplogroup information in the test Baker reviewed. Customers primarily received ethnicity estimates and access to genetic relative matching.

AncestryDNA stood out for the detail of its ethnicity estimates. Baker attributed this partly to the company's exceptionally large database of DNA customers, particularly people with North American ancestry.

AncestryDNA could identify relatively specific European ancestral categories. Rather than providing only broad continental ancestry percentages, its reports divided European origins into more detailed regional groups.

AncestryDNA also identified historical North American settler communities. These classifications connected genetic ancestry to populations whose ancestors migrated to particular regions of North America.

Baker's known ancestors came principally from Germany, England, and Ireland. His family-history research indicated that many eventually settled in Nova Scotia, Canada.

AncestryDNA's ethnicity and community results closely matched Baker's documented family history. The reported European origins and Nova Scotia settlement connections corresponded with what he already knew about his ancestors.

Baker considered AncestryDNA's ethnicity estimates the most accurate of the five tests for his own ancestry. He qualified this conclusion as a personal assessment, noting that the company's large North American database was particularly relevant to his family background.

AncestryDNA's large customer database improved its usefulness for finding genetic relatives. Baker regarded the size of the matching population as a major advantage, especially for people researching families in the United States and Canada.

Genetic testing can unexpectedly expose previously unknown biological relationships. Baker warned that customers sometimes discover that a presumed biological father is not genetically related to them or that they have an unknown half-sibling.

DNA discoveries can challenge long-established assumptions about family identity. Baker emphasized that people often believe such surprises could never occur in their own families, although similar discoveries have happened to others who believed the same thing.

Baker discovered a previously unknown first cousin through genetic testing. He had not known she existed before taking the test, demonstrating how relative matching can uncover genuine family connections rather than merely providing abstract ancestry percentages.

Baker's newly discovered cousin shared a health problem with him. They connected online, and he described the discovery positively, finding their shared medical experience and family relationship particularly interesting.

Ancestry's website was designed specifically to support family-tree construction. Baker praised its interface for making it straightforward to organize relatives, establish family relationships, and develop genealogical records.

Ancestry provided access to millions of historical records. These resources could supplement DNA matches with documentary evidence needed to reconstruct family relationships and trace earlier generations.

Full access to Ancestry's historical-record collection required a separate subscription. Baker estimated the membership cost at approximately $25 per month, making ongoing genealogy research potentially more expensive than the initial DNA kit.

MyHeritage DNA cost $80, tying FamilyTreeDNA's basic test price while offering a broader beginner-oriented genealogy service. Baker described it as the least expensive option in his comparison and noted that promotional sales could reduce the price further.

MyHeritage used cheek-swab collection rather than saliva samples. Its basic testing process was similar to those of CircleDNA and FamilyTreeDNA.

MyHeritage offered viewers free shipping using the promotional code USEFULCHARTS. The offer was associated with a link provided alongside the video and represented another commercial promotion available at that time.

MyHeritage's ancestry reports identified Baker's principal European origins as Germany, England, and Ireland. These results were broadly consistent with his documented family background.

MyHeritage also identified historical settler communities associated with Baker's ancestors. Like AncestryDNA, it recognized connections to Nova Scotia, which Baker confirmed were consistent with his family history.

MyHeritage offered genetic relative matching. Customers could identify other users with shared DNA and use those matches to investigate previously unknown family relationships.

MyHeritage also provided online tools for building family trees. Baker regarded this as a significant similarity between MyHeritage and Ancestry, since both services combined genetic evidence with practical genealogy software.

Access to MyHeritage's complete historical-record collection required an additional paid membership. As with Ancestry, the original DNA purchase did not provide unrestricted access to every research resource available through the website.

Ancestry had an advantage for researching North American family history. Baker attributed this to the company's North American focus, extensive customer database, and access to records particularly relevant to people in the United States and Canada.

MyHeritage had an advantage for researching European ancestry. Baker considered its European records and geographic coverage more suitable for customers living in Europe or investigating ancestors from European countries.

MyHeritage was also Baker's preferred option for Jewish genealogy. He recommended it to people researching Jewish ancestry regardless of their current country of residence.

The usefulness of a DNA testing database depends partly on where a person's potential relatives are represented. Baker's comparison showed that the largest or most detailed database overall is not necessarily the most suitable one for every ancestral population or geographic region.

No single DNA testing company was the best choice for every customer. Baker's recommendations depended on whether the buyer wanted medical information, ordinary family-tree research, ancient lineage analysis, or the discovery of living relatives.

CircleDNA was Baker's preferred option for customers primarily interested in genetic health information. He recommended it particularly to people willing to pay substantially more for detailed disease-risk, carrier-status, medication-response, and personal-trait reports.

FamilyTreeDNA was his preferred option for experienced genetic genealogists seeking detailed ancient-lineage information. Its specialist mitochondrial and Y-DNA reports justified the higher cost mainly when users wanted to study those genetic branches in depth.

AncestryDNA and MyHeritage were his preferred options for ordinary genealogy customers spending approximately $100 or less. Both provided ancestry estimates, relative matching, and family-tree research tools without requiring users to understand advanced genetic analysis.

AncestryDNA was Baker's first recommendation for people in the United States and Canada. Its North American customer population, regional ancestry estimates, and historical records made it particularly useful for researching families connected to those countries.

MyHeritage was Baker's first recommendation for people outside North America and those researching Jewish ancestry. Its European research strengths and lower testing price were the main factors behind this recommendation.

23andMe was Baker's preferred compromise for people wanting both genealogy and health information. It offered ancestry estimates, relative matching, health reports, and haplogroup information without requiring the separate specialist purchases associated with FamilyTreeDNA.

Customers interested specifically in haplogroups could obtain that information through 23andMe at a lower cost than FamilyTreeDNA's complete three-test package. Baker distinguished this relatively accessible option from FamilyTreeDNA's much more detailed specialist analysis.

The comparison demonstrated that different DNA reports answer different genealogical questions. Autosomal testing provides information across numerous family branches, mitochondrial testing follows the direct maternal line, and Y-DNA testing follows the direct paternal line. Understanding these distinctions helps prevent purchasing a test that cannot answer the question a customer actually has.

DNA evidence is most valuable when interpreted alongside other information. Baker repeatedly compared his test results with known family relationships, ancestral origins, settlement histories, and personal medical experiences. This allowed him to distinguish findings that appeared plausible from predictions that seemed inaccurate or incomplete.

Baker had received an additional DNA testing kit intended for cats. The kit was provided free for review, but he excluded it from the five-company comparison because it did not analyze human ancestry.

Baker planned a separate video examining feline DNA testing. He intended to publish that review several months later and disclosed that he owned three cats, giving him a personal interest in the subject.